A Sacrifice of Faith - Revision history

Wakefien: /* What is a Spiritual Discipline. */

2023-05-06T03:16:28Z

‎What is a Spiritual Discipline.

Wakefien: /* How can I make giving a spiritual discipline? */

2023-05-04T20:04:44Z

‎How can I make giving a spiritual discipline?

Wakefien: /* We supply for the needs of the Lord's servants. */

2023-05-04T20:03:20Z

‎We supply for the needs of the Lord's servants.

Wakefien: /* Monetary giving is expected but should not replace giving of oneself. (Romans 12:1) */

2023-05-04T20:02:59Z

‎Monetary giving is expected but should not replace giving of oneself. (Romans 12:1)

Wakefien: /* Image: There are so many examples of money destroying people's life */

2023-05-04T20:02:08Z

‎Image: There are so many examples of money destroying people's life

Wakefien: /* We supply for the needs of the Lord's servants.= */

2023-05-01T16:13:31Z

‎We supply for the needs of the Lord's servants.=

Wakefien: /* Because giving results in God being glorified. (12-14) */

2023-05-01T16:13:19Z

‎Because giving results in God being glorified. (12-14)

Wakefien: /* Because God is the one who has provided the gift. (8-11) */

2023-05-01T16:13:00Z

‎Because God is the one who has provided the gift. (8-11)

Wakefien: /* Because faithful and purposeful giving tugs on the heart strings of God. (7) */

2023-05-01T16:12:19Z

‎Because faithful and purposeful giving tugs on the heart strings of God. (7)

Wakefien: /* Because a successful farmer looks for places to sow rather than trying to scrimp on the seed sown. (6) */

2023-05-01T16:11:32Z

‎Because a successful farmer looks for places to sow rather than trying to scrimp on the seed sown. (6)

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 ==Setting the Stage:==
 ====What is a Spiritual Discipline.====
-We are in the middle of a series focusing on spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are the regular practices that when systematically practiced can help an individual nurture their relationship with God and grow in Christ likeness. None of the Spiritual Disciplines are new ideas but the label Spiritual Discipline makes it clear that these practices should be should be a regular and purposeful part of the Christian life. The term Spiritual Discipline also acknowledges that these practices are not necessarily easy or something that comes naturally to every Christian. It takes work energy and effort to live a disciplined life.
+We are in the middle of a series focusing on spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are the regular practices that when systematically practiced can help an individual nurture their relationship with God and grow in Christ likeness. None of the Spiritual Disciplines are new ideas but the label Spiritual Discipline makes it clear that these practices should be a regular and purposeful part of the Christian life. The term Spiritual Discipline also acknowledges that these practices are not necessarily easy or something that comes naturally to every Christian. It takes work energy and effort to live a disciplined life.
 ====There are several examples of Spiritual Disciplines, some we have talked about, and some we still need to talk about.====

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:04, 4 May 2023
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	How are you going to serve this week? Think about this. Tithing ten percent of your income is really pretty easy. If you make $200 tomorrow you set aside $20. Not a big deal. Now let me remind you that 10% of your time is 144 minutes. Now you might argue that you are working eight hours and already tithing on that. Fine, whatever, then 96 minutes. Are you willing to give up 96 minutes for God tomorrow? Let me make it a little more personal, David, Myra, Angel, myself, are we willing to work an additional 96 minutes beyond our 8 hour day? What would it look like if we did?		How are you going to serve this week? Think about this. Tithing ten percent of your income is really pretty easy. If you make $200 tomorrow you set aside $20. Not a big deal. Now let me remind you that 10% of your time is 144 minutes. Now you might argue that you are working eight hours and already tithing on that. Fine, whatever, then 96 minutes. Are you willing to give up 96 minutes for God tomorrow? Let me make it a little more personal, David, Myra, Angel, myself, are we willing to work an additional 96 minutes beyond our 8 hour day? What would it look like if we did?

