Storage.googleapis.com



3346450-11620500The Message for July 21, 2019Gracious Generosity (Giving)Luke 10:38-42Rob Miller, PastorToday we wrap-up our 7-week worship series on (picture) Rooted: To grow up - grow deep. Week 1 - we talked about The Coming of the Holy Spirit (Energizing)Week 2 – we considered Daily Conversation (Praying)Week 3 – our topic was Weekly Participation (Worshiping)Week 4 – we considered Regular Study (Bible Reading)Week 5 – we focused on Selfless Service (Serving)Week 6 – last week -- if you had a chance to watch on-line -- our topic was Real Relationships (Connecting). Today our topic is Gracious Generosity (Giving)You can watch all of these messages on our web page or on our Facebook page…This worship series is based on Colossians 2:6-7 which reads... 6?So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,?continue to live your lives in him,?7?rooted?and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,?and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7) That is the kind of life we are called to live – a life in, with, and through Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior – a life of faith and thankfulness – even though life in this world is not fair. It isn’t fair. It isn’t intended to be fair. Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. But that ought not stop us – from doing good thing in all circumstances.Here are some quotable quotes about the fairness of life in this world…31146751270000127635014160500-1524003632200022161509271000-3175020701000It’s not fair… Life in this world is not fair… That’s one of the hidden messages in our reading for today -- so accept what you must and change what you can. Our reading for today is from Luke 10:38-42. It’s the Mary and Martha story… Read text -- Luke 10:38-42Martha was distracted we are told. Her focus was not on Jesus even though everything she was doing was for him. She felt it was not fair that Mary was not helping her. Martha was being selfish. So she tried to tell Jesus what to do. (Oh… that is never a good idea.) Selfish people are always telling other people what to do. Martha tried to get Jesus to tell Mary to do what Martha wanted Mary to do. Martha was trying to distract Mary away from being focused on Jesus. (Oh… that is never a good idea either).I’ve noticed that sometimes -- on those rare occasions -- we have people who serve in and through the church and they act just like Martha. They are selfish. They get upset because other people (according to them) are not serving or helping out as they think they should. They are distracted by their ministry task – and doing it with a grudge or with a chip on their shoulder – like Martha did. They are not fun people to be around. They take the joy out of giving. Instead of doing their ministry task for Jesus – they are focused on all the work they have to do. “It’s not fair” – keeps playing over and over and over in their head.Mary remained focused on Jesus. She chose not to be selfish but rather generous with her life to simply be in the presence of the Lord. Nothing else was more important to her in that moment than being with Jesus. Nothing is more important in life than being with Jesus wherever our faith journey takes us. I’ve noticed that sometimes – we have people who participate in the church and they act just like Mary. They don’t get distracted with all the work that needs to be done -- instead they listen to Jesus and live life accordingly. They are fun people to be around because they tend to be generous not selfish and the work gets done. They bring joy to giving in and through the church. They don’t worry about the fairness of life… because they are too busy living life. Without a life-giving relationship with Jesus - we will be oblivious to the obvious. Martha was – Mary wasn’t.When it comes to life in and through the church -- do you complain or do you contribute?Our topic today is Gracious Generosity… in other words Giving. Consider this statement…If you are not generous, you’ve never really experienced the Gospel. If you feel guilty about not being generous, you don’t understand the Gospel.It is impossible to experience Jesus and not respond with gracious generosity. That’s because Jesus is graciously generous with us every day. Jesus came to earth to show us that God provides everything we need and then some. When that becomes obvious to us – a switch turns on – a transformation happens – a new mindset fills our head – and we realize that our significance is in Jesus – not in holding onto our possessions or bragging about our accomplishments. Listen to how Paul describes it in his letter to the Philippians…7?But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss?for the sake of Christ.?8?What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing?Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9?and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,?but that which is through faith in?Christ—the righteousness?that comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:7-9)?Taking that approach to life and it becomes obvious that Jesus, not our money and not our possessions and not our accomplishments become our security for the future. Our security is found in Jesus. He gives meaning and purpose to our lives. It seems that Mary realized that but Martha did not…We say that Jesus gives to us so that we can give to others. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. Some people learn that at an early age. Others learn it later in life. And some people never get it. They remain oblivious to the obvious. It reminds me of a song I learned as a teenager called “Pass It On” by Kurt Kaiser… I don’t remember where I heard that song the first time but I do remember how it spoke to me when I first heard it. It describes the life we are to share in and through the church… We are to be a giving church passing on to others what Jesus gives to us – God’s love.Listen to the words…Verse 1It only takes a sparkTo get a fire goingAnd soon all those aroundCan warm up in its glowingThat's how it is with God's loveOnce you've experienced itYou spread his love to ev'ryoneYou want to pass it onVerse 2What a wondrous time is springWhen all the trees are buddingThe birds begin to singThe flowers start their bloomingThat's how it is with God's loveOnce you've experienced itYou want to sing it's fresh like springYou want to pass it onVerse 3I wish for you my friendThis happiness that I've foundYou can depend on himIt matters not where you're boundI'll shout it from the mountain topI want my world to knowThe Lord of love has come to meI want to pass it onClosing story…We were on our way home from vacation after visiting with friends and family. We stopped at a motel in update New York near the Tappan Zee Bridge. The next morning as we were getting ready to get back on the road, I walked to the back of our truck, opened our cooler, and asked if anyone wanted a bottle of water. Two older women – sisters – one lives in Maine and the other In Florida were walking across the parking lot towards their car they were in the area visiting family and one of them said jokingly, “Yes, I’d like a bottle of water.” So without thinking -- I gave both of them an ice-cold bottle of water from our cooler. The look on their faces was priceless. Pure joy is the result of gracious generosity. And gracious generosity is the result of pure joy. A joy we share in, with, and through Christ Jesus who is our Lord and Savior. Jesus put it this way -- It is more blessed to give than to receive. How true! Amen. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download