How has the word of God encouraged you? In what ways has it redirected your thinking? Last week Be a regular giver, Be a generous giver, Be deliberate in how you give Think broadly in your giving Macedonian Christians (show picture – center of map).… as much as they were able and even beyond their ability. … people who excelled in the grace…
Where has the idea come from? Old Testament Pattern Gen 4 Gen 14 Gen 28 Duet 14 Proper tithing: giving ‘a tenth’ (… or is it?) New Testament… How does the law continue through Christ? Matthew 23:23 – It continues but extends Support gospel ministry (1 Cor 9) Opportunity for broad generosity (2 Cor 8-9) Some generous suggestions • Be regular •…
From last week… All that we have belongs to God Everything that belongs to God should be used with regard for him “Give me neither poverty nor riches” (Prov 30:8) How do we respond to the gap between the wealthy and the poor? How do we respond as those who are (by and large) not poor? Is wealth bad? In the OT…
Does God care about money Some would say God is only concerned for spiritual things. Some think God materially rewards those who follow him. A framework for thinking about money Wealth, like everything, belongs to God (Ps 24:1) Mentally moving away from a material-spiritual way of thinking We should treat everything as though it ultimately belongs to him Using wealth differently but…
A letter to us. … what encouragement and warnings would he include? Ephesus? Smyrna? Pergamum and Thyatira? Sardis … Everyone knew how good the church at Sardis was. “But you are dead”. Rev 3:2 … their deeds remain unfinished. Not everyone in Sardis is like this. Rev 3:4 … people who have not soiled their clothes Philadelphia Philadelphia is a weak… vulnerable…
What would it be like to live in a city it which almost everyone else worshipped other gods? Pergamum i) The good Rev 1:17 they had remained true to the name of Jesus ii) And the Bad some who hold to the teaching of Balaam. Numbers 22-24, 31:8-6 Joshua 24:9-10 – “When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to…
If Jesus were to write to us, what would he say? The context of the letters in Revelation The letters are preceded and proceeded by the glorified Christ The letters invite the readers to join in the mission of the risen Jesus Themes are introduced which flow through the rest of the book The target churchesNotice the shared ‘shape’ of the letters…
Keep calm and carry on (show picture) One just like them Suffering kingdom and patient endurance … because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Some Questions i) The Lord’s day ii) In the Spirit … this is a vision he is seeing not a physical reality. Vision of Jesus Verse 13-18 … stunning vision of Jesus. … majesty…
From Genesis to Revelation Not i) all about “cracking a code” ii) helps them to “uncode every other book” in God’s word. iii) a book best avoided. BUT … a letter worthwhile reading.. What is the whole book saying? “The lamb wins” Show video (Rev 1-3 ) Time: 0:00-3:45 The ways people read it i) … only to events in the past…
What is it that you desire? The story so far A desire for … What is wrong … Firstly … disobeying what God has told them to do. – Verse 4 … so they will not be scattered over the face of the earth. Secondly …want to make a name for themselves … without any input from God. Are you kidding! ……