Membership Matters	November 15, 15

Grace in, grace out, Part Two

For the past seven weeks we’ve been talking about what it means to be the church of Jesus. We’ve learned from the Scripture that the church is not a building or an organization; but is a people, who are alive to God and in relationship with him through faith in Jesus.

What makes the church a distinct counter-cultural community is that the followers of Jesus have a new nature… evidenced by new appetites, new perspectives, new priorities, new compassions, new values, new lifestyle.

This is why the Bible repeatedly encourages us to never forget, but to remember who we now are because of God’s work of grace in us.

When Paul wrote his second letter to the church at Corinth, he spoke of the Macedonian churches. It’s the example of those churches that we want to study today.

It is good to live a lifestyle of generosity. People who aren’t yet in relationship with God through faith in Jesus can be generous people for varying reasons. But the example of the Macedonian and Corinthian churches demonstrate and teach us about the generosity of those who are alive to God.

2 Corinthians 8

What was it that distinguished the Macedonian churches? v.1.

How was God’s grace evidenced in these believers? v.2.

They experienced “overflowing joy” while living through “a very severe trial,” which had left them in ‘extreme poverty.’ And yet, those destitute believers had acted with “rich generosity.”

This teaches us that God’s grace brings into the life of the believer an inner strength that helps them, not just to survive, but to thrive in difficult circumstances.

This verse also impresses upon us that a follower of Jesus does not need to first have material abundance before being generous.

How generous were the Macedonian believers? v.3.

Who gives like this?

Only a person who has been gripped by God’s grace!

Only a person who trusts God

Where did the idea to give as they gave come from? v.3b-4.

What the Macedonian believers did shows how the new nature within the follower of Jesus is God and other focused.

The particular words used in this verse are meant to convey just how important this matter was to the Macedonians.

They didn’t just plead, they “urgently” pleaded.

They considered the opportunity to give as a “privilege,” not something burdensome,

Who does this?

Only a person who has been gripped by God’s grace!

And a person who has first given themselves to Jesus - v.5.

The practice of generosity is the outflow of one’s surrender to Jesus.

Though he was speaking about the Macedonian believers, Paul was writing to the Corinthian church. Like the Macedonians they too had committed to help fellow believers in Jerusalem, but for whatever reason they still hadn’t done what they promised to do. So Paul writes to encourage them. v.6.

It is important that we see from God’s perspective that the monetary gift the Corinthians had promised to give was considered an “act of grace.” In other words, they weren’t just giving money.

God had given much grace to the Corinthian church and the believers in Corinth had utilized this grace to excel, as v.7 says: in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in their love.

But Paul encouraged them to excel in one more thing.… the grace of giving - v.7c.

This teaches us that while generosity is a natural response of the new nature, it is also a grace that is developed through practice.

Why is it so important that a believer be generous?

The answer has everything to do with who Jesus is. Look at v.9a.

Grace is the explanation for why Jesus came; why he lived on this earth; why he taught and healed, why he gave his life in sacrifice; why he rose from the dead; why he ascended into heaven, why he is active on the earth through his people, and why he will return again.

Through the Spirit we learn from this verse how the generosity of Jesus has impacted humanity. v.9b.

* Though he was rich…

There was nothing Jesus lacked.

He created everything.

Everything belonged to him.

* …for our sakes he became poor…

Jesus’ choice to be generous to us... personally cost him.

But that is the nature of generosity.

*…so that we through his poverty might become rich.

Generosity meets the needs of another; it supplies what they lack; it benefits and builds up and enriches the other.

Verse 9 explains why the Macedonian believers had given as they did.

Paul also hoped that it would be the motivation for the Corinthians to finish what they promised.

Being in relationship with Jesus, and cognizant of his generosity, inspires his followers, in every generation to live with generosity just like their Savior.

Paul, led by the Spirit, continued to write of this theme of generosity for several more paragraphs.

8:10-12

the believer is to be generous with what they have

how the believer is generous matters – eagerly and willingly

8:13-15

the practice of generosity is how God meets the needs of his people through his people

plenty/need

equality

9:1-2

acting generously begins with an enthusiastic willingness to do so. But it is more than good intentions; it is the specific things done by a believer who is eager to help

acting generously inspires others

9:5-8

the sending of the brothers was not to shake down the believers; but to help them carry through on the promise they had made

What this teaches is that we need the help of fellow believers to follow through on our promises and commitments to Jesus.

It is a tendency of the old nature to make verbal promises and to conclude that the expressed intention was sufficient. As we learn to live in the new nature, we will have to deliberately turn away from old habits and old ways of living.

the virtue of generosity inspires the believer to give cheerfully, confident of God’s care

It is in acting with generosity that a believer experiences the blessing described by Jesus. Acts 20:35: It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Our culture believes it is more blessed to receive than to give.

