Yesterday, we explored how a church community is meant to be a gathering, sometimes even just for fun and fellowship.
You might think church has always meant a religious gathering of Christians on Sunday morning. But in the Bible’s Greek language, church had another meaning before that. The Greek word for church is ekklesia which literally means “an assembly” or “gathering of people”. But not just for its own good. It’s called out to be and do something specific. This week’s passage says gathering together is not just for encouragement to love, but for encouragement to good works.
We are meant to be a preview of the world as God wants it to be. We are meant to make people say wow. Unlike the church I described yesterday, people are supposed to look at our community (even at its business meetings) and say, “Wow! That’s how we are supposed to relate with each other, and our world, and God. I can see it now!” They are meant to see the Kingdom of God in us.
Aristides was a philosopher in Athens in the second century and he observed the first Christians, the early church, and this is what he recorded about them in 125 AD.
“They walk in humility and kindness, and falsehood is not found among them. They love one another. He that has distributes liberally to him that does not have. If they see a stranger they bring him under their own roof and rejoice over him as if he were their own brother.”
Aristides looked at that first church, that earliest gathering of Christians and he said WOW.
Have you ever looked at a team, group or organization and said, wow? Why? Think of the Snowbirds, or a great dance troupe.
Our church today meant to make people say wow…because of our generosity and love of one another, that spills over to the lives of others near us.
We’re intending to becoming this kind of church through our discussion groups first, and also when our discussion groups come together as one community for celebration.
Challenge: If you’re not already meeting with a group, please do. What act of generosity and service can you do with your discussion group, or family, that will make others in your life say wow? Think of one thing internal to your group that you do for each other, and one thing your group does for others.
Reminder: Last week we saw the importance of reading the Bible together in sync, so our new daily bible readings start today in our mobile app and web site.
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CloseRyan Sim - April 23, 2013
Tuesday - Study It - Generosity
Matthew 6:1 says “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Jesus began with a general principle: Beware of practising your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them. This is one of three examples Jesus uses to illustrate. Look at two others in the next two weeks involving prayer and self-denial. First example, however, is giving: 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Jesus acknowledges that his followers are not the only nice, generous people out there, giving is not an exclusively Christian activity. Says to his followers in v. 2 & 3 "when" you give to the needy – simply assumes you will give to help others. This would be a big part of Jewish society...a box at every synagogue where money for the poor could be placed. Another clue: do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do. Even the hypocrites...whose habit of acting religious Jesus is about to attack quite vigorously...are known to give to the poor. Clearly Jesus doesn’t have to bother commending giving itself, it’s fairly universal. Same today. Jesus’ followers don’t have a monopoly of giving, or niceness. Charitable giving by Canadians was $10.6B in 2010 Some Christian, some not. Giving is widespread. When Jesus talks about giving to the poor, then and today, he’s not claiming that Christians are the only givers, only kind people. What he does want, however, is for his followers to give for particular reasons. More concerned about motivations than money. Wants them to hide their giving from others, hide from self, show to God. Today, we look at hiding it from others He wants his followers to hide their giving from others. Drive a Prius because it’s eco friendly, not for looks. Wants his followers to give generously to others whether the collection is in a basket or a bag, whether by pre-authorized giving or in cash, whether recognized by the charity or not. Wants their motivation to be something other than being noticed by others. Question: How does Jesus expect his followers to give like others, and how does he expect their giving to be different?
Related Topics: Generosity | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Sermon on the Mount"
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Thursday - Act On It - Reset Death | April 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Death | April 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Death | April 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Death | March 31, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Society | March 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Society | March 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Society | March 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Society | March 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Society | March 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Nature | March 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset: Nature | March 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Nature | March 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Nature | March 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Nature | March 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Compassion | March 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Compassion | March 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Compassion | March 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Compassion | March 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Compassion | March 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Family | March 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Family | March 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Family | March 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Family | March 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset Sex and Marriage | February 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Sex and Marriage | February 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Sex and Marriage | February 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Sex and Marriage | February 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Sex and Marriage | February 24, 2014 | Sex Is | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Reset Body and Food | February 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Body and Food | February 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Body and Food | February 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Body and Food | February 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Body and Food | February 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Work | February 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Work | February 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Work | February 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Work | February 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Work | February 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Money | February 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset Family | February 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset: Money | February 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset: Money | February 5, 2014 | O'Leary | Watch | Listen | |
Tuesday - Study It - Reset: Money | February 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset: Money | February 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset Time | January 31, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset Time | January 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset Time | January 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset Time | January 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset Time | January 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Reset: Goals | January 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset: Goals | January 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset: Goals | January 22, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset: Goals | January 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset: Goals | January 20, 2014 | TED Talk | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Reset | January 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Reset | January 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Reset | January 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Reset | January 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Reset | January 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Best of 2013 | January 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Best of 2013 | January 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Best of 2013 | January 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Best of 2013 | January 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - Best of 2013 | January 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Night that Changed The Wise | January 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed the Wise | January 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed the Wise | January 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Wise | December 31, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed the Wise | December 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Night that Changed You | December 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed You | December 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed You | December 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed You | December 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed You | December 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed the Poor | December 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed the Powerful | December 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Night that Changed the Religious | December 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed The Religious | December 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Night That Changed The Religious | December 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed The Religious | December 3, 2013 | TED Talk | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - The Night That Changed The Religious | December 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Generosity in Resources | November 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Generosity in Resources | November 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Generosity in Resources | November 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Generosity - in Resources | November 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Generosity - in Resources | November 25, 2013 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Grace in Lifestyle | November 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Grace - in Lifestyle | November 21, 2013 | 10 Comms | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Grace - in Lifestyle | November 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Grace - in Lifestyle | November 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Grace - in Lifestyle | November 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - God in Worship | November 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - God in Worship | November 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - God in Worship | November 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - God in Worship | November 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - God in Worship | November 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Groups in Community | November 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Groups - in Community | November 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Groups - in Community | November 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Groups - in Community | November 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Groups - in Community | November 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
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Wednesday - Change It - Growth - in Discipleship | October 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Growth - in Discipleship | October 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
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