Now we're going to continue our series, thinking about habits of a healthy church from the
book of Acts.
Our third habit is that of giving.
And we're going to see that a healthy church is a generous church.
Again, we've got a few texts that we will look at together to show us this truth.
Let me begin by making a statement, I suppose, that Christians, as we read in the Bible,
are called to give generously and joyfully, to support God's work, and to provide for
the needy in response to God's generous grace in Christ.
And what we'll see as we look at the book of Acts, as we look at the New Testament and
the Old Testament, is that giving is a gospel issue.
In light of the fact that the Father, in his loving kindness, has given us his Son to be
our Savior, that Jesus has come and he's left the glory of heaven to become one of us, has
given his life to be our Savior, that the Father and the Son have given us eternal life and given
us the Spirit to live in our hearts.
That's our motivation for generous giving.
So God's grace fuels our generosity.
Jesus said our giving is a heart issue.
Remember in the Sermon on the Mount, he talked about where our treasure is.
That's where our heart will be also.
So that money can be a barrier to our worship.
Jesus would say that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is
for a rich man to enter the kingdom.
But our money can also be a way that we show that we have been changed by God's love and
it can be a way to bless others.
That we can use money to serve other people.
So the way that we spend, the way that we consume, the Bible would say, is a matter of
the heart.
Two letters to talk about before we get to the book of Acts.
The first from the early 4th century, Emperor Julian, who was no friend of the Christian
faith.
He said this, there's a little bit of his letter up there.
He said, when it came about that the poor were neglected by the pagan priests, the Christians
observed this fact and devoted themselves to philanthropy.
They support not only their own poor, but ours as well.
All men see that our people lack aid from us.
And it's really interesting to look at the early centuries of the Christian church and
how one of the major reasons, I think, why it had such an impact within the Roman Empire
was the fact that not only was the Christian community caring for themselves, they were also
caring for others.
Where the pagan priests were failing, the Christians were caring.
Second, mercy and mission went together from the earliest days of the Christian church.
Second letter, much closer to home, from Manuel, Manuel Reanu, who we support in our mission
support fund just last month in March.
Another example, lovely example of God's providence.
So he was talking to a young pastor, anxious pastor, wondering how he was going to look after
his family with a very unstable income working for the church.
And so he was asking Manuel for advice.
Should he leave his calling in order to seek a more stable source of income?
And Manuel's advice was to trust that God would provide for his daily needs and for what his
family needed, that he shouldn't set aside his calling, but rather he should continue to pastor
and he should trust God to provide.
And then Manuel said 20 minutes after that chat, he got an email from us as a church to tell him that
we were just beginning to provide financial support for Manuel month after month.
And this is what Manuel said.
He said this was for him a divine confirmation of God's constant generous care.
God caring as people give.
Let's get into the book of Acts together.
We're going to go back to that passage that we've been in a few times.
Acts chapter 2, verses 42 to 45.
We'll find the words are up on our screen.
To think about this idea that giving, the giving of Christians expresses fellowship.
Acts 2, verse 42.
They devoted themselves, these first Christians who were converted after Peter preached at Pentecost,
they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common.
They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
So this first church, as we thought about before, they're devoted to fellowship.
And one way they expressed it was in this generous sharing.
It's that kind of mindset.
What's mine is yours.
When you read the Gospels, we discover that Jesus had a common purse.
That was looked after by Judas to meet the needs of the disciples.
And it seems like the church continues with this mindset.
And certainly the wealthy are selling land and possessions and giving to meet the needs of others.
And so again, from the beginning, this unity that they have in the Spirit,
this unity that they have because they are the body of Christ,
finds practical expression.
That their fellowship extends to financial care.
It's a reminder, again, that from the beginning, faith touches our wallets.
So it's clearly impacting their spending and their consumption.
And it's also reminding us that from the beginning,
the Christian faith and the Christian church was a community religion.
They were thinking of themselves as a fellowship, as a body together.
And that was, as we said already, part of the power of the early church witness.
The sacrificial voluntary giving to care for the needs of one another.
And that is something that you can see still today.
Something that has great power still today.
Giving to express fellowship.
So because we had family who were serving as missionaries in the Philippines,
we got to know some different missionary families.
And there was this one family who were serving among a remote tribal group called the Mung Young people.
It lived up in the hills on a small island.
Well, they heard about...
So the Philippines is very poor.
And the Philippines also has annual typhoon season.
And so those really rickety, poorly put together houses often destroyed.
