Sermon for November 20th, 2022
Contents
Exodus 36:2-7 (OT p.82)
2Moses then called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given skill, everyone whose heart was stirred to come to do the work, 3and they received from Moses all the offerings that the Israelites had brought for the work of constructing the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, 4so that all the skilled workers who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task being performed, 5and said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” 6So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, 7for what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work.
2 Corinthians 8:1-12 (NT p.182)
1We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia, 2for during a severe ordeal of affliction their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means and even beyond their means, 4begging us earnestly for the favor of partnering in this ministry to the saints, 5and not as we expected. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, 6so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. 7Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
8I do not say this as a command, but I am, by mentioning the eagerness of others, testing the genuineness of your love. 9For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10And in this matter I am giving my opinion: it is beneficial for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something. 11Now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
Prayer for Illumination
Speak to us, living God, as you have spoken to our ancestors through the voices of your prophets, the breath of your Spirit, and the life of your Son, so that we may live according to your word; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Stewardship Sunday, Part 2
A wealthy man died and went to heaven. Saint Peter met him at the pearly gates, and after making sure his name was in the book of life, Saint Peter said, "let me show you to your eternal home." They walked through the pearly gates, down streets of gold, and past dozens of giant, beautifully-designed mansions. The first few were about the same size as the rich man's earthly home, but then they grew bigger and bigger, and his excitement grew as well. Finally, at the end of the street, Saint Peter stopped in front of a small, run-down wooden shack, and gestured to the man to enter. Shocked and more than a little dismayed, the man said, "But what about all those mansions? Surely there's one for me?" Saint Peter replied, "I'm sorry, but really...we did the best we could with the money you sent."
Today is our second (and final) stewardship Sunday, also known as "pledge drive Sunday" or "giving Sunday." The scriptures teach us not to store up treasures for ourselves here on this earth, because all of our wealth, all of our material possessions will (like us) soon be gone. This life (and everything in it) is short, but the next one is long--eternally long. So that's where it makes the most sense to invest our time, and our resources "storing up treasures."
But how do we do that? How do you send your money on ahead of you? Is there a heavenly stock market we can invest in? Can we make a deposit into a heavenly retirement fund or savings account? Well, the answer to that question is, interestingly enough...yes. Yes you can. Jesus taught his followers that "whatever you do for the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you have done for me."
That means that when we give generously to the work of the church in our community, God takes notice. God remembers. God rewards us accordingly. We also know from scripture that it's not about the quantity of the gift, but rather the quality. A wealthy person may give a large amount, but one that is still rather inconsequential to him. On the other hand, a poor widow gives a few pennies, but it is a sacrifice for her, a larger proportion of her income. Jesus said the poor widow's gift was the greater of the two. But everyone--rich, poor, or somewhere in between--all are asked to give something to the work of God's kingdom. That's how you store up treasures for yourself in heaven. And, as an added, secondary benefit...it's also how you make your community a better, kinder, more loving place.
Last week, I introduced you to three different organizations that our church supports and partners with, and they shared with you some of the good things they are doing in our community, things which your pledges and donations make possible. Today I'm going to introduce you to three more organizations: Two of them are among the longest-running ministries our church has provided, ministries that we are known for in our community. One of them is among our newest and most exciting ministries, and it's already making an impact in our church and in our city.
- Amy Field, First Presbyterian Preschool (Andrew & Ethan attended from 2013 to 2019, Amy was board chair 2017-2018).
- Bob Halter, BSA Troop 2
- Heather Karns, First Presbyterian Elementary School
Pledge Cards
- Bill Burroughs message on "Our Need to Give", suggested giving guidelines
- Pledge Cards as a way to help us budget for the year to come
- Exodus story--wouldn't that be awesome this year (No more offerings, we have more than enough!).
