Example of Brazilian churches - the money came from the sacrificial giving of poor people
The people giving freely to the work of God
In Ezra 2 the people gave 61'000 gold dracmas, 5000 minas of silver, 100 priestly garments
In Nehemiah the people gave similar but different values
12 Principles of Giving
Giving ought to be in terms of others (8:1-3)
Thinking of others before ourselves
Gave out of their poverty
God's Spirit stirring others to give (v1)
Thinking of our persecuted brothers overseas
Thinking of the poor and needy
This church has given to many missionaries, organisations and projects
Those who give do so out of love
Giving is an act of fellowship (8:4)
There is nothing that speaks louder than providing for a brother in a very loving way
This part of our fellowship with the Church in Jerusalem
Giving to The Lord (8:5-7)
Giving to The Lord is to be paramount in our minds
They gave themselves first to God, then to the apostles
The Church in Corinth was established in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in diligence and love but needed to abound in grace also
Giving must be a response to the giving of God (8:8-9)
Think of The Lord Jesus and how rich He was, leaving the splendour of heaven
Think of how much Jesus has given up for you
Think of how much Jesus loves you
Go through with your intentions (8:10-11)
We are only pledging now
Determine what you can give, put some aside at regular intervals
Do not just have a whip around
Do not give more than you have
God does not require you to give what you do not have (8:12-13)
We give if we are able to give
Give according to what you have, not what you do not have
God does not want people to be burdened in giving
If we cannot give finance perhaps we can give service of prayer
God always desires an equality (8:14-15)
The Corinthian Church would supply the Macedonian church when they are in need
This would be reciprocated
How many churches are very wealthy and how many churches are struggling?
1 Tim 5:17 - the rich should be generous to supply the needs of others
Give with planning and prayer (9:5)
Plan ahead that which you might be able to give
There must not be a sense of grudging obligation
Giving is from the heart (9:7)
God loves a cheerful heart
Rom 12:8 - give gladly and freely
The promise of giving (9:6)
Those who are generous will reap a rich reward
Prov 22:9 - "He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor."
Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
The example of John Wesley
Meagre giving sows meagre results
God gives the capacity to give (9:8-10)
God supplies that which we have and can then give
God supplies the needs of the poor
God is able to do extraordinary things
We give what we have
There is no greater giver than God (9:15)
Jesus is the indescribable gift
We can never out give God
God has given us The Lord Jesus Christ - freely delivered for all
