WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.440 So the theme today of the sermon is a great investment. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:16.399 And in researching the sermon, I was reading an article about investment specifically 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:22.800 for the sermon rather than for any great amount of money that I have to invest, it has to be said. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:29.760 But it is said there are seven things to look for if you're looking for a return on your investment. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:34.880 You've got to crunch the numbers, you've got to have a solid business plan or you've got to see 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:42.640 a solid business plan, a unique idea, a strong narrative, strong story, committed players, 00:00:43.760 --> 00:00:50.159 clear return and a clear buy-in. So these are seven, the article was suggesting, 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:55.919 seven very important things to look for if you're wanting a return for your investment. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:01:04.560 And undoubtedly if you're sharp financially and take on board some of these different points, 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:11.519 there's lots of money to be made out there if that is what interests you. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:19.840 But we have something far greater than money to invest. We have the gospel. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:28.640 And that's really what I want us to consider today. If we invest our lives 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:35.280 in following Jesus Christ and serving Him, the returns for that are unimaginable. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:42.239 If you just think of these seven things and apply them to Christ, crunching the numbers, 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:47.599 we have inexhaustible riches in Christ. He's got a pretty solid business plan. 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:52.879 And we've been looking at that in the Old Testament as it prepares for the coming of Christ 00:01:52.879 --> 00:02:03.120 and Revelation speaks about His return. It's a unique idea. There is no idea like it. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:09.840 It's about the Son of God who comes in the flesh as we've also been looking in the evening worship. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:17.759 It's a compelling story. It's a strong narrative. You've got really committed players at the heart 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:27.840 of this gospel message, God Himself committing to us in our folly and in our ignorance to redeem us. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:34.240 And there's a remarkable clear return for all who put their trust in Him. The shares in Jesus Christ 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:48.080 are free. And it's new life and new hope and a new future. And there's a clear invitation to be part 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:55.199 of that as we accept the gospel. And that's really our theme for a few moments this evening, this morning. 00:02:55.199 --> 00:03:01.679 So the situation in Corinth that is being addressed by Paul here is the gospel challenge that he was 00:03:01.679 --> 00:03:07.839 putting to the Corinthian church because he's speaking, as Becca read in the first section from 00:03:07.839 --> 00:03:13.679 chapter eight, he was speaking about the non-Jewish churches, the Gentile churches in Macedonia, 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:22.479 who were raising funds for Paul to take back to the Christian church of Jewish believers in Judea 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:30.239 and Jerusalem, who had fallen on hard times. There was famine and they were also being persecuted. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:43.039 And the very poor Macedonian churches, Philippi and the church in Thessalonica and others like it, 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:53.120 they had been economically persecuted because of the rebellion against Rome. 00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:58.639 They were a stricken people. And Paul speaks about their extreme poverty. And yet he says they 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:06.479 generously gave to support their brothers and sisters who were struggling in Jerusalem and in 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:13.120 Judea. And Paul is speaking to the relatively wealthy Corinthian church who had previously given an 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:20.000 offering and said, look, you've got to carry forward your promises to give more and look at the example 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:25.279 of the Macedonian churches and what they have done and how willing they are. And he speaks of them 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:32.399 giving out of their poverty joyfully, compassionately and generously. And he's speaking there about 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:39.439 heart characteristics that are reflected in practical implications. And it's really much more, 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:46.719 and I want to speak much more than the raw concept of money, which is always a difficult thing to 00:04:46.719 --> 00:04:53.279 mention and deal with anyway for a preacher. It's a powerful message that's coming across today 00:04:53.279 --> 00:05:03.759 about the Christian motivation for our lives. And what Paul is clearly saying here is because we 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:11.839 are Christians and because of the salvation of Jesus Christ, our motivation is his generosity 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:19.839 for us in chapter eight and verse nine, where Becca read earlier, we have these words, 