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Mission 2025: Building Blocks of the Heart - 1. Giving
Shaun Rossi // Building Blocks of the Heart 1. Giving
If believers will give from a heart of biblical motive, in line with biblical principles and priorities, God will bless with His results.
Sermon OutlineI. The Place of the Heart in Following Christ
“43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
— Luke 6:43-45
“12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
— Hebrews 4:12
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
— Ezekiel 36:26
II. The Priority of Giving From the Heart
“19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
— Luke 6:19-21
“The use of your money and how you give it is one of the best ways of evaluating your relationship with Christ and your spiritual trustworthiness. If you love Christ with all your heart, your giving will reflect that If you love Christ and the work of His Kingdom more than anything else, your giving will show that. If you are truly submitted to the lordship of Christ, if you are willing to obey Him completely in every area of your life, your giving will reveal it. We will do many things before we will give someone else, even Christ, the rights over every dollar we have and ever will have. But if you have done that, it will be expressed in your giving. That’s why it’s said that your checkbook tells more about you than almost anything else.”
— Donald Whitney, Author: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
“45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:45
III. The Principles of Giving From the Heart
“1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”
— 2 Corinthians 8:1-12
“6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
“The heart of the giver makes the gift dear and precious; as among ourselves we say of even a trifling gift, “It comes from a hand we love,” and look not so much at the gift as at the heart. True faith will no more fail to produce [good works] than the sun can cease to give light.”
— Martin Luther
why do we often sing the doxology after the offering at ucc?
*The doxology which is often sung at UCC was written in the 17th century. As can be seen from the text, it praises the Triune God as the source of all blessing and calls all creatures to praise him:
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”
There are good grounds for continuing to use doxologies in worship services. Doxologies are found in the Bible and have been in use for thousands of years in the church. As truth-filled words of praise, they glorify God. Like creeds, they also connect us to the church throughout history which has use these and similar words to praise God.
We usually sing the doxology after the offering. The offering itself is meant to be an act of worship, giving back to God was he has graciously given to us. A sung doxology helpfully reminds us that all of our financial provision comes from God, and that we are dependent on him from whom all blessings flow.
Some are uncomfortable singing the doxology because it may feel to "Catholic" or "liturgical." Of course, singing the doxology formally as a mere ritual without faith does not make one right before God (neither does coming to church, singing, or listening to a sermon without faith!).
But remember that part of the value of certain biblical traditions, and certainly our personal habits as training as disciples, is their repetition. And if there is anything worth repeating in this life, it is praising the altogether worthy Triune God!er go anywhere.
*This article is an excerpt from the UCC blog post “Why a Doxology?” You can read it in full here.
Giving at UCCAt UCC, there are two ways to give. First, you can give physically to the offering basket that is passed around during the third or fourth song. Second, you can give online directly to the UCC bank account. If you would like UCC online giving information, including reference numbers for missions and mission 2025 accounts, please speak to a member of the welcome team after service. Very soon, UCC hopes to be able to publish its account information on our website. Thank you for giving to the God’s work in and through UCC!
Finally, we aim to be entirely above reproach with the use of funds. If you have questions about the use of funds at UCC feel free to contact our executive pastor Daniel: [email protected]
Small Group StudyIntroduction1. In the sermon it was said:
“Listen to Jesus, in verse 21 of Matthew 6 “21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”! Our attitude to money is the sign of where our heart is. It is the sign of true faith and true love and true hope. We see that again and again in the Gospels (see, for example, Luke 3:10-14; 16:9, 13-15, 19-23; 18:22-23; 19:8-9). Over and over again Jesus is saying, “Tell me how you‘ve spent your money over the past week and I‘ll tell you where your heart is.” Think about what you have done with your money over the past month, it may be one of the very best indicators of where your heart is.”
Take a moment to reflect on the statement in bold. Is this true?
2. Read he following quote by Donald Witney on giving:
“The use of your money and how you give it is one of the best ways of evaluating your relationship with Christ and your spiritual trustworthiness. If you love Christ with all your heart, your giving will reflect that If you love Christ and the work of His Kingdom more than anything else, your giving will show that. If you are truly submitted to the lordship of Christ, if you are willing to obey Him completely in every area of your life, your giving will reveal it.”
Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Choose at least 3 texts as group, or break up into groups to study texts and present your answers to now another.
1. Read Romans 15:26; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Philippians 4:15.
What should we give for?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.
How does the world around us do fundraising? How should Christians do giving?
3. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-9.
Who gives?
How much should we give?
Why should they give?
4. Read Matthew 13:44.
Did the man sell his possessions out of duty?
Do you pity the man for selling his possessions? Why not?
What does this teach us about our attitude to money and possessions?
Choose at least 3 questions.
1. If I give money away, when do I give it: After I’ve paid all of my bills, or before?
2. Does my giving demonstrate that I believe God is not only trustworthy to take care of me, but generous in how he does it?
3. How have I approached the idea of giving a percentage of your income each month (such as a tithe): (1) legalistically, (2) licentiously or (3) informed and led by the gospel?
4. When giving money, do I release it or try to control it? Do I trust the elders of the church to determine where it is best spent, or do I want to make that call myself?
5. If the entire church followed my example of giving, where would we be as a church?
Close in prayer.
