Generous

“Sowing and Reaping”

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

1. The principles of giving

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (vv. 6-7).

1. How to give

1. Heart to give

2. The provisions for giving

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 (v. 8).

1. Divine source

1. Divine supply

3. The purposes for giving

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. . . while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift (vv. 12-15)!

1. Compassion

1. Celebration
2. Community

Generoso

"Siembra y Cosecha"

2 Corintios 9:6-15

1. Sembrar generosamente

Recuerden esto: El que siembra escasamente, escasamente cosechará, y el que siembra en abundancia, en abundancia cosechará (v. 6).

1. La provisión de las semillas

1. Los principios de la siembra

2. Sembrar alegremente

Cada uno debe dar según lo que haya decidido en su corazón, no de mala gana ni por obligación, porque Dios ama al que da con alegría (v. 7).

1. Algunos dan por culpabilidad

1. Algunos dan por codicia

1. Algunos dan con alegría

3. Sembrar agradecido

                  ¡Gracias a Dios por su don inefable! (v. 15)

1. Satisface las necesidades

1. Construye una comunidad

1. Glorifica a Dios

On the night Nell and I were commissioned as missionaries, a former missionary shared the following story with us.  She and her husband had served the Lord in the Far East.  One evening they hosted other missionaries in their home for a nice dinner.  She set the table with their fine china.  She prepared a delicious meal of favorite dishes.  For the centerpiece she chose a beautiful orchid from their flower garden.  It was a gorgeous bloom and, as they and their guests enjoyed their time together, comments were made about the flower’s exquisite beauty.

After they had eaten, the guests moved to the living room to continue their fellowship.  In the course of their conversation, her husband asked the guests if any of them had noticed the container that held the flower.  None of them had noticed it.  After all, it was a simple, small, unadorned glass star that had doubled at other times as a candle holder.  He then made a point.  The flower was the centerpiece and rightly got the attention.  The container did its job by putting the glory of the blossom on display.  No one needed to have noticed the small, glass star. 

We, as believers, are like that small, glass container.  Nothing too special about us.  But we are to put on display the glory of God’s goodness—His grace in Jesus Christ.  We hold this treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7).  We are to be “grace displays.”  When people see our lives, they should see a living demonstration of the goodness of our Lord. 

There were some believers who lived this way.  They were “grace displays.”  We meet them in 2 Corinthians 8:1-7.

Generous

“Grace Displays”

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

1. Generosity is a proof

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 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 (vv. 1-2).

1. Tough realities

1. Tender response

2. Generosity is a privilege

For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints (vv. 3-4).

1. It is extravagant

1. It is enthusiastic

3. Generosity is a process

And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 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 (vv. 5-7).

1. Starts with conversion

1. Strengthened by community
2. Shows through compassion

This Lord’s Day we will celebrate “Go Global” Sunday.  It is our special yearly emphasis on taking the good news of God’s grace to the far corners of the globe.

The basis for our global goal is the grace of God in Christ.  Because we have come to know His grace experientially, we are motivated to give generously and go courageously till all the world has had an opportunity to experience the same gift.

William Borden was heir to his family’s massive wealth.  As a young man he was already a millionaire.  His parents gave him a trip around the world as a graduation present from high school.  He was sixteen. 

He went to Yale University and there impacted his campus powerfully for Christ.  He eventually surrendered his future to become a missionary to Muslims and to “go global.”  He renounced the wealth and comforts that could have been his and set sail. 

He never made it there.  He died at 25 years of age of spinal meningitis, contracted in Cairo, as he studied Arabic.  When the news of William Borden's death was cabled back to the U.S., the story was carried by nearly every American newspaper.  "A wave of sorrow went round the world . . . Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice" wrote Mary Taylor in her introduction to his biography.  He had written in his Bible, “No retreat, no reserves, no regrets.”  God wants us to live that way as well.  He wants us to “go global” because his grace is global.