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:28.399 and for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sake he 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:35.839 became poor so that you by his poverty might become rich. Now that's immediately much broader, 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:41.199 isn't it, than material possessions or wealth. It's speaking about everything about Christ 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:48.239 that he gave up in his character, in his being, that he laid aside in order to be a redeemer so 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:56.560 that we could share in his riches. Now in life it's one thing to be poor, even materially, 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:06.400 but it's another thing to have been rich or to be rich and to give up that wealth voluntarily 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:14.319 to become poor. That is an act of incalculable sacrifice. If someone has only ever been poor, 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:21.279 or in a sense they don't know any different way of living, they might longingly look at what other 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:29.600 people might have. But if someone is overwhelmingly wealthy and they choose to give all of that up, 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:39.199 that is a huge sacrifice. If you willingly give up your bed, your warm bed to go and sleep outside, 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:47.519 or you choose to reject or not reject but give up the love of your family for solitary confinement, 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:55.120 or you have a huge salary to live off and you give that up and become someone who receives 00:06:55.120 --> 00:07:02.319 income support. If you have sight in your eyes and you give up your eye to someone who's blind 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:10.800 so that they can see, it's different, isn't it? When we give up what we have in order to help 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:18.319 others who haven't, and that's exactly what Christ has done in his absolute riches and perfection 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:29.519 of justice and holiness and love and life and purity and inexhaustible wealth to face the 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:40.479 limitations of taking on a human body and the soul wracked by the influences of being in a fallen 00:07:40.479 --> 00:07:50.240 world, the humiliation of being rejected and ignored, homelessness, darkness, ultimately guilt 00:07:50.240 --> 00:08:00.400 and death so that we might become rich so that we might know these things. He is the one who gives us 00:08:00.400 --> 00:08:09.040 life and hope and who makes, who gives us the gift of his riches. That's his risk, his investment. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:15.439 He pays the price for our sins and we receive the returns the moment we trust in him. And that 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:27.040 was standing sacrifice and an outstanding exchange that we receive his riches as he took on our 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:36.159 poverty of being, of relationship, of moral character and of loss. It's indescribable. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:43.360 Thanks be to God for his indescribable or inexpressible gift. It's beyond words. I can't 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:49.200 ... I'm so frustrated that I can't explain it better for us all. And there's an old Scottish 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:53.519 phrase, I think I've used it before, church better felt than tellt. It's better known and 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:59.279 experienced in our lives as we commit ourselves to Jesus Christ. I encourage you to do that, 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:06.320 to have that thankfulness because it will change the whole perspective of our lives. The more we 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:14.800 appreciate his forgiveness and his grace, the more we appreciate investing our lives for him 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:21.840 and for his kingdom. So what is it that we invest? We've seen the situation here and the description 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:27.600 of Christ and the motivation. What is it we invest? I'm just going to say two things, our heart 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:37.519 and our lives. Our heart, Matthew chapter 6 and verse 21 says very perceptively by Jesus Christ, 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:45.040 where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where your treasure is, there your heart 00:09:45.040 --> 00:09:55.040 will be also. And therefore Christ knows immediately that the core of everything is our heart. Guard 00:09:55.039 --> 00:10:01.120 our hearts because everything else flows from it. And we will treasure what our heart treasures and 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:10.399 we will invest in what our heart loves. And what we love, we will invest in that cuts to the very 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:15.839 core of your soul and of mine. Probably no one else will know it. Sometimes it might be out 00:10:15.839 --> 00:10:22.879 worked in our lives. But you know what makes you tick. I know what makes me tick. You know, 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:29.919 and we know what we value of first importance. Where your treasure is, that is where your heart 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:36.480 will be as well. And the question is, is that spiritual for you and for me? Or is it material? 