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. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Now open up those pocketbooks and give generously to the church! That is the basic message of those preaching this message. Most mainline churches devote a month of services to browbeat and guilt trip people into giving. The problem is it lasts a year at most because they do not know why they are giving. The person who knows the saving grace of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins is more than ready to give to whatever the Lord commands. Jesus Christ commanded us to love our neighbor so we give to the Benevolence Fund and the Warming Center. The Lord has commissioned us to make disciples so we go out on Prayer Walks and hand out Welcome Bags with the gospel inside.
Come to Cape Community Church tomorrow as we finish up the two-sermon message on the giving of the Corinthians. As you walk in, you will see the gospel inside. You will hear the gospel inside. You will take the gospel outside. That is why we give, not because it is in the liturgical calendar to preach 4 sermons on giving. We give because he gave us the greatest gift in Christ.
Dear Lord, thank you for salvation in Jesus Christ. Accept our praise, prayers, and participation through giving to save the lost. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church