And so this church up in the hills and this island over here discovered that when typhoon season came,
it really impacted heavily on a coastal town on another island.
And their response, poor as they were,
was to get a boat full of rice and to send it to that island as a way to show care and support.
giving the only thing that they could in order to express their fellowship as the body of Christ.
The Free Church, a number of weeks ago, we decided that we would partner with Blysewood in their Ukraine appeal.
And I don't know if you've been keeping up with that appeal,
but they've raised over half a million pounds to date.
And again, what's going on there is that the Christian church here in Scotland,
through Blysewood, has partners in Poland and surrounding countries.
And so that giving is meeting the needs of the poor and the suffering,
and it's standing as a mark of fellowship also.
And of course, that doesn't have to just be in the realm of finance.
Think about what happens perhaps when a family in the church has a new baby,
or there's someone who's sick in the congregation,
and people make the time to make some meals and to deliver those meals.
Again, that's a giving that expresses fellowship.
So whether our giving is local or global, whether it's money or time or resources,
we need to think about giving and fellowship and that vital connection,
supporting one another as the family of Christ.
We see it here from the beginning.
In Acts chapter 4, verse 32 to 37, we see something similar,
but we also are invited to see what motivates their giving.
So let's turn there next, Acts 4, verse 32 to 37,
where we read,
All the believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own,
but they shared everything they had.
With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all
that there was no needy person among them.
For from time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them,
brought the money from the sales,
and put it at the apostles' feet,
and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas,
which means son of encouragement,
sold a field he owned,
and brought the money,
and put it at the apostles' feet.
So Luke likes to record summary sections in the book of Acts.
There's one, Acts 2, 42 to 47.
These verses here are another summary,
and what we see summarized
is the impact of God's grace
on this early Christian church.
Verse 32,
They are one in heart and mind.
They are one in Christ.
They are one by the Spirit.
And then we discover in verse 33 and 34
that God's grace is powerfully at work in them.
And how is that demonstrated?
It's demonstrated in the way that they are caring for the poor.
So God's powerful love to them through Jesus
in the good news of the gospel
is leading the early church
to then sell possessions
to care for the needy.
So there's a connection between
the work of God in Jesus
and their work of caring for their poor.
And there's a wonderful impact here
as we think of their words and testimony
to the risen Lord Jesus
in verse 33.
They're continuing to testify powerfully
to the reality that Jesus died
and rose again for them,
giving them new life and salvation.
And there's powerful deeds and service
as these wealthy believers
are sacrificing for the sake of others.
Just as we thought about with Zacchaeus
in the book of Luke.
God's grace fueling generous sacrificial giving.
These early Christians,
they understand that the impact
of the truth of the gospel,
that Jesus loved me and gave himself for me,
and that's clearly transforming their hearts
and motivating generosity.
That's something that we see
whenever Jesus changed people's lives.
Like Luke chapter 7, verse 36 to 50
is a wonderful example.
The sinful woman who anoints Jesus with perfume.
That perfume recognized by scholars
most likely representing her life savings.
And there it is smashed and poured
at the feet of Jesus
in response to the extravagant grace
that she had received
from her Savior and Lord.
As Jesus said,
I tell you,
her many sins have been forgiven
as her great love has shown.
So there is a principle
that is established here
connected to our giving.
Before we give,
as we give,
as we consider our giving,
we meditate and reflect first
on God's giving to us
of the Lord Jesus.
That we would allow that
to be shaping our heart
and shaping then
our response
of giving.
We can continue
to Acts chapter 6
and verses 1 to 7.
And again,
we see the church active
in caring for the poor.
But this time,
with a slightly different focus,
let's think about giving
as mercy ministry.
Acts chapter 6,
verse 1 to 7.
In those days,
when the number of disciples
was increasing,
the Hellenistic Jews,
among them,
complained against
the Hebraic Jews
because their widows
were being overlooked
in the daily distribution
of food.
So the twelve gathered
all the disciples together
and said,
it would not be right
for us to neglect
the ministry of the word of God
in order to wait on tables.
Brothers and sisters,
choose seven men
from among you
who are known to be full
of the Spirit
and wisdom.
We will turn this responsibility
over to them
and will give our attention
to prayer
and the ministry of the word.
This proposal
pleased the whole group.
They chose Stephen,
a man full of faith
and of the Holy Spirit,
also Philip,
Prochorus,
Nicanor,
Timon,
Parmenas,
and Nicholas from Antioch,
a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men
to the apostles
who prayed
and laid their hands on them.
So the word of God spread.