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:45.120 Is it divine? Or is it human relationships that are most important? And there's, we know the 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:54.399 importance of human relationships. We know they're God given. But if they consume our hearts, and 00:10:55.679 --> 00:11:02.080 they become our treasure, they cannot be our Savior. And so the question is, 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:10.560 our treasure is revealed in our hearts. So we invest our hearts in the Kingdom of God, 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:17.919 and in following Him, giving Him. But also our lives in chapter 8 again that we read earlier, 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:26.000 and verse 7, we have these words, Paul commends the Corinthian Church, but as you excel in everything, 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:31.279 in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all earnestness and in our love for you, see that you 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:39.279 excel in this act of grace also. As you excel in everything, and he's speaking about the whole of 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:46.399 their lives, that they have invested that in Jesus Christ. And that is what we're being asked to 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:52.879 invest also for the sake of the gospel, be Kingdom players for Jesus Christ. It's not about, this is 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:58.799 not about speaking about full-time ministry in the church, or missionary service, or about the old 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:04.559 the odd act of commitment that we give to Christ. This is about your life, and my life, it's about 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:12.799 your gifts, about your work, your employment, your home life, your material resources, yes, 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:20.319 and your money as well. It's about everything being brought before the sacrifice, before the altar of 00:12:20.319 --> 00:12:28.799 God. And we commit everything that we are and have and give to Him, because He is gifted every bit 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:36.079 of it for us. You woke up and you breathed your first breath this morning. That was God's gift, 00:12:36.079 --> 00:12:44.159 and God's saying, yes, I'm giving you this day as well. So we invest our hearts and we invest our 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:51.359 lives. How do we do that? How do we invest them? There's three things here. I'm sure there's many 00:12:51.359 --> 00:12:58.479 more, but there's three things in this second section of chapter nine from verse six to verse 15. 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:07.920 How do we invest our hearts and our lives? Generously, voluntarily, and cheerfully. Great 00:13:07.920 --> 00:13:14.480 principles of how we serve and give and follow Jesus. Generously, first of all, in verse six, 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:19.759 in fact, there's actually two different words here used for generously. Some translations 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:26.639 keep them both as generous. The ESV here, helpfully, gives different words, which is 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:33.120 reflected in the original. The point is this, whoever so sparingly will reap sparingly, whoever 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:38.720 so boundifully will reap boundifully, or some versions of generously. And then verse 11, 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:45.199 we'll have these words, you'll be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, 00:13:45.199 --> 00:13:49.600 which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. And these two words have a different kind of 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:59.600 emphasis, different focus, really. The first word comes from, that bound to fully, it's used here, 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:06.639 comes from the word blessing. And really, it's the idea of giving generously, because we ourselves 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:13.680 have been so blessed in what we have received from Christ, so we want to bless others. Christ 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:19.519 has been generous, God has been, the Father has been so generous to us, we generously give our 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:28.639 lives in return. What an incredible gift we have been given in grace and in eternal life. And daily, 00:14:29.599 --> 00:14:38.079 materially, in relationship terms, God gives us so much. So we want in return to reflect that 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:46.240 generosity and not be sparing, not be meanhearted or mean spirited in what we do and who we are, 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:57.360 giving and sharing our lives, our grace and all our material possessions, generously, open-handedly. 00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:05.759 That's the whole basis, isn't it, behind the gospel? It's not counting the cost of what we're 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:17.840 giving. It's overflowing, profligate, costly, not being miserly or measured in love and in how we use 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:23.759 our lives for Christ. And in our attitudes and thinking, it's about other people as well. