Some key points from sunday's sermon on sharing and sacrifice:
Readings: 2 Corinthians 9:10-15; 1 Timothy 6:17-19
- William Temple: "the church is the only society on earth that exists for the benefit of it's non-members". Is such an organisation sustainable?
- If the church shares freely and openly (without conditions attached), it does so to emulate the grace of God. God gives freely, trusting, hoping believing that people will respond and change. When the church gives of itself freely, especially to "non-members", it may reflect the kind of God that we serve.
- Duty sometimes motivates our giving, but the ideal is giving motivated by Passion for God's Vision of a healthy and generous Community.
- Sharing is firstly about building community - the sharing of ourselves. (it's sometimes easier to give money than it is to share ourselves in relationship).
- Sacrifice is not necessary when we have fully turned to Christ, because then anything that is asked of us will be pure joy
- We can positively affect the face of Port Elizabeth through faithfulness and passion!
This is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteBut should a congregation be discussing a sermon with their minister?
I received an anonymous letter today drawing my attention to the painful consequences (for the family concerned) of something I said a few weeks back in a sermon.
ReplyDeleteI think it's critical that there be a conversation between preacher and "preached to". I'm a human after all...
As a friend always says to his congregation: "Agreeing with the minister is not a virtue in this congregation!"