The number of disciples
in Jerusalem
increased rapidly
and a large number
of priests
became obedient
to the faith.
So here we're invited
to see some tensions
emerging
in the early church.
We know that there are
large numbers
of new Christians
and many of them
are needy.
And so these two
groups of widows
from different cultures
and the minority group,
the Hellenistic
Greek culture
widows,
are being overlooked.
Not necessarily
deliberately,
it could just be
force of numbers.
But what's happening here
is that poor administration
and organization
is leading to grumbling
and is indeed a threat
to the unity
of this early church.
And so how do
the apostles
respond?
Verse 2,
it would not be right
for us
to neglect
the ministry
of the word of God
in order to wait
on tables.
Now it's important
not to imagine
that the apostles
are saying,
well,
it's not any concern
of ours.
It's not a priority
for us.
They're saying
it is a priority
for the church
and that's clear
because they want
to organize,
to administer.
They're just saying
it's not our priority.
What's their priority
for the apostles?
Verse 4,
we will give our attention
to prayer
and the ministry
of the word.
That's their primary calling,
to teach,
to preach,
to pray.
And so what they do
is they ask the church
to appoint servants.
We often look at this text
to give the basis
for the office
of deacon.
And these seven,
interestingly,
many of whom
have Greek names,
perhaps coming
from a Hellenistic
background themselves,
these seven are chosen
to oversee
this mercy ministry
to make sure
that none of the widows
are being overlooked.
God orders,
commands his church
to care for the widows
and the orphans
and so these seven
are appointed
to make sure
that that happens.
Verse 3 is interesting.
Brothers and sisters,
choose seven men
from among you
who are known
to be full
of the Spirit
and wisdom.
The church needed
men filled with the Spirit,
men of wisdom,
both for the pastoral ministry
and the preaching ministry
and the practical ministry
within the church.
And Luke records for us
the outcome
when each focuses
as they are gifted.
Verse 7,
the word of God spread
and the number of disciples
increased rapidly.
So the apostles
continue to preach
and teach
and then
these deacons
help to make sure
that the practical needs
are being met
and the church
continues
to grow.
people.
And just
while we're on
this text,
which is a really
important text
for a number of reasons,
but it's certainly important
for helping us
to understand
our own church practice
of elders
and deacons
and as we will soon
be ordaining
a new elder
and some new deacons,
it's helpful for us
to stop
and think about
how tasks
are divided.
And what do we see here
is that
the apostles
represent
the work
of the eldership,
that we are
committed to
words and prayer
within the church
and the deacons
support that work
by focusing
in a spiritual way
on practical ministry.
And that includes
making sure
that the needs
of others are met,
that we are
well organized,
that we can be
caring for one another
as a church family.
And so perhaps
even as we think
about ordaining
new people,
it's a reminder
that we can be
praying for our elders
and for our deacons,
that we would have
these two focuses,
foci,
in our church,
that we would function
well,
to serve well.
But giving is
a mercy ministry.
Perhaps some of you
remember meeting
a guy called
Sashko,
a church planter
working in Poland.
He came to our
weekend away
a few years ago
and I just got
a newsletter
from him
this week.
And so he's got
a very small
church in Krakow,
but they're taking
in a lot
of refugees
from Ukraine.
and so his little
church has
mobilized
and they're
providing meals
every day
and they've got
a children's daycare
center that they've
just set up
and they're taking
in clothes
and giving those
clothes out
and they're giving
family support.
And in God's
providence,
he's from Ukraine,
so he speaks
Ukrainian,
so he's able to
teach the kids
Bible stories,
he's able to share
God's word
with families.
And there's a
wonderful picture
there in Krakow
of God's people
both sharing
the gospel
and helping
people's
practical needs.
It's a really
biblical pattern.
And so we can
pray for folks
like Sashko
and many others
who are
engaged in the
front line right
now,
reminding us that
giving is a
mercy ministry.
The last text
from the book of
Acts that we're
going to look at,
we'll jump forward
to Acts chapter 11
and verse 25
to 30.
This brings us
to the church
in Antioch.
So Acts chapter 11
at verse 25.
Then Barnabas
went to Tarsus
to look for Saul
and when he found
him,
he brought him
to Antioch.
So for a whole
year Barnabas
and Saul
met with the church
and taught
great numbers
of people.
The disciples
were called
Christians
first at Antioch.
During this time
some prophets
came down
from Jerusalem
to Antioch.
One of them
named Agabus
stood up
and through
the spirit
predicted that
a severe famine
would spread
over the entire
Roman world.