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:32.639 Generosity as in blessedness, but also in verse 11, the word for generous there, you've been rich in 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:40.319 every way to be generous. The root seems to mean, of that word, seems to be simplicity. In other 00:15:40.319 --> 00:15:49.039 words, we're giving our lives and we're giving from our resources without mixed motives, sincerely, 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:57.919 open-heartedly, with no pretense. We're not doing it to gain praise from others with mixed motives 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:04.399 or for recognition or to get a pat on the back or to be accepted by God. It's that beautiful idea 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:10.399 of just being, your heart being open and being generous because of what God has done. So there's 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:20.399 generosity, there's a willing heart, a voluntary heart. In verse 7, he says, each one should give 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:29.439 as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, but for God loves a cheerful 00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:37.199 giver. So there's voluntary and cheerfulness coming that. It's that whole idea of willingly doing 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:44.960 this act of giving in our lives. He speaks about it amazingly in these early verses of chapter 8, 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:50.400 where he's talking about the church in Macedonia. And he says that they were begging earnestly for 00:16:50.400 --> 00:16:56.080 the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints, begging earnestly. Now that is real 00:16:56.080 --> 00:17:02.400 voluntary giving. They wanted to be part of God's work, part of God's kingdom to help those who 00:17:02.400 --> 00:17:10.640 had less than them. And that voluntary spirit, not grudging miserly, legalistically, but as we 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:16.880 spend our time, as we give of our, maybe time is the most precious thing these days, as we give of 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:24.800 our time and our energy, as we set aside time for corporate worship and our financial giveings and 00:17:24.800 --> 00:17:35.120 the use of our gifts, is it forced? Is it grudgingly done? What are our motives? Is there that simplicity 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:42.159 in that reality of blessing? Because if there is that spirit of voluntary generosity, then we will 00:17:42.159 --> 00:17:57.359 give cheerfully with, as it says, I think, and over in verse 2 of chapter 8 that these churches gave 00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:05.039 with an abundance of joy, overflowing joy cheerfully. These are great things, aren't they, 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:14.240 to have in our lives generosity, voluntary spirit and cheerfulness. And what then briefly is our 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:20.799 return? If we ask, what do we invest? We invest our hearts in our lives. How do we invest it? 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:27.599 Generously, voluntary and cheerfully. What is the return on our investment? Well, just two 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:37.759 verses from our readings and one other verse in verse 8 of chapter 9. It says, and God is able, 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:44.399 this is the return on our shares, God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:51.360 all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. Now, that's an 00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:58.480 incalculable return. That is an effusive, overflowing return, as we give generously and 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:04.960 recognize the glorious gospel that we have. Paul just almost doesn't have the words, it's flowing 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:13.360 over like just a fountain, a waterfall of words that in every way, all this and everything, 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:22.639 we will have provision. And then also in verse 11 he says, you will be enriched in every way to be 00:19:22.639 --> 00:19:30.159 generous in every way which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. So it's a virtuous circle 00:19:30.159 --> 00:19:37.919 upwards. We'll find the more generous we are, the more sacrificial we are, the more willing we are, 00:19:37.919 --> 00:19:42.879 the more joyful we are, the more we understand God's grace in our lives and the gifts that 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:49.440 He's given us, the greater our generosity and the greater the return as it were. Now, we don't look 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:55.360 for these things, it's not like a business plan that we're looking for investment return, 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:03.520 but God generously nonetheless gives it to us. So the marvelous principles in these passages, 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:13.119 and it's also, we're reminded of it in Romans chapter 8 and verse 32, you know, 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:18.079 he who did not, and it's in the theme of Paul is saying here, he did not spare his own son, 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:24.639 but gave him up for us all. Will he not also with him graciously give us all things, everything we 00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:30.639 need, you know, he's already proven it. He's given us Jesus Christ, he's given us eternal life when 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:36.160 we entrust our lives and hearts to him and deal with our sins before him and recognize he's taken 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:43.840 them. How will he not give us what we need to serve and follow and reflect his generosity in our 00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:51.759 lives? So in conclusion, moving from the truths of this passage, just to speak specifically for 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:55.600 a minute or two to the people of St. Columbus, if you're watching and don't belong to St. Columbus, 00:20:55.599 --> 00:21:02.159 that's fine of course, and it's lovely to have you. But I'm just focusing my final words just on 00:21:02.159 --> 00:21:10.879 our own congregation here, our own community. Can I just encourage you to invest for the best? 00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:17.919 You know, God's grace and God's generosity, God's love, can I say it's not sentimental. 