Treasure Reveals Heart (Mt. 6:21)

Read Matthew 6:21.

Treasure reveals heart, not vice versa.  Where is your treasure?  Here are some questions to help you evaluate.

• What does your checkbook say?  Are you tithing on income and increase or are you studying to form well-sounding theological loopholes? (Making loopholes is a characteristic of a Pharisaical spirit.)
• What do you value?  Who or what do you talk about more than anything else?  That is who or what you will sacrifice for.  You sacrifice for that which you treasure.
• Do you spend more money on Christmas than you give to God during the year?
• Do you spend more money on vacation than you give to God during the year?
• Do you spend more money on your pets in a year than you give to missions or benevolence?
• Do you dread the offering or battle internally when it is announced?  If so, why?  What are you afraid of?
• Do you find more joy at the golf course than you do in church?  

The Widow's Gift (Lu. 21:1-4)

Read Luke 21:1-4.

1. Jesus notices who gives.
2. Jesus notices what amount is given.
3. Jesus knows the amount of sacrifice behind each gift.
4. Jesus knows what to say about each giver.  Based upon your gift, what would Jesus say about you?
5. Jesus knows that even mentioning this subject causes many to be agitated.
6. Jesus knows that your giving should be to the treasury.  Your "treasury" is your local church. Giving starts at the local church level.

Luke 6:37-38

Read Luke 6:37-38.

Structure:

A    Judge not . . .
B       Condemn not . . .
B1     Forgive . . .
A1  Give . . .

Observations:

1.  The solution for judging is giving.  Giving what?  Mercy (Lu. 6:36).

2.  The solution for condemnation is forgiveness.

3.  These contrasts fit in with Jesus' overall theme in His "Sermon On The Plain" -- life in the Kingdom is counter-intuitive.

What Jesus Sees At The Offering (Mk. 12:41-44)

Read Mark 12:41-44.

1.  Jesus sees who gives the offering.
2.  Jesus sees how the offering is given.
3.  Jesus sees the sacrifice, not just the amount, of the offering.  He sees the true cost.

Observations:

• Let your giving affect your living.
• Give from surplus.  
• Give from substance.  
• Jesus notices big hearts, not just big amounts.
• He draws attention to things others easily miss.
• Contribution expresses commitment.
• You don't give?  You don't believe in the mission of the church.
• You don't give?  You don't believe in the ministries of the church.
• There is no denying that the widow believed in the temple.

Treasure And Heart (Lu. 12:34)

The location and placement of your treasure reveals the condition of your heart.  People say angrily, "You don't know my heart!"  What a cleverly disguised smokescreen for not giving generously! Well, yes, I can "know" your heart.  All I would have to do is get you to be honest with me about where your money is going.  Your checkbook tells on your heart.  It is noteworthy that Jesus mentioned treasure first and not heart.

Verse of The Week (02/12/16)

Church and Technology

This is a good reminder that e-commerce is here to stay. Is your church prepared? 

"The simple fact is that how Americans do commerce has changed and we the church had better be prepared to meet that change.  The question I have for you is where is your church?  Do you have the platforms in place to take advantage of the new technological change that has swept our nation?  How does your church stack up to the following crucial 21st century tools?
 • An active vibrant website?
 • Active and updated Facebook and Twitter accounts?
 • Website is set up for mobile access by smartphone and tablet use?
 • Online giving is set up and easily accessible?
 • An app designed and fully functioning making access for members easy and convenient?
If your church does not have all of the above you are making it harder for members and attendees to interact with your church and potentially give to your church."

Read the entire article at
http://thecharisgroup.org/2012/11/21/online-commerce-is-changing-everything/

Access to All That God Has (Jn. 16:14-15)

We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Today's reading is John 16:1-15.

The Trinity has a giving nature.

Everything belongs to the Father, Who gives it to the Son (Jn. 16:15).

The Son gives it to the Spirit (Jn. 16:14-15).

The Spirit gives it to the believer (Jn. 16:15).

Hear the Father say this to you: "All that is mine is yours" (Lu. 15:31). See also Psa. 25:14; 84:11; Jer. 33:3; Rom. 8:32; Eph. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:3.