The Steel City Church

Growing as a Giver: From Meeting Needs to Kingdom Opportunities - Grow Series - David - November 17, 2024

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In this sermon about growing as a "Giver" in the church, the speaker explores Acts 11:19-30 to illustrate three key aspects of biblical giving. Drawing from the early church's example in Antioch, the message emphasizes that giving extends beyond financial contributions to include serving, stewarding, and sacrificing for spiritual needs.

The sermon outlines three main points about growing as a Giver:

  1. Meeting a Need: Like Barnabas who traveled to Antioch to support new Gentile believers, Christians should be willing to identify and meet practical needs within their church community. This isn't about complex solutions but simple willingness to serve where needed.
  2. Owning a Need: Exemplified by Barnabas seeking out Saul (Paul) to help teach new believers, Christians should take ownership of needs they identify rather than waiting for others to solve them. This involves stewarding one's time, talents, and resources for the kingdom's advancement.
  3. Transforming Needs into Opportunities: The Antioch church's response to the Jerusalem famine demonstrates how believers can view challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth and kingdom advancement. They sent both resources and their best leaders (Barnabas and Saul) to help.

    4. The message concludes by highlighting that what made early Christians distinctive wasn't just that they served and sacrificed (since everyone serves something), but that they did so specifically for Christ's body, the church. The sermon challenges listeners to pray about three areas: identifying needs to serve, stewarding resources for kingdom work, and finding joy in sacrifice.

    Throughout the message, the speaker emphasizes that true Christian giving prioritizes spiritual needs over physical ones, following Christ's example who "for the joy set before Him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2).

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