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:27.440 God's love is the most powerful force known to mankind. It's mankind's greatest need to find 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:33.920 the relationship with God through Christ, which has been lost through sin. It's what this world 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:43.120 and these dark days need more than anything. And your generosity as you reflect that love 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:49.119 that has transformed your hearts will go a long way. You have this love. You have this gift. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:58.559 And as we love one another, remember these famous verses from John 13, 34, 35, 00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:03.359 by this men all, by this will all men know that you're my disciples, if you love one another. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:10.159 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, is that generosity 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:24.720 of love. And that will be a great indication to people that we are His disciples. And that sacrifice 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:33.600 of time, open homes, open hearts, sharing lives, financial support, generosity, joyfully given, 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:39.439 voluntarily not under compulsion, will be blessed greatly by the living God. 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:53.679 And I believe most importantly, with a, with a, a righteous return of righteousness, 00:22:53.679 --> 00:22:58.879 there will be this great harvest of righteousness, isn't it? As we multiply verse 10, 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:04.240 He will multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:07.760 It's not material harvest He's speaking of here. He may be speaking about, 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:13.920 in some ways, of material giving, but He's saying it will be a spiritual harvest that we receive. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:21.200 And that is absolutely incredible. Invest for the best. And today accept my thanks, 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:26.880 and the thanks of the leaders, and I thank the leaders for their work and for all their support, 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:32.400 but accept my thanks on their behalf for all the work that you've done over this, for example, 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:38.480 this last year of lockdown, with all the difficulties and struggles and challenges 00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:44.240 that you have continued to serve the King, you've continued to invest, you've continued to love, 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:49.440 you've continued to support, you've gone out of your way to look after one another, 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:56.640 and you've shown these gifts, these characteristics of generosity, of a willing spirit and of 00:23:56.640 --> 00:24:08.000 cheerfulness. Accept my thanks, and rise to the impossible moving forward. It very much seems 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:13.520 like that to me, that the way forward is an impossibility for us. The needs are very great. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:19.520 Again, by the summer, there'll be lots of changes of personnel in the church and lots of 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:26.799 challenges of coming out of lockdown and of meeting together and of re-socializing and 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:32.639 reaching out with the gospel. And maybe you think, it's overwhelming the needs, and I can't give 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:40.559 any more. Please don't, Derek, don't demand any more of me in St. Columbus, or maybe further than 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:46.639 that. I've said, God, don't demand any more of me. I can't keep going. It does seem impossible. 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:56.000 But can I remind you just of our vision as a church, which is to give, as a city center church, 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:02.720 committed to Jesus Christ, committed to worship, mission, community, and discipleship, 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:08.880 and to plant churches? Can I remind you of that vision? Can I remind you just to be like Jesus, 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:13.759 again this year? A very good friend of mine put something on social media this week, 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:23.359 or on WhatsApp. You've probably seen this particular comment. This year, it says, 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:29.759 I want to be more like Jesus. Hang out with sinners, upset religious folk, tell stories that make 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:36.879 people think, choose unpopular friends, be kind, loving, and merciful, take naps on boats. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:44.640 Sometimes that simplicity of just being like Jesus is what we need to be reminded of, as 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:51.600 our vision is to build the community, make disciples, and grow the city group families. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:57.120 We've got this great training program that Thomas over these last three years has spent so much time 00:25:57.120 --> 00:26:02.880 developing for leaders and ministers in training. That's going to need continued funding and support. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:10.640 With the ongoing costs of planting churches, particularly Winchborough, and at a difficult time 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:14.800 to do that. We've got the wider commitments. We've got global support. 