This happened
during the reign
of Claudius.
The disciples
as each one
was able
decided to
provide help
for the brothers
and sisters
living in Judea.
This they did
sending their gift
to the elders
by Barnabas
and Saul.
So here we're
being introduced
to the Antioch
church,
a largely
Gentile church,
a church
that has been
well taught
by Barnabas
and then by Saul
solidly teaching
for a year
there.
The outsiders
were calling
them Christians,
not necessarily
a term of
endearment
but a sign
that it was
evident who
they belonged
to and who
they worshipped.
And to this
church comes
this warning
from Agabus
about a famine,
a famine that came
in the 40s AD
and their
response is so
interesting
because their
response is
that they are
going to look
to provide
for mother
church,
the church
in Judea.
And so
everyone who
gives as
they are able
and this gift
is to be
organized by
Barnabas and
Saul.
Now why
did they
choose to
give to
Judea?
Well perhaps
they appreciated
that famine
would be a
particularly big
problem in
that region.
Perhaps
they'd heard
that there
are large
numbers of
poor Christians
living in
Jerusalem.
We just saw
it in Acts
6.
Perhaps
they knew
that the
Christians
there in
the heart
of the
Jewish
nation
would likely
be cut
off from
Jewish food
distribution.
That was
what happened.
That's something
that we hear
today as well.
Persecuted
Christians will
testify living
in poorer
countries that
often they
miss out on
food distribution,
aid distribution
because of
their faith.
We're not
told the
reason why
they're
motivated to
give to
Judea but
nevertheless
they do.
Maybe it's
simply because
the Jerusalem
church had
given so
much.
The apostles
came from
there.
The gospel
emanated from
there.
And perhaps
they knew
that the
church in
Jerusalem had
been suffering
much in
terms of
exclusion and
would face
famine.
And so
their instinct
is let's
help.
Let's
not just
leave them
to it.
Let's
help.
And so
their giving
is an
expression of
church unity.
This church
in Antioch
who most
likely never
met anybody
in the
church in
Judea
aimed to
alleviate
their suffering
as a way
to promote
unity,
to put
their faith
into action
for the
sake of
the body
of Christ.
Christ.
I really
like the
way Ajit
Fernando
puts it.
So Ajit
Fernando
works for
Youth for
Christ in
Sri Lanka.
He's the
director of
that mission.
And he
says the
body of
Christ
mentality
should be
that when
one part
is pinched
we must
say,
ow,
that hurts.
There should
be a real
living connection
within the
body of
Christ.
So whether
that's
Ukraine or
India or
Afghanistan,
whatever,
when one
part suffers
we all
suffer.
And as we
see here
from Acts
11,
it also
gives us
the opportunity
to give,
to look to
support,
to show and
demonstrate
church unity.
I think for
us as a
local congregation
it's one of
the reasons
why we
chose to
set up our
mission support
fund,
which just
began at the
start of the
year.
It's a way
to express
our unity and
to show love
to the
Reannels
over in
Colombia,
and as we
look to be a
mother church
in Galashios.
It's a way
for us in a
very tangible
way to
express church
unity and
commitment to
those very
different ministries
in different
parts of the
world.
John Piper
puts it this
way,
the ministry
and mission
of the
church is
at the
center of
Christian
giving.
And it's
what you
see time
and again
in the
book of
Acts.
Now we're
going to
leave Acts
for the
moment and
we're going
to turn
in our
Bibles to
1 Corinthians
the end of
chapter 15
and into
chapter 16
because here
we have a
really important
set of
principles in
this very
short practical
section.
Just before
this we have
Acts chapter
15 where
Paul speaks
much about
the
resurrection
of Christ
and the
reality of
our
resurrection
bodies.
And then
in chapter
15 verse
58 he
says,
Therefore
my dear
brothers and
sisters stand
firm,
let nothing
move you,
always give
yourselves fully
to the work
of the Lord
because you
know that
your labour
in the Lord
is not in
vain.
Now about
the collection
for the
Lord's people,
do what I
told the
Galatian
churches to
do.
On the
first day
of every
week each
one of you
should set
aside a
sum of
money in
keeping with
your income,
saving up so
that when I
come no
collections will
have to be
made.
Then when I
arrive I
will give
letters of
introduction to
the men you
approve and
send them with
your gift to
Jerusalem.
If it seems
advisable for
me to go
also they
will accompany
me.
And so
just to
start there
in verse
58 he
says therefore
therefore in
light of
Jesus'
resurrection he
says two
things is hold
on to gospel
truth and
dedicate yourself
to gospel
work.