Back to Bulletin
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By United Community ChurchShaun Rossi // Building Blocks of the Heart 1. Giving
If believers will give from a heart of biblical motive, in line with biblical principles and priorities, God will bless with His results.
Sermon OutlineI. The Place of the Heart in Following Christ
“43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
— Luke 6:43-45
“12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
— Hebrews 4:12
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
— Ezekiel 36:26
II. The Priority of Giving From the Heart
“19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
— Luke 6:19-21
“The use of your money and how you give it is one of the best ways of evaluating your relationship with Christ and your spiritual trustworthiness. If you love Christ with all your heart, your giving will reflect that If you love Christ and the work of His Kingdom more than anything else, your giving will show that. If you are truly submitted to the lordship of Christ, if you are willing to obey Him completely in every area of your life, your giving will reveal it. We will do many things before we will give someone else, even Christ, the rights over every dollar we have and ever will have. But if you have done that, it will be expressed in your giving. That’s why it’s said that your checkbook tells more about you than almost anything else.”
— Donald Whitney, Author: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
“45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:45
III. The Principles of Giving From the Heart
“1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”
— 2 Corinthians 8:1-12
“6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
“The heart of the giver makes the gift dear and precious; as among ourselves we say of even a trifling gift, “It comes from a hand we love,” and look not so much at the gift as at the heart. True faith will no more fail to produce [good works] than the sun can cease to give light.”
— Martin Luther
why do we often sing the doxology after the offering at ucc?
*The doxology which is often sung at UCC was written in the 17th century. As can be seen from the text, it praises the Triune God as the source of all blessing and calls all creatures to praise him:
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”
There are good grounds for continuing to use doxologies in worship services. Doxologies are found in the Bible and have been in use for thousands of years in the church. As truth-filled words of praise, they glorify God. Like creeds, they also connect us to the church throughout history which has use these and similar words to praise God.
We usually sing the doxology after the offering. The offering itself is meant to be an act of worship, giving back to God was he has graciously given to us. A sung doxology helpfully reminds us that all of our financial provision comes from God, and that we are dependent on him from whom all blessings flow.
Some are uncomfortable singing the doxology because it may feel to "Catholic" or "liturgical." Of course, singing the doxology formally as a mere ritual without faith does not make one right before God (neither does coming to church, singing, or listening to a sermon without faith!).
But remember that part of the value of certain biblical traditions, and certainly our personal habits as training as disciples, is their repetition. And if there is anything worth repeating in this life, it is praising the altogether worthy Triune God!er go anywhere.
*This article is an excerpt from the UCC blog post “Why a Doxology?” You can read it in full here.
Giving at UCCAt UCC, there are two ways to give. First, you can give physically to the offering basket that is passed around during the third or fourth song. Second, you can give online directly to the UCC bank account. If you would like UCC online giving information, including reference numbers for missions and mission 2025 accounts, please speak to a member of the welcome team after service. Very soon, UCC hopes to be able to publish its account information on our website. Thank you for giving to the God’s work in and through UCC!
Finally, we aim to be entirely above reproach with the use of funds. If you have questions about the use of funds at UCC feel free to contact our executive pastor Daniel: [email protected]
Small Group StudyIntroduction1. In the sermon it was said:
“Listen to Jesus, in verse 21 of Matthew 6 “21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”! Our attitude to money is the sign of where our heart is. It is the sign of true faith and true love and true hope. We see that again and again in the Gospels (see, for example, Luke 3:10-14; 16:9, 13-15, 19-23; 18:22-23; 19:8-9). Over and over again Jesus is saying, “Tell me how you‘ve spent your money over the past week and I‘ll tell you where your heart is.” Think about what you have done with your money over the past month, it may be one of the very best indicators of where your heart is.”
Take a moment to reflect on the statement in bold. Is this true?
2. Read he following quote by Donald Witney on giving:
“The use of your money and how you give it is one of the best ways of evaluating your relationship with Christ and your spiritual trustworthiness. If you love Christ with all your heart, your giving will reflect that If you love Christ and the work of His Kingdom more than anything else, your giving will show that. If you are truly submitted to the lordship of Christ, if you are willing to obey Him completely in every area of your life, your giving will reveal it.”
Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Choose at least 3 texts as group, or break up into groups to study texts and present your answers to now another.
1. Read Romans 15:26; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Philippians 4:15.
What should we give for?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.
How does the world around us do fundraising? How should Christians do giving?
3. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-9.
Who gives?
How much should we give?
Why should they give?
4. Read Matthew 13:44.
Did the man sell his possessions out of duty?
Do you pity the man for selling his possessions? Why not?
What does this teach us about our attitude to money and possessions?
Choose at least 3 questions.
1. If I give money away, when do I give it: After I’ve paid all of my bills, or before?
2. Does my giving demonstrate that I believe God is not only trustworthy to take care of me, but generous in how he does it?
3. How have I approached the idea of giving a percentage of your income each month (such as a tithe): (1) legalistically, (2) licentiously or (3) informed and led by the gospel?
4. When giving money, do I release it or try to control it? Do I trust the elders of the church to determine where it is best spent, or do I want to make that call myself?
5. If the entire church followed my example of giving, where would we be as a church?
Close in prayer.
Back to Bulletin