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BUILDING THE LOCAL CHURCH…

By Giving

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    We have been in a series of lessons entitled:  “Building Up the Local Church.”

1.      By effective leadership

2.      By sound gospel preaching

3.      By being committed to soul-winning

4.      By unity

5.      By love for all

6.      By every member being committed to the local church

 

B.      In this lesson, we want to continue this series.  Today’s lesson is entitled:  “Building Up the Local church…by Giving.”

 

C.     We will be examining three points in this lesson.

 

I.                   A LITTLE COMMON SENSE

 

A.    The church is a business. 

1.      We refer to it as a non-profit organization.

2.      All businesses operate through money.

 

B.      Money is our only medium of exchange.

1.      The only payment that businesses can use for services is money.

2.      We cannot barter. 

3.      We cannot expect things to be free.

 

C.     There is a base of expenses that must be covered.

1.      There are some bills the church will have regardless.  Sometimes we refer to this as “keeping the lights on.” Expenses.

a.      A place to meet (purchase or rent)

b.      Insurance

c.       Utilities

d.      Telephone

e.       Supplies

f.        Repairs/Replacement

2.      There are other things that the church may have to pay for.

a.      Preacher

b.      Building and yard up keep

c.       Secretary

d.      Advertising/Outreach

e.       Internet

f.        Power Point

3.      There are things that church is supposed to be doing:

a.      Evangelizing

b.      Edification

c.       Benevolence

4.      NOTE:  To do more things, requires more and more money.

 

II.                HOW THE CHURCH SUPPORTS ITSELF

 

A.    Man has devised all kinds of programs in an attempt to attract funds to the church.

1.      Membership donations

2.      Yard sales, bake sales, car washes

3.      Solicitation of funds

4.      Charging for services

5.      Establishing other businesses that bring in income

6.      Investments/Endowments

 

B.      The Bible principle that must be followed is that whatever we do must be authorized by the Word of God (Col. 3:17).

 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

1.      The phrase, “in the name of the Lord Jesus,” does not involve our merely saying Jesus’ name as we do something.

2.      Doing something “in the name of the Lord” means doing it by His authority.

a.      The only thing that provides us with authorization from God is the Bible, the Word of God.

b.      How do we know this is the divine authority?  It will judge us in the last day (John 12:48; Romans 2:2, 16)

 

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things…In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

 

C.     The question:  How does the New Testament authorize the church to support itself?

1.      The answer is:  Through the free-will offering of her members.

a.      The church in Jerusalem at the beginning (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35)

 

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

 

b.      One man specifically named (Acts 4:36-37)

 

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation, ) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

 

c.       When the church grew and large needs arose, Paul instituted a systematic way for the church to give of her means (I Cor. 16:1-2).

 

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

 

2.      There is no authorization for any other type of fund-raising in the Bible.  If there is, please show where God has authorized the church to fund itself in ways other than through the free-will offerings of her members.

 

 

III.             THE ACT OF GIVING

 

A.    An act of love (John 3:16; I John 3:16-17)

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave…

 

B.      An act of obedience (Luke 6:38)

 

Give…

 

C.     An act of imitation

1.      We are to imitate God (I John 3:16)

 

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:  and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

 

2.      We are to imitate great givers of the past (II Cor. 8:1-7).

 

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia…

 

D.    An act that is expected by deity (Matt. 6:2)

 

Therefore when thou doest thine alms…

 

E.      An act that is seen by God (Matt. 6:3-4)

 

But when thou doest thine alms, let not thy left hand know what they right hand doeth:  that thine alms may be in secret:  and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

 

F.      An act done out of right motives (Matt. 6:1)

 

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:  otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

 

G.     An act that is liberal and generous (II Cor. 8:7)

 

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

 

H.    An act that is voluntary (II Cor. 9:7)

 

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity…

 

I.        An act that is cheerful (II Cor. 9:7)

 

…for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

J.        An act that is reasonable (II Cor. 8:9)

 

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    If the church is going to be built up, all members must give as directed in the pages of the New Testatment.

 

B.      NOTE:  God did not command us to tithe in the New Testament.

1.      It might be a good place to start.  If all members of the church tithed, the Lord’s work would be well funded.

2.      But, God did not command the tithe.  He knew this could be limiting.  As we grow in Christ, we are not limited to 10%.  We can give 15%, 20%, 30% or more if we desire.

 

C.     Question:  Do I give like I truly understand that the Lord’s church is built up through the voluntary, free-will giving of the saints?