He reminds us
as Christians
that we have
hope and
purpose our
labour in
the Lord is
not in
vain because
of the
resurrection
and then he
immediately moves
from there to
think about this
collection that
they are to
give for the
Lord's people
and perhaps
we are to
understand that
one of those
labours in
the Lord is
giving to
serve the
needs of
others.
Five questions
that we can
ask in this
little section
that can help
us towards
five principles
for our
giving.
First question
why should
Christians
give?
Two reasons
we find in
here.
the first
is implicit
the second
more explicit
perhaps.
Verse two
on the first
day of
every week
each one of
you should
set aside
a sum of
money.
The first
day of
the week
the day
when
Christians
worship
their giving
was to be
part of
their worship
was something
they did
on the first
day of
the week
this new
day of
worship
a day
that changed
because of
the resurrection
of the
Lord
Jesus.
Verse three
I will
give letters
of introduction
to the men
you approve
and send
them with
your gift
to Jerusalem.
this is voluntary
this gift
it's the
language of
grace
not demand
it's a
reminder again
that our
giving flows
from the
gospel
act of
worship
response
to grace
Jesus
Andy
Stanley
who writes
really
helpfully
says
God's
extravagant
generosity
towards
us
compels
us
to be
extravagantly
generous
towards
others
so why
should we
give
we should
give as
our
worship
we should
give
because
of
grace
who
should
give
that's
dealt
with
here
verse
two
each
one
of
you
should
set
aside
a
sum
of
money
every
follower
of
Jesus
recognizing
this
church
like
every
church
is
made
up
of
rich
and
poor
mixed
group
but
if
Jesus
is
Lord
and
it
all
belongs
to
him
we
are
all
asked
to
give
as
part
of
our
faith
where
should
we
give
it's
also
dealt
with
here
and
this
is
interesting
there
is
that
reference
to
setting
aside
a
sum
of
money
and
then
the
church
collecting
it
and
then
we
discover
in
verse
3
that
it
will
be
sent
with
your
gift
to
Jerusalem
so
we
give
both
in
church
and
for
church
our
generosity
begins
with
the
church
family
we
are
to
give
to
serve
the
church
family
again
it's
a
reminder
of
the
way
that
generosity
unites
churches
part
of
the
way
our
Presbyterianism
works
is
our
financial
sharing
supporting
the
strong
supporting
the
weak
so we
give
in
church
and we
give
for
the
church
when
should
we
give
how
often
should
we
give
we
can
find
that
there
too
here's
the
principle
on the
first
day
of
every
week
so it's
a reminder
that for
Paul
in the
Bible
the
expectation
is we
give
regularly
it's
normal
and
ongoing
it's
not a
one-off
based on
emotional
appeal
it's
not a
one-off
based on
well I
happened to
get a
bonus
this
month
so I've
got a
bit more
disposable
income
no we're
invited to
give
regularly
how much
should
we give
maybe
that's
the
question
we're
all
waiting
for
and
verse
two
gives
us
guidance
there
each
one of
you
should
set
aside
a
sum
of
money
in
keeping
with
your
income
it's
interesting
isn't it
there's
no
percentage
set
in the
Old
Testament
they
spoke
of
the
tithe
but
there's
no
percentage
level
there
it's
a
helpful
reminder
that
then
and
now
in
a
mixed
congregation
people
have
very
different
levels
of
income
for
somebody
who
is
struggling
to
survive
10%
might
be
a
bridge
too
far
someone
who
is
very
affluent
10%
may
be
far
too
low
even
within
the
Old
Testament
when
there
was
the
tithing
requirement
that
was
always
just
at
a
base
level
there
was
also
free
will
offerings
there
was
also
first
fruit
offerings
so
there
was
the
floor
set
but
there
was
never
a
ceiling
set
and
you
find
those
different
times
especially
around
the
building
of the
tabernacle
and the
temple
the
people
were
giving
so
much
and
so
generously
that
the
priest
actually
had to
say
whoa
stop
we've
got
enough
and
more
than
enough
and
talk
about
a
tithe
but
there
is
talk
on
a
generous
joyful
sacrificial
in
response
to
God's
grace
to us
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Tim
Keller
the
pastor
in
New
York
made
the
observation
a
number
of
years
ago
that
this
side
of
the
cross
as
we
have
known
more
of
God's
grace
as
we
have
seen
how
God's
salvation
comes
to
pass
in
the
sending
of
his
own
son
Jesus
he
