Our
Shared Values-2 & 3
Consumers
or Contributors?
Memory
Verse: Psalm 116:12 (NKJV) 12
What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
TEXT:
Romans 12:3-8
Romans
12:3–8 (NKJV) — 3
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as
God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many
members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one
another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our
faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches,
in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with
liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.
2
Corinthians 8:1–5 (NKJV) — 1
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the
churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their
liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes,
and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with
much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they
first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
Introduction:
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SPIRITUAL CONTRIBUTORS:
1.
Contributors are Selfless
Acts
2:44–45 (NIV) — 44
All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions
to give to anyone who had need.
Acts
4:33–35 (NIV) — 33
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 34 that there were no needy persons
among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,
brought the money from the sales 35
and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had
need.
2.
Contributors Serve God with all they
have.
First, your spiritual gift must edify
the church of God.
1
Corinthians 14:12 (NKJV) — 12
Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the
edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Act like you receive this gifts and talents from God.
Second, you should not be arrogant as
you use your spiritual gifts.
Romans
12:3 (NET) — 3
For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more
highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober
discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.
2
Corinthians 10:17 (ESV) — 17
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Third, we must use our spiritual
gifts in love.
1
Corinthians 13:1 (NIV) — 1
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only
a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
1
Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) — 13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is
love.
Fourth, be humble as you use your spiritual gifts. Don’t
think that you are indispensable. Never think of yourself highly than
you should.
Romans
12:3–5 (NKJV) — 3
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not
to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think
soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as
we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same
function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually
members of one another.
Fifth, everyone has an important role
to play in the body of Christ.
Romans
12:4–5 (NKJV) — 4
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the
same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members of one another.
3.
Contributors are
world changers
Matthew
5:14–16 (NKJV) — 14
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp
and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who
are in the house. 16 Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven.
Let others See Jesus in You
While passing thro' this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.
Refrain:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.
2. Your life's a book before their eyes,
They're reading it thro' and thro'
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?
Refrain
3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.
Refrain
Acts
4:33–34 (NIV) — 33
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 34 that there were no needy persons
among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold
them, brought the money from the sales
Acts
20:35 (NKJV) — …‘It
is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
4.
Contributors Surrender Everything to the Lord
Luke
5:11 (ESV) — 11
And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and
followed him.
Luke
18:28 (NKJV) — 28
Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
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1. All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. |
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I surrender all,
I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all. |
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2
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All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now. |
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3
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All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine. |
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4
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All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me. |
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5.
Contributors are Generous People.
Acts
20:35 (NIV) …
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
John 3:16 (NKJV) — 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.
Psalm
50:10 (ESV) — 10
For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
Psalm
81:10 (NKJV) — 10
I am the Lord your God, Who
brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
2
Corinthians 8:1–5 (NIV) — 1
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has
given the Macedonian churches. 2 In
the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme
poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond
their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in
this service to the Lord’s people. 5
And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all
to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
First, they gave generously. Verse 2
2
Corinthians 8:2 (NIV) — 2
In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme
poverty welled up in rich generosity.
Second, they gave sacrificially. Verse 2
2
Corinthians 8:2 (ESV) — 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.
Third, they gave surprisingly. They exceeded expectation. Verse 3,
5a.
2
Corinthians 8:3 (NLT) — 3
For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.
And they did it of their own free will.
2
Corinthians 8:5 (NIV) — 5
And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the
Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
Fourth, they gave voluntarily. Verse 3b-4.
2
Corinthians 8:3–4 (ESV) — 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—
Fifth, they surrendered themselves to the Lord before offering
their offerings to God.
2
Corinthians 8:5 (NIV) — 5
And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the
Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
Isaiah
32:8 (NKJV) — 8
But a generous man devises generous things, And by generosity he shall stand.
Leviticus 27:30 (NKJV) — 30 And all the tithe of the land,
whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.
Luke 6:38 (NKJV) — 38 Give, and it will be given to you:
good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into
your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to
you.”
Malachi
3:8 (ESV) — 8
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed
you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
3:10–11
(ESV) — 10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord
of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for
you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the
devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your
vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
Acts
4:33–34 (ESV) — 33
And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34
There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of
lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
CONCLUSION:
Psalm 116:12 (NKJV) 12 What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?
ONLINE GIVING
Acts 20:35 (NKJV) “…
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Write the amount on the envelope and write ONLINE
on top of envelope then drop it in offering plate.