00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:20.080 And for me, the most exciting thing as we move forward in the next few months, which because 00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:26.560 it seems very much to me to be a God thing that's happened, is what's happening with Sparkle Sisters. 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:31.599 The great doors that are opening there to the vulnerable, to the abused, to the homeless, to the 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:39.279 trafficked. Because that is a vital emphasis of the Christian church to share our lives and our 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:46.559 generosity and our love where there is the greatest need. What potential there is in that today, 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:53.519 as we practically, and what's our theme for the year that we are not only hearers of the word, 00:26:53.519 --> 00:27:02.960 but doers also. What powerful effect that could have on a cynical, suspicious, and secular world 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:11.200 in which we live that we are reaching out in that dramatic and powerful way to those who 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:24.080 we recognize that we want to share what we have with both primarily spiritually, but also materially 00:27:24.080 --> 00:27:34.960 and relationally. So much more than just financial support. So can I ask you to consider the 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:44.240 impossibility by looking at Jesus and by looking at what he's done for you to consider your spiritual 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:53.200 investment moving forward, your heart and your life into this gospel community and beyond, 00:27:54.000 --> 00:28:01.120 and even financially, because it will bring a spiritual harvest, it will not bring necessarily 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:06.319 in any way a financial return. I know that. And I do thank you because I know it's been a hard year 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:12.639 yet our giveings have been amazing, really amazing. But can I ask you to keep investing? 00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:19.759 Can I ask you to give financially to support our work if you're with us regularly and you 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:23.759 don't have a standing order? I would love you to think about taking one out, there's details in 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:30.559 our website. And if you do have a standing order, as I have one of the disadvantages of that as an 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:38.799 act of worship, it's not so visible for us. You know, we have a standing order and sometimes we 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:46.879 forget it's there and we cease to pray over it and offer it as an act of worship, although your 00:28:46.879 --> 00:28:54.000 giveings or monthly offering have been just unbelievable. But maybe it's worth looking at 00:28:54.000 --> 00:29:01.599 that again, as I need to do, so that we can maybe give more or maybe finance is change, 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:09.759 give less. But I would encourage you to do that in that regular act of giving, because there is so 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:20.400 much to do, so much more I think we can do. And God is no man's no person's debtor. He, there is this 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:30.160 amazing spiritual return of ongoing generosity that we experience when we hold loosely to our gifts, 00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:38.080 to our talents, to our time, to our love, and we share that with others. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:50.879 One day I'll share with you how much material resources I'm asking God to give us over this 00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:57.519 next while. I know He has given us everything. He's given us His Son, and He's given us all that we 00:29:57.519 --> 00:30:06.399 need. But I hope you will pray, as I pray, for the abundance of resources beyond what we can ask 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:15.040 or even imagine to be able to do kingdom work, gospel work, work that will bear a harvest of 00:30:15.040 --> 00:30:23.280 righteousness. That's all I ask. Amen. Father God, we pray that you would take away the 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:32.560 scales sometimes that are on our eyes. I pray that you'd forgive our, sometimes our lack of 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:41.200 appreciation for what you've given to us, what we possess and own in Jesus. And I pray especially 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:47.519 today for anyone who might be listening to this service online, or maybe we'll listen to it again, 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:57.440 the future online, who doesn't know you, who hasn't been touched or sought out, your amazing, 00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:05.039 generous love, who doesn't appreciate that Jesus died on the cross for them, or who doesn't think 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:16.160 it really matters that much, and who think God is miserly tight or not generous. Pray, Lord God, 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:23.680 that you would take the scales off their eyes and help them to see that to serve God and to follow 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:38.080 God is to know life and life to the full, and that you would destroy the deceit and the lies of the 00:31:38.080 --> 00:31:46.880 evil one who whispers a different narrative to us, but it's a narrative of emptiness and darkness 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:57.280 and loss and despair, sometimes covered in light, a wolf in sheep's clothing. 00:31:57.279 --> 00:32:15.759 Lord remind us of grace and of goodness. Amen.