Giving Our Offering
January 14, 2024 • Rev. Reuben Foncardas • Proverbs 3:9, Leviticus 27:30
Why Worship? Giving Our Offering Speaker: Rev. Reuben Foncardas Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Like the wise men from the east who sought and found Jesus in Bethlehem, we too must give our offering to God as an expression of our worship that is coming from a heart filled with joy beyond measure because of the goodness and grace of God our Savior. 1. Giving should be PURPOSEFUL. • “The collection for God’s people,” v. 1 • Do you know why we give to our church? 2. Giving should be PLANNED. • “On the first day of every week,” v. 2a. • For some, weekly may not be convenient. Just the same, it must be planned. 3. Giving should be PERSONAL. • “Each one of you should set aside,” v. 2b. • “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7. 4. Giving should be PROPORTIONAL. • “…a sum of money in keeping with his income,” v. 2c. • We honor the Old Testament principle of “tithing.” Reflection: What motivates you for giving your offering to the Lord? a. I give only when there is a need. (need-motivated) b. I give as long as I can have my way. (control-motivated) c. I give so that God will bless me. (reward-motivated) d. I give and expect people to give me credit. (show-motivated) e. I give or else God will punish me. (fear-motivated) f. I give because I am commanded to do it. (duty-motivated) g. I give to grow in my relationship with God. (growth-motivated) h. I give to show thanksgiving to God. (gratitude-motivated) i. I give because I simply love God. (love-motivated) j. I give to show what God is worth to me. (worship-motivated)
Giving Our Offering
January 7, 2024 • Rev. Reuben Foncardas • Proverbs 3:9, Leviticus 27:30
Why Worship? Giving Our Offering Speaker: Rev. Reuben Foncardas Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Like the wise men from the east who sought and found Jesus in Bethlehem, we too must give our offering to God as an expression of our worship that is coming from a heart filled with joy beyond measure because of the goodness and grace of God our Savior. 1. Giving should be PURPOSEFUL. • “The collection for God’s people,” v. 1 • Do you know why we give to our church? 2. Giving should be PLANNED. • “On the first day of every week,” v. 2a. • For some, weekly may not be convenient. Just the same, it must be planned. 3. Giving should be PERSONAL. • “Each one of you should set aside,” v. 2b. • “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7. 4. Giving should be PROPORTIONAL. • “…a sum of money in keeping with his income,” v. 2c. • We honor the Old Testament principle of “tithing.” Reflection: What motivates you for giving your offering to the Lord? a. I give only when there is a need. (need-motivated) b. I give as long as I can have my way. (control-motivated) c. I give so that God will bless me. (reward-motivated) d. I give and expect people to give me credit. (show-motivated) e. I give or else God will punish me. (fear-motivated) f. I give because I am commanded to do it. (duty-motivated) g. I give to grow in my relationship with God. (growth-motivated) h. I give to show thanksgiving to God. (gratitude-motivated) i. I give because I simply love God. (love-motivated) j. I give to show what God is worth to me. (worship-motivated)
(一):祭火
August 8, 2021 • 傅再恩牧師 • Leviticus 6:12–13
講道大綱 ——— 引言 在神面前事奉必經之路:兩個關卡 兩種不熄的火: 祭火:個人生命的重燃 燈火:教會生活的重燃 ——— I. 真摯敬拜,修築祭壇 「祭壇」的意義:「敬拜之處」。因愛回應,全然委身、降服、奉獻自己給神。聖經中祭壇的來源與目的: 1. 人自發的:因人遇見神,自願築壇敬拜,獻祭感恩。 (創世記 8:20; 12:7; 26:24-25; 35:3;歷代志上 21:26;士師記 6:24) 2. 神吩咐的:指定祭司替百姓做的工作。向神獻上感恩,贖罪等祭,天天降服敬拜。 「壇上的火要在其上常常燒著,不可熄滅。祭司要每日早晨在上面燒柴,並要把燔祭擺在壇上,在其上燒平安祭牲的脂油。13在壇上必有常常燒著的火,不可熄滅。」(利未記 6:12-13) [參出埃及記 27:20-21) 祭壇在今天的實踐:以個人,家庭作單位。定時,定位的敬拜神。 回到根基:個人祭壇;家庭祭壇。 教會最小的單位是個人,教會最小的架構是家庭。 ——— II. 效法基督,獻上活祭 舊約:不斷獻上死祭。新約:不斷獻上活祭。 「所以,弟兄們,我以神的慈悲勸你們,將身體獻上,當作活祭,是聖潔的,是神所喜悅的;你們如此侍奉乃是理所當然的。」(羅馬書 12:1) 1. 為何今天基督徒不用再獻死祭? 因信與主合一 基督替我們死 「豈不知我們這受洗歸入基督耶穌的人是受洗歸入他的死嗎?所以,我們藉著洗禮歸入死,和他一同埋葬,原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式,像基督藉著父的榮耀從死裡復活一樣。」(羅馬書 6:3-4) 2. 甚麼攔阻我們活不出耶穌的生命? 屬世界的心思意念 「不要效法這個世界,只要心意更新而變化,叫你們察驗何為 神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。」(羅馬書 12:2) 3. 如何具體把自己獻上活祭? 思想聖言效法基督心意更新變化 「不要效法這個世界,只要心意更新而變化,叫你們察驗何為 神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。」(羅馬書 12:2) ——— III. 義無反顧,獻上祭火 義無反顧的決定。不後悔,不收回! 願烈火燒更旺 「有火從耶和華面前出來,在壇上燒盡燔祭和脂油;眾民一見,就都歡呼,俯伏在地。』(利未記 9:24) ——— 小組問題: 1. 個人和家庭已經築了祭壇嗎?如何規劃:何時?何處?何人? 2. 分享甚麼攔阻我們活不出耶穌的生命? 3. 帶領小組,再次立志義無反顧,奉獻自己,被主焚燒。