Jesus says, “Not so.”

Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Truth is experienced when we act upon it… in faith of Jesus.

Why is it so important to God that his people practice this grace? 9:9-11.

Why is God so good to us?

Why does he bless us more than we deserve?

Why does God enrich us in every way?

…so that we can be generous on every occasion….

We are blessed in order to be a blessing.

And the reason God does this?

So that through us others might experience his goodness and in experiencing his goodness may be drawn to him and enter into a relationship with him.

Why does it matter that you and I excel in the grace of generosity and giving?

We who follow Jesus have in us his spiritual DNA.

We’ve been recreated in his image.

We are a community of servant leaders because Jesus is a servant.

We are generous because Jesus is generous.

2 Corinthians 8:9 says: “you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

We hear that phrase and image after image comes to our minds of the goodness and generosity of Jesus.

I believe the Spirit of God is stirring in us a desire to live in the same way.

Would we not want the same to be said of us?

You know the grace of the people at Sooke Baptist…

In learning to be a people who not only hear truth, but take action to live truth,

is God’s Spirit speaking to you about a specific matter?

Is he confronting selfishness in you?

Is he pointing out a lack of faith in you? Remember Jesus often called his disciples ‘little faiths.’

Is Jesus asking you to be baptized and so publicly identify with him?

Is he asking you to commit yourself to this local community of faith?

Is he speaking to you about how you steward your financial resources?

Is he speaking to you about where he wants you to use your spiritual gifting of grace?

The handout in the bulletin some of the most pressing ministry needs here.

Will you ask God if he wants you to help in meeting one of these needs?

You can fill in that handout this morning and leave it in a container at the Connection Desk.

You can hand in to me.

Or you can email it to me.

I am available to talk with you; to pray with you; to help you find the place Jesus has for you.

How is God, by his Spirit, wanting to apply his truth in your life?

What action is he calling you to take?

Prayer

Prayer Corner

Why does it matter that you and I excel in the grace of generosity and giving?

Because it is the practical way in which we show how trustworthy God is.

Through Timothy Paul instructed the church at Ephesus how to handle the wealth God had entrusted to them.

Look at 1 Timothy 6:17.

Hope in God – he is dependable.

Remember who God is – he is generous - he richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:18.

Be like God our Savior.

Be rich in good deeds.

Be generous.

Willingly share.

1 Timothy 6:19.

We are not told how it happens.

But the Spirit of God assures us in Revelation 14:13 that when we in Jesus’ name do good; when because of Jesus we are generous; these actions will carry forward into the age to come.

Why does it matter that you and I excel in the grace of generosity and giving?

Jesus spoke of these things in his parables.

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25) Jesus said: If you have been faithful with a few things, the Lord will put you in charge of many things.

If in this life we are faithful; we will be given greater responsibility in the life to come.

In the parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:11) Jesus said:

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…

According to Jesus how we handle our finances is the test whether we will be trusted with the handling of true riches!!!!!!!!!

It is impossible to practice generosity Jesus-style without trust in Jesus.

Look at Matthew 6:19-34

What is the effect when a steward gives as an act of grace?

2 Corinthians 9:11-13.

v.11 – God will be thanked.

v.13 – the steward gives proof by their giving that they really are

a follower of Jesus and that the gospel of Jesus is the real deal.

Jesus introduced to humanity a new way of being human.

The follower of Jesus isn’t distinguished by how they look; but by how they live.

When Jesus’ followers are generous and share, there is seen the proof that we are different; that we are not under the domination of materialism; that we do not live just to consume.

Dr. Bob Moorehead, a retired pastor who lives near Seattle, wrote a monologue entitled, The Paradox of our Time.

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider highways but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more but know little enjoyment; we have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, yet less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; we have more gadgets but less satisfaction; more medicine, but less wellness; we take more vitamins but see fewer results.

We drink too much; smoke too much; spend too recklessly; laugh too little; drive too fast; get angry too quickly; stay up too late; get up too tired; read too seldom; watch TV too much and pray too infrequently.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values; we fly in faster planes to arrive there quicker, to do less and return sooner; we sign more contracts only to realize fewer profits; we talk too much; listen too little; love too seldom; and lie too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life; we’ve added years to life, not life to our years. Philip Yancy, Vanishing Grace

Coffee / Question: Do you agree with Dr. Bob?

Why do you think our culture lives this way?

Feedback

Donald Posterski in his book, ‘Enemies with Smiling Faces,’ quotes Douglas Coupland: The accumulation of material goods is at an all-time high, but so is the number of people who feel an emptiness in their lives.

Have you ever considered that this inner emptiness which Douglas Coupland speaks of is actually an indicator of a person’s spiritual thirst and hunger?

