Gratitude

John 3:16; Luke 2:1-5; Galatians 6:7; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; 1Corinthians 16:1-2

Treasure

CIT: Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem

CIS: What gets measured gets managed

SO: The hearer will create a margin so they can give generously

Follow along at d1.church/notes. 

Intro: Live to Give Series.

From now until the end of the year, we will be discussing using our Time, Talent and Treasure to serve God to the fullest.

For God so loved the world that he GAVE his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

“Our God is a generous God, and he made us to be a generous people.”

Over the next few weeks, we will discuss what it means to be generous and how we use our Time, Talent, and Treasure to Glorify God in our lives. 

We will have opportunities to act over the next few weeks:

December 14- Undie Sundie

December 20- Firelight Fellowship/Men’s Gift Giving

December 21- Big Give

December 24- Christmas Eve Service at Special Event Center

December 28- Online service Only

No Midweek Dec 31 

Today, we are going to talk about our Treasure portion. I want first to be very clear. The church does not need your money. God does not need your money. I do not desire that anyone give by obligation but give willingly with a clear heart, as the scripture says. 

We are not desperate for money, and our bills are paid. We can continue with all ministries and community efforts in the upcoming year. 

We will always talk about giving generously because God has been generous to us. In Acts 17:24-25 Paul explains this to non-believers: “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

As we begin the story leading to Jesus’ birth, we find Mary and Joseph on a trip to Bethlehem.

1. Advent (Luke 2:1-5)

 In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

EXP: This was required by the government at the time and was necessary for God to fulfill promises made 700 years earlier. Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

ILL: We learn a few things from Luke’s scripture. Joseph is a descendant of the tribe of Judah, specifically King David himself. Now, this seems like fact-gathering to us, but when read by a Jewish descendant who understands scripture, this leads to a pivotal point. “If she gives birth right now, this could be the Messiah.”

EXP: The Roman Empire used the Census the same way we do as a country here in the USA. We send people out to count those living in an area to determine how best to allot the money from taxes. Knowing how many people are in Deming, the local, state, and federal governments can allocate funds for assistance programs, health care, and infrastructure. A per-person dollar amount can be spent, and the goal is to be fair. The Roman government and the USA are too big to know everything, and things change, so we do it every 4 years. As practical as that sounds...I believe God orchestrated this census to fulfill his word. Joseph goes to be counted because it is essential for his people, the people of Judah. Joseph isn’t doing this for himself. But he is a member of a tribe who needs support.

ILL: Every year we have to submit a report of Salvation, baptisms, Holy Spirit Baptisms and attendance numbers. These things are not what is important day to day, but they can give others an idea of how God is moving in our area. God has given us a word a while back now that said “He planted his flag in Deming” If God was moving and we were not following the Great Commission of Teaching and Baptizing and seeing miracles, there would be a problem. A disconnect. But since we are seeing it all, we can be assured we are working with God to accomplish his mission. Joseph and Mary are working in conjunction with prophecy.

APP: God made promises to his people and as they begin to see things happening they can know because it is measured.  We have the anticipation of promises fulfilled. This covers 2 of the Advent weeks for us. Hope was given, and God loves us so much to design a perfect plan.

T.S.: Joseph and Mary give of themselves first to their tribe and the people of Israel and, ultimately, the world. It was their heart to give.

1. Leading with Generosity (Luke 2:4)

 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

EXP: Joseph and Mary take their time, talent, and treasure and invest in going to Jerusalem to be counted among their people. So that they will be entitled in the end to what the Government or their Tribe of Israel is supposed to receive. 

ILL: When Bella had her surgery last year. It was a God-ordained moment that produced a miracle. She is still seizure-free. Wow! But can I tell you it cost us hotel rooms, fuel for travel, even airline tickets, and a lot of paying for food in the hospital, and don’t forget the multi-thousand dollar insurance deductible? God is moving, and he is the miracle worker; he owns the cattle on a thousand hills and sends Jesus, but there is still a cost to pay, even for miracles.

ILL: Joseph and Mary felt the trip. They knew the result for their community was worth the expense. The more generous you are, the more generous God will be with you. The more significant investment you make in the Kingdom, the more you can expect out of the Kingdom. Paul speaks about the principle of Sowing and reaping. 

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now, he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

ILL: Living paycheck to paycheck is basically fight or flight mode. When faced with a crisis humans responses are usually fight, flight, or freeze. If your finances are not in check you are making decisions from a fear/crisis mode. Every payday, you are backed into a corner where you have to decide if you are going to keep fighting, run away or just turtle. It is impossible to do what God has called you to do, when you are living in this mode. The way out is living to give. An attitude of Generosity is what it takes to be free.

ILL: There are a few levels of giving to talk about today. You can find yourself wherever you are. This is not for me or the Church. This is for you.

1. Givers
2. Tithes
3. Offerings
4. Authentic Generosity

APP: To sow properly requires planning

RELEASE People to be baptized

3. Treasure (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)

Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come, no collections will have to be made.

EXP: The apostle Paul again tells us how church people should consider their finances. He said we should prepare to be generous. Not as an afterthought, but before the need arises, we should make provisions for the need.

ILL: As Children of God, we should make a Census part of our lives. Paul says we should count everything and live in a way that creates a margin between our income and expenses. Not in a way that makes us rich so much, but that creates a way for us to give when the need arises.

ILL: In our house we call this a Budget. We have done a budget every month for over 9 years. Over time, God has shown us how to live and give in the proper order. The first line on our budget expenses is giving to the church. In this way, we put God first in every aspect of our money.  

APP: In the time when Christ came to the world. Our Generous God took a census of the world and determined it needed a savior. He sent Jesus at the right time in History, which is still available today. God is taking inventory of what you need and Supplying it. 

TS:  I want to be very clear again: I am not asking you to give because the church is in need. I am asking you to give because you get to be a part of what God is doing. There is no greater joy than meeting the needs of another. God knows that, too.

I want to pray for three groups today:

1. There are some who are waiting and watching for the promises of God with anticipation
2. I want to pray for you that God will deliver quickly
3. There are some who are measuring and managing the wrong things
4. I want to pray for you that God will show you the areas of your life that he wants you to measure in this season
5. There are those who heard for the first time that Christ came to save them
6. I pray today for salvation.