The Money Connection Part 4 Kevin Muyskens Various Scripture  A Christmas Carol – Closing Scene Ends with “God Bless us Every One” The Transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge -Whole point of story -Hardest man around: would only light a single candle in his house … limit the coal in his business …didn’t even want to give Christmas off … refused any kind of charity -a tale with the ghosts … a bit of eternal perspective Dickens illustrates a truth: There is Joy in Generosity -addendum: there is no joy in obligation Illustrations: -Labor Day Pop Give Away … walking parade route, handing out free pop … how much fun that was -Ever talked with someone after one of a mission trip … work hard to set up trip … pay to get there … work hard when there … give away glasses, treatments, etc … you’d think it was the most fun they ever had … probably pretty close to it  -Alcorn from book … unable to take salary … garnished by judgment to abortion clinic … giving away corporation’s income … how much fun they had reading letters and giving gifts -Saw this joy in church youth group would work with squatters village … two room houses, floors dirt or cement … block walls … no windows … water pirated from main … self made plumbing … Church the same … we’d work for a week; VBS; construction … they would always provide a meal … very poor, but our meal good beef, vegetables, spices, tortillas … always served as much as we could eat; would be offended if we did not eat a lot … each of us eating more than any of them would eat in a day (or 2) … Their joy … able to give Joy in giving out of poverty … setting of 2 Corinthians 9 Macedonians … “and now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” 2 Cor 8:1-2  -Generosity, even out of poverty, leads to JOY! God’s Grace Generosity out of wealth leads to Joy as well. Temple … last week 1 Chron 29 … collection for temple … largest offering ever received … 300 tons of gold (not including what David had set aside earlier) … 1 Chron 29:9 “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.” Other Text: Exodus 35-36 -People out of Egypt … seen LORD’s power … Moses to Sinai … instructions how to live as LORD’s people … instructions for tabernacle = “Tent of Meeting” … where the LORD would meet with his people … what an incredible blessing  People are Inspired in their Joy to give … note a couple things: From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering Offering is giving willingly, joyfully, not under compulsion or out of obligation …  Do you like paying taxes? I don’t … do my best to pay as little as possible … giving must be different … joyfully, generously … i.e. Mexican church, Macedonians who pleaded for the privilege “Gave from what they had … many materials … of gold, silver and bronze; 6 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 7 ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; 8 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 9 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.”  Also skills … All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded: Not just for wealthy … all have gifts & skills  Key: They are inspired to give … give joyfully … text makes point again … vs. 21 …”everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting.” THEY GIVE TOO MUCH!!!!! “So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5 and said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.’  6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’” THAT’S INSPIRATION … JOY Inspiration vs. Obligation Key for us … clear in both texts … 2 Cor suggests that giving in order to bless results in blessing from God “… while the one who gives under compulsion; who sows sparingly, will reap sparingly … “With the measure you use it will be measured to you…” Inspiration: Temple; tabernacle; church building; saying thank you; a very clear need …  Local church not only cause … but Christ set up … local church is hope of the world!!!!! Inspiration to give in local church …  Discipleship: This very day … Sunday school classes where teaches who love our children will present the stories of the Bible and help children apply them to their lives (ask what lessons are today?) … Catechism teachers will teach the basics of faith passed on generation after generation … My class: Martin Luther and Reformation: celebrate next week … faith alone, grace, Scripture, Christ!!! … Adult Sunday school  Small groups … apply Scripture’s teaching to our lives … way more than 50% of church… Also Community ... life in community … meeting of each other’s needs … joy of living life together … ministry of local church … meals to families with new babies … overwhelmed … celebrate together (pot luck today) … moving house to house … visiting the aged … caring for one another’s children … WE HAVE A LIFE TOGETEHER … not pie in the sky … not trying to say everything is perfect, but let’s open our eyes to the great blessings God has given in one another Worship: Week by week; beginning of Sunday school … VBS … choir … Hear the story … week after week the story of Christ … baptism pictured … confession and assurance … focus on a part of that story in message …  Prayer: Prayer team … prayers each week for families … bulletin … prayer chain …  Baptisms: First of several … God’s gift of new life … congregation’s vow … all we can to raise child as believer … pass all of these things on to our children … BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE DO THIS QUITE WELL.  More inspiration to give? VISION: RADIATE CHRIST”S LOVE -Pop at labor day -Trips Get better … local, long term, life changing!!!! Need you help … more inspiration to give with JOY!!!!!!! Seeing people’s lives made better … seeing people come to Christ …  GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING HERE … we have reason to give with joy!!! Conclusion: Scrooge … needed something to change perspective … hopefully we have done that in teaching over last three years … over last three weeks …  Also needed to put it into practice … “Scrooge was better than his word.”  We are weak human beings … eyes of fallen humanity never stop trying to convince to live for this world … Invitation to joy … to give generously … God would not ask us to do something that in the end is not in our best interest … loving Father …  Giving Covenant … going to ask you to sign. PENS??? From The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn … ask you to sign … still weak human beings … accountability … those in small groups … share with group … allow yourself to face some accountability … not in group … close friend … if married … another couple Guest … take with you … think … pray … God’s instructions are only for your own good. SIGN MINE!!!!

4-Part Series by Kevin Muyskens - Index