In the mid-1900s Detroit, Michigan was one of America’s greatest cities.  Its population swelled to some 2 million.  Its industrial base, centered on the production of automobiles, made it affluent.  The architecture of the city reflected its optimism and wealth. 

But in more recent years its fortunes have changed.  People began to move out into the suburbs.  The population plummeted.  Buildings fell into disrepair and ruins.

The demise of Detroit was captured in a series of photos by a pair of Parisian photographers named Marchand and Maffre.  There’s a heavy sadness that these photos prompt (show photos).  The sadness arises from the chasm that exists between what once was and now is.

This morning we’re going to take a closer look at a majestic, ancient city that once stood proudly.  It enjoyed the blessings of heaven—Jerusalem, the city of David, the capital city of God’s people.  It gleamed with golden facades beneath the sun’s rays.  But that once mighty city fell tragically.  Thankfully, that fall was not the final chapter in its story.

The reason its fall was not its final chapter is because of the amazing faithfulness of our God.

Now you may wonder, “What does Detroit, much less an ancient city like Jerusalem, have to do with me?”   Good question.  I want you to consider whether they might be a parable of our own lives.  Is there a gap between what once was in your spiritual life and what now is?  If so, that doesn’t have to be the final chapter in your story.  In God we all have a future and hope!

God Is

“God Is Faithful”

Lamentations 3:21-24

Key verses: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (3:22-23).

1. Great fall
   1. Rooted in disobedience
   2. Results in discipline
2. Greater faithfulness
   1. That is never-ending
   2. That is new
3. Greatest future
   1. Linked to a person
   2. Launched with a plea

One of the first choruses I learned to sing is entitled “God Is So Good.”  It is simple and child-like, but it is also true and priceless.  Here are the lyrics:

God is so good,

God is so good,

God is so good,

He’s so good to me!

The famous and brilliant Swiss theologian Karl Barth was once asked if he could summarize his life’s work in theological studies in one sentence.  He answered that he could.  He said it could be summarized in a sentence he learned at his mother’s knee, “Jesus love me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.” 

“God is so good” is another summary statement that could encompass the whole of theology and Bible truth.  It will be our focus in this message from Psalm 34:1-10.

God Is

“God Is Good”

Psalm 34:1-10

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8)!

1. God Is Worthy
   1. Of unending praise
   2. Of unequalled praise
   3. Of united praise
2. God Is Working
   1. He responds to our cries
   2. He rescues from our crises
3. God Is Wonderful
   1. Accept his proposal
   2. Accept his provisions

Dios es

"Dios es bueno"

Salmo 34:1-10

“…Prueben, y vean que el Señor es bueno. ¡Feliz el hombre que en él confía! “ (Salmo 34:8)

1. Dios es digno
   1. De una adoración ininterrumpida
   2. De una adoración inigualable
   3. De una adoración unida
2. Dios está trabajando
   1. El responde a nuestras oraciones
   2. El nos rescata de nuestras aflicciones
3. Dios es Maravilloso
   1. Aceptemos su invitación
   2. Aceptemos su provisión

Todo comienza en Dios

“…Todo fue creado por medio de él y para él.” (col. 1.16)

1. Fuiste creado para AGRADAR a Dios (Apocalipsis. 4.11)
   1. Dios quiere que DISFRUTEMOS la vida.
   2. La relación con Dios es una DESICION.

2. Fuiste hecho para la FAMILIA de Dios (Romanos 12.5)
   1. Dios le da importancia a las RELACIONES en la familia.
   2. Fuiste llamado a PERTENECER.

3. Fuiste creado para SER como Cristo (Romanos. 8.29)
   1. La meta es el CARACTER
   2. Debes CAMBIAR tu manera de pensar

4. Fuiste formado para SERVIR a Dios (Efesios 2.10)
   1. Tú eres UNICO.
   2. Dios usa personas ORDINARIAS para hacer cosas

5. Fuiste hecho con una MISION (Juan 17.18)
   1. Tu misión es CONTINUAR la tarea de Jesús
   2. Dios quiere DECIR algo a través de ti.