asked
the
question
of
his
church
should
we
give
less
than
an
Old
Testament
believer
in
light
of
greater
grace
that
we
have
received
how
much
should
we
give
we
should
give
in
keeping
with
our
income
that
then
becomes
a
matter
of
good
stewardship
and
a
matter
of
our
own
conscience
doesn't
it
but
what
we
can
see
in
the
book
of
Acts
as
we
see
the
church
grow
we
can
appreciate
really
clearly
that
a
healthy
church
is a
generous
church
and
that
makes
sense
if we
return
to
why
we
give
if
our
giving
is in
response
to
God's
giving
then a
healthy
church
is a
church
that
delights
in
the
gospel
where
our
treasure
is in
heaven
because
our
treasure
is
Jesus
and
it's
that
heart
and
it's
that
mindset
that
makes
it
easier
to
give
it
motivates
generosity
for
mercy
and
mission
let me
close
I guess
with a
word of
thanks as
well as
a call
to
reflect
because
as a
church
we are
to be
thankful
we're
coming
towards
the end
of
pandemic
thankful
that
many
have
been
generous
in
an
ongoing
way
that
God
has
looked
after
us
through
pandemic
that
our
finances
haven't
taken
a
huge
hit
and
a
dip
that
people
have
responded
maybe
giving
differently
than
the
past
finding
different
ways
to
give
and
so
as
church
leaders
we are
thankful
for
that
but
I
think
it
gives
us
a
chance
to
reflect
first
and
especially
as
we're
around
Easter
to
reflect
on
the
generous
sacrificial
grace
shown
to
us
in
Jesus
and
then
to
reflect
on
our
own
giving
is
it
a
response
of
worship
I
think
that's
one of
the
challenges
maybe
this is
just
me
but
when
we
give
by
direct
debit
it's
a real
challenge
is my
response
worship
or is
just
another
amount
of money
that comes
out of
the bank
at the
start
of the
month
is
my
giving
fueled
by
an
understanding
of all
that God
has done
for me
in
Jesus
the fact
that he's
made me
part of
his body
part of
his kingdom
and is
that
fueling
our
response
well
let's
leave
that
there
and
let's
pray
together
Lord
once again
we want
to thank
you
for
your
generous
grace
towards
us
in the
Lord
Jesus
we know
that we
do not
deserve
your
mercy
we do
not
deserve
to be
called
children
of God
we do
not
deserve
to have
our
sins
forgiven
we do
not
deserve
the
promise
of
eternal
life
but by
trusting
in the
person
and the
work
of the
Lord
Jesus
all
of these
benefits
and so
many
more
come
freely
to us
Lord
we pray
that more
and more
you would
be reminding
us of
these
wonderful
truths
and that
that would
help us
then
to think
about
how to
respond
with
our
giving
whether
that's
our
money
or our
time
or other
resources
Lord
we pray
that our
giving
would be
a practical
demonstration
of that
fellowship
that we
have
that being
part of
a body
of Christ
that means
we'd be
on the
lookout
for ways
that we
can serve
others
by giving
in different
ways
Lord
we pray
that our
giving
would be
a means
for us
extending
mercy
to
others
Lord
we are
aware
that there
are so
many
challenges
that people
are facing
around the
world
and within
our own
country
there are
increasing
economic
challenges
to come
Lord we
pray that
you would
give us
hearts
that are
mobilized
for mercy
ministry
Lord we
pray
thanking you
for our
deacons
and the
prospect of
new deacons
thanking you
for our
women's
pastoral
team
thanking you
for everyone
who is on
the lookout
for how
to extend
mercy
Lord we
pray to be
known as a
community
of mercy
Lord we
thank you
too that
our giving
can express
our unity
with brothers
and sisters
in Christ
in different
parts of the
world
and for us
as a local
church
we thank
you for
that unity
that we
have
with
Manuel
and Patty
in
Colombia
and with
Craig
and Amy
and the
future
church
plant
in
Galashios
Lord we
ask
to be
good
partners
for them
to be
praying
for them
to be
concerned
about them
to be
taking an
interest
in those
different
ministries
taking place
across
different
continents
and Lord
may you
use
our
small
gifts
to
do
great
things
in your
kingdom
Lord we
pray that
you'd help
us to
reflect
on
the
teaching
of your
word
so that
we might
be
generous
givers
because of
your
generosity
to us
we pray
in
Jesus
name
Amen
and now
as we
close
we'll
sing
the hymn
take my
life
and let
it be
and we
will stand
and we
will sing
together
k
things
they
are
they