Worshipping with Your Wallet
In 2 Corinthians 8-9, we find the Apostle Paul spurring on the church in Corinth to participate in a sacrificial offering for the suffering saints in Jerusalem. After pointing out the grace-filled example of the Macedonian churches (2 Corinthians 8:1-15), Paul encourages the Corinthians saying:
The point is this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work—2 Corinthians 9:6-8
What are the marks of God-glorifying NT giving? According to Paul, generosity, intentionality, cheerfulness (joy), and faith. Of course, none of those characteristics matter if they are not ultimately rooted in Paul’s final words to them:
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!—2 Corinthians 9:15
God-exalting giving begins here—God has given us life, hope, and joy in Jesus Christ. We don’t give to get grace. We give because we have received grace abundantly. Or, in the words of Randy Alcorn, “As thunder follows lightning, giving follows grace.”
This means giving is worship.
As much as praying, singing, and serving is worship, gospel-motivated giving is worship because it’s a response of the heart to God’s gift of salvation in Christ. That’s what the April offering is about: WORSHIP. God-exalting praise with our pocketbooks.
As you prepare to give this Sunday, we pray your heart is overflowing with gratitude for Jesus Christ. We pray you give generously because you have received generously. We pray your heart is filled with faith and joy as you are intentional about what you give to advance the name of Jesus here in Tucson and Santa Cruz, Bolivia. We pray you give with the words of Paul echoing in your soul—Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
As you prepare your heart to give this Sunday, here are a few practical instructions to prepare you:
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You can give in person on Sunday, via text, or on the church website HERE.
HOW TO GIVE:
By check, writing “April Offering” in the memo
By text to 84321 with the amount and fund tag (Ex. $25 2021apriloffering)
Online, selecting “2021 April offering” from the drop-down menu
With cash put in a giving envelope marked with “2021 April Offering”