Something

Is this what Jesus perceived as he in

Thirst is a powerful craving; as is hunger. Both motivate a person to take action; to do something to satisfy their thirst; their hunger.

It is easy to sit in judgment of how dysfunctional our culture.

Easy to be dismayed by the moral darkness of our time.

It’s here where we need to see people through Jesus’ eyes.

Matthew 9:35-36.

People came to Jesus. But Jesus also went to where people lived – their towns and villages. There he spoke the truth into their lives.

He also announced to them the good news that God’s kingdom was at hand.

And he demonstrated this good news by healing – every disease and sickness.

Verse 36 reveals what motivated Jesus each day during those three and a half years of his public ministry. Jesus saw the things that harassed people; the things that held them. And his compassion moved him to action.

Jesus was the good news he announced.

As he began his public ministry, at the synagogue in Nazareth when asked to read Scripture, he personalized the prophecy of Isaiah 61.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoner and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Luke 3:18-19

Just like sheep without a shepherd are easily harassed so are people disconnected from God.

What kind of compassion?

The kind of compassion a shepherd has for their sheep

As sheep need a shepherd; so humans need God.

Jesus knew about the adultery of the woman the religious leaders brought to him

He was fully aware of the greed of Zacchaeus.

He perceived the despair of the woman who had spent everything on doctors trying to find a cure.

He knew the shame of Peter because of the words of betrayal Peter spoke.

He knew the emptiness of the woman who talked with him at the well.

He was aware of the grief of the father who came to him pleading for him to save his daughter’s life.

He knew the intense sorrow of the woman whose son had just died.

Having been welcomed into the love of the Father, Son and Spirit, we are learning to love each other like they love us. This is why our relationships with one another are so important. As I mentioned several weeks ago, Jesus said that our sharing of the good news about him will be ignored or dismissed, unless it is validated by a demonstrated love for one another.

One of the most pressing needs at this church in this moment is for a minimum of three additional life group facilitators and hosts. The reason Jesus gathers his people into local churches is because he knows we need each other. The Christian faith is not just about you and Jesus. The Christian faith is communal.

In our life groups we share our stories and our lives; we study God’s word; we pray together for one another and others whom God has brought into our lives. We learn to serve others as we serve one another. We take risks of faith together.

Here is where we learn in the words of Hebrews 10:24, “to spur one another on towards love and good deeds.”

One of the exercises in the Membership Matters book was a survey to help a person determine their gifting of grace. A good question that comes out of that is what next? What do I do with the gift God has given me.

The Spirit who gives that gift of grace will prompt you to take action. He will place in your hearts a love for

Years ago I heard the expression, “My dance card is full.” The saying was meant to imply there was no more room for anyone else. In the church of Jesus, and in the community of the Father, Son and Spirit, there is always room for one more.

One of the favorite books I read to my children when they were younger was Pilgrims Progress, the children’s version. In that story, John Bunyan brilliantly captured what it is like to begin and then to live the Christian life.

The main character, Christian, didn’t always get it right. But each time, Christian messed up, in Philip Yancey’s words, “he let God pick him up and dust him off… As the story unfolds, [Christian] progressed not by always making right decisions, but by responding appropriately to [his] wrong ones.” Vanishing Grace

Aren’t you and I a lot like Christian? Our walk of faith is not a constant, uninterrupted, upward progression. Like Christian, we too have times when we choose wrongly and act wrongly; times when we get off-track.

We may e tempted to think that it is our mistakes that define us, when in reality it is how we respond to God when we stumble and fall. When we acknowledge our need of Jesus’ forgiveness and help, he picks us up and dusts us off and encourages us to press on.

As I said last week, God pours his grace, his unmerited favor, into us; so that his undeserving favor and goodness might spill out of us.

When Henri Nouwen realized what the grace of God spilling out of him looked like in action, he found it to be paradoxical. He said: “it is with our weaknesses that we truly minister grace to others.” Vanishing Grace

When I read that I immediately thought of what Jesus told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Let’s dig deeper today into this theme of God’s grace and how it is expressed through our lives.

In the OT ear a rule of thumb was that people gave 10% of their income.

The NT does not reduce that number.

Rather 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 teaches that 10% is the minimum:

…[give] as much as you are able to give…

…[give] beyond your ability…

…excel in the grace of giving…

…[give] willingly and with eagerness…

…[give] according to your means…

…[give] according to what you have…

…[give] with an enthusiasm that stirs others to action…

…[give] as determined by your heart…

…[give] generously on every occasion…

Even as the OT era was giving way to the NT era

God through the prophet Malachi challenged people to test him

and prove that living as a steward was the best way to live.

Malachi 3:10.

…test me….