How Do I Become a Member?

Today in our sermon series we’re looking at giving as a form of our membership.

2 Corinthians 9: 1-7

We are going to look at giving principally and practically. Principally the Bible teaches God’s people should give by tithing and generosity generosity. Tithing was a mandate but generosity is a condition of heart. And generosity always outdoes tithing and heart always out gives mandate. Tithing is to generosity what the Law is to Grace. Which do you want to live by.

The context of our text today is the church in Jerusalem has a need and the church in Corinth has the provisions to meet their need. So they have prepared an offering to send them

The Sycamore's principles of giving:

10% Tithing

10% Savings

10% Building

35% Salary

35% Operations

Each month we set aside 10 percent of the total giving to the church and give it to ministries and charities outside this church. We actually plan to give closer to 25 percent for ministries and charities this year.

The Apostle Paul is telling the church in Corinth to BE READY when he arrives to receive their gift for the church in Jerusalem

When we’re not ready to give as Paul has instructed we tend to give what we don’t have.

"Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure"

1. Reluctant = Grudgingly

2. Response to Pressure= Necessity

Necessity is an imposition or calamity. We can tell from the context that Paul has given them a year to collect their offering for Jerusalem so it must not be too much of an emergency. The church does give to need but not out of pressure.

Paul says I want you to BE READY. If we go back we see Paul was teaching this for a while.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

The church was to be ready by putting a little aside at the beginning of each week. It’s much easier to give when you have prepared to give. So many come to church with no intention of giving but only receiving.

When you’re ready to give it makes you a cheerful giver. When we’re not ready to give we develop a grudge. We may give but its grudgingly. A grudge steals the joy of giving. A grudge harbors bitterness and mistrust. But a cheerful giver motivates others to give.

2 Corinthians 9:2 For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.

When you’re ready to give it accelerates the vision. I’m thankful our church is not in a place of necessity But we will soon be in a need of space. So we are getting ready.

As a member when you give it helps us get to our vision. Of course we can have all kinds of vision but if there aren’t resources to activate the vision it just stays on the paper.

Prepared giving is spiritual giving. I grew up thinking God couldn’t move if we planned it. I thought spontaneity equaled spirituality. But God can move an bless a plan as well as a u-turn.

Giving was a planned celebration.

Exodus 23:15,16 No one may appear before me without an offering.

“Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest.

This celebration of giving was mandatory to commemorate the harvest. They did it every year by bringing two loaves of bread from the first part of their harvest.

Proverbs 3:9 says Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.

This is what God was asking them to do in Exodus during the Festival of Weeks or Pentecost. Come to Jerusalem to the Temple prepared.

When we don’t come prepared we’re likely to manipulate or be manipulated.

Members of Israel were commanded to come once a year to bring a prepared gift. Who were these members of Israel?

Isaiah 56:6-7 “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the LORD, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant. I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

The place the people of Israel brought their prepared gifts to God’s house of prayer.

Jesus gets upset in Mark 11:15-17 “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

Jesus was angry because the sacrifices represented Him and when they didn’t come ready God’s house was reduced to market items instead of the Passover Lamb. When we give we are bringing gifts that represent His sacrifice.

When God’s people don't come ready to bring their gift they have to buy. People are cheated by up selling what God already purchased. God never intended for us to purchase our sacrifice.

Jesus gave so we could give.