February 10, 2019

Say Yes : Time to Follow (part 2)
February 10, 2019
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

Open:

Everyone knows politics and religion are not acceptable conversational subjects in most social gatherings, but have you considered “money” to be placed in that category as well? What opinion do you have about bringing up the subject of someone else’s income and spending?

Recently we’ve been looking at God’s plan for our lives, saying “yes” to Him as we seek to obey Him in love. Obviously, we must first begin by saying yes to His gift of salvation, as His death paid for our sins, and yes to make Him Lord of our lives. We grow in love for Him, studying His word to see what He wills for us. Last week we discussed taking the time to follow Him, making it a lifestyle. We saw it included going to church and growing in church. Today we will look at Part 2 of taking time to follow Christ in the local church body. Our entire being should be hungering and thirsting to know Him better and loving Him above all things.

Focal Passage: Matthew 4:18-22.

 

Discuss:

Give to the church:

Background: Before you toss this sermon aside because it addresses money, read Matt. 23:23c. What did Jesus say to the Pharisees? If you are uneasy when the sermon is on money within the church, circle the phrase in verse 23, then continue.

  • Read the key verse, John 14:15. How can you show you love God if you do not keep the commandments He gave you?
  • Read Matt. 23:23. How did Jesus upbraid the Pharisees for their miserly attitude? What are possible reasons people get defensive when the subject of tithing is brought up?
  • Read Matt. 6:19-21. What was Jesus speaking of in these verses? What is the most common reason that people get hostile about any topic? Have you ever talked with a person at church who tithes? Do they get angry when the sermon is on giving? Why not? (Could it be they love to give?)
  • What did Jesus say people spend money on? How would you conclude people are made uneasy about tithing because they feel guilty?
  • Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-9. In verse 7, answer in your heart if you fall into one of these two categories. What is the promise in verse 8? If God makes this promise and yet you withhold your tithe, how are you showing your lack of trust in God’s word? How should all people give? Why?
  • There are other “more important” (Matt. 23:23) things than tithing. What are they? How can we “give” those things to others—i.e., Justice, Mercy and Faith?

Go from the church:

  • Read Mark 10:42-45. What does Jesus desire for you in these verses?
  • What are some practical ways you can be a servant to others?
  • When you are interacting with someone, are you able to spot pride or arrogance in their attitude? How do you react? Why is God so opposed to pride? Why is it so important to go out to serve in humility?
  • Read John 15:12-17. In verse 16, how does Jesus say you will produce lasting fruit? Are YOU producing lasting fruit?

 

Close:

As Jesus addresses the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites, we see they were willing to grudgingly give of their tithes only because it served their own agenda. Now, two thousand years later, tithing is still a sensitive subject in the church. We can easily see that those who have the heart’s desire to live a life pleasing to the Lord are glad to give of their money, knowing it is needed by the church to function as a building (just as a home does), and as a means to further the work of the ministry within the community as well as the whole world. The third bullet point is important: most Christians who happily tithe and give to additional causes through the church are not angered by a sermon on money. They realize the importance of giving to the church, both for ministry and as a physical building. Only someone who gives grudgingly gets defensive about it. But have they ever sat down with one who tithes and asked how God has blessed them? Probably not. Most of those who tithe are always willing to share their testimony with anyone who asks, for it is God who gets the praise.

Malachi 3:8-12 says, “’Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!’ But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ (10) ‘Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.’” God expects us to cheerfully keep the church functioning well and being generous with our giving. He promises abundant blessings if our hearts are right, if we are giving with a spirit of love, and happy to give back what He has first blessed us with. He promises the generous spirit will have lasting fruit! Do you trust Him enough to “test Him now in this” (vs 10)?

KEY VERSE: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15

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