Transformed Living: Cheerful Giving and Service Pt. 1

Listen to the sermon here: 

MP3 File

Transformed Life: Cheerful Giving and Service, from 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, was the sermon today. I love how God speaks through our pastor, Dr. Daniel. This scripture lesson reveals good news about God and how God blesses us beyond measure.  The Apostle Paul wrote, "The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." We often view the law of sowing and reaping in a negative light, but that's not necessarily how God intended it because there's a positive -- sow kindness or sow love and reap kindness or reap love. So one thing Paul is saying is that there is a law of bounty at work in the world. Secondly, we can learn that cheerful givers are cheerful because God is a bounteous and giving God by nature. Consider John 3:16. With God, the problem is not on the supply end!  If a person had 1,000 gallons of water, for example, to give someone else who had only a one gallon vessel to receive it, how would the 1,000 gallons be given?  So it is with God who has so much more to give than we can contain.  Thirdly, cheerful givers are cheerful because God has made them a promise: "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." Can you imagine if we, as God's church, did all we could, how great God's impact through us could be in our community? How is God calling you to transform your life by being a cheerful giver?  Before we can reap, we must sow. Before we enjoy God's blessings we perform faithful obedience. Before we experience a blessing, we bless others. Thanks be to God. Stewardship is not just about financials -- it's about prayer, presence, gifts, service and witness.  Whenever and whatever we sow, we get to reap!

Gene Kelsey, Director of Christian Education