		+	=Memory Verse: Micah 6:8=
		+	<p>
		+	He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
		+	</p>
	[[Category:Sermons]]		[[Category:Sermons]]

@@ Line 97: / Line 97: @@
 Something I love about giving to God is the downstream effects that giving has. Look at verses 12 through 15.
 ====When we give we reap several important rewards:====
-======We supply for the needs of the Lord's servants.======
+=====We supply for the needs of the Lord's servants.=====
 Let me take a second and thank you. I do not take for granted the fact that you all give to support me!

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 ===Monetary giving is expected but should not replace ''giving'' ''of'' ''oneself''. (Romans 12:1)===
 Finally, I want to add one more point. We are talking about money today, but probably your most valuable resource is your time. I hope at the end of the day you decide to be a thither and maybe even a giver beyond the tithe. But never let your money be an excuse not to give freely of yourself.
 ==Why should I make giving a spiritual discipline? (2 Cor. 9:6-15)==

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 ======Arrogance in wealth should be replaced with generosity.======
 ======Confidence in one's money should be replaced with steps of faith through sacrificial giving.======
 ======Image: There are so many examples of money destroying people's life======
 Lifting writes,
-<blockquote>
+<blockquote><p>
-The alluring but vain and plastic substitutes for life, supplied by an unhealthy attachment to material things, pale into worthlessness when compared with that life which is found in Jesus Christ (cf. Matt. 16:24–26), who is Himself the Life (John 14:6) and whom to know is life everlasting (John 17:3). <ref>A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 748.</ref>
+The alluring but vain and plastic substitutes for life, supplied by an unhealthy attachment to material things, pale into worthlessness when compared with that life which is found in Jesus Christ (cf. Matt. 16:24–26), who is Himself the Life (John 14:6) and whom to know is life everlasting (John 17:3). <ref>A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 748.</ref></p>
 </blockquote>

@@ Line 92: / Line 92: @@
 ====God has already provided the gift, let's make sure to give it to him!====
-===Because giving results in God being glorified. (12-14)===
+===Because giving results in God ''being'' ''glorified''. (12-14)===
 Something I love about giving to God is the downstream effects that giving has. Look at verses 12 through 15.
 ====When we give we reap several important rewards:====

@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 ====With God, the value seems not to matter, it seems that the amount of faith is what really matters.====
-===Because God is the one who has provided the gift. (8-11)===
+===Because God is the one who has ''provided'' the gift. (8-11)===
 ====Image: Dad giving a quarter every Sunday for the offering.====
 Growing up, every Sunday morning my dad gave each of us a quarter to place in the offering plate. There was never a question about what we should do with the quarter, dad had given it to us for offering. My dad was the pastor and would leave about an hour before church and so we had the job of holding onto that quarter for the next hour so that we could place the quarter in the offering. I didn't realize it then but the principle is the same for us. God is the one who gives us the gift that we then turn around to give to God. We are just trusted not to lose it as we wait for the opportunity to give.
@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 ====God has already provided the gift, let's make sure to give it to him!====
 ===Because giving results in God being glorified. (12-14)===

@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 We should make giving a spiritual discipline because a generous act of sowing will yield much better results than a sparing act of sowing.
-===Because faithful and purposeful giving tugs on the heart strings of God. (7)===
+===Because ''faithful'' and ''purposeful'' giving tugs on the heart strings of God. (7)===
 ====The verse does not say that God does not love one who does not give. We know that God loves the world.====
 ====Instead, I think the idea is that the one who gives cheerfully catches God's attention.====

@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 ==Why should I make giving a spiritual discipline? (2 Cor. 9:6-15)==
-===Because a successful farmer looks for places to sow rather than trying to scrimp on the seed sown. (6)===
+===Because a successful farmer ''looks'' for places to sow rather than trying to scrimp on the seed sown. (6)===
 Think about this for a second.
 ====To have a productive farm you must sow. ====
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 ====When planting a garden I don't put one seed in every plant and hope it germinates. I put a handful in every pot and plan to pick the smaller plants once everything sprouts.====
 We should make giving a spiritual discipline because a generous act of sowing will yield much better results than a sparing act of sowing.
 ===Because faithful and purposeful giving tugs on the heart strings of God. (7)===
 ====The verse does not say that God does not love one who does not give. We know that God loves the world.====