2 Corinthians 9
"God loves a cheerful giver"
I am not a great gift giver. It is not that I don't enjoy giving gifts. My struggle is finding the right gift. But occasionally I feel like I have just the right gift and am excited about giving the gift. When I am excited about giving a gift to someone, I can't wait to give the gift. In those moments I am a very cheerful giver.
What is your perspective about giving to God? Are you cheerful in that? That is what God loves. When our giving is not out of obligation but out of the joy of relationship.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
5/7 - 2 Corinthians 8
2 Corinthians 8
2 Corinthians 8 & 9 reflect the first stewardship campaign in the early church. There is a famine in Jerusalem. Paul has agreed to raise an offering from the other churches to offer support to the church in Jerusalem. The Corinth church had previously committed to give to this offering. Time has passed and they have done nothing. These two chapters are Paul's encouragement to them to give.
The first encouragement he gives them is the generosity of the Macedonian church. "Their trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts... What explains it was that they had given themselves unreservedly to God and to us." (The Message) What is fascinating for us to hear is that people were "incredibly happy, though desperately poor." As Americans we struggle to conceive how someone can be desperately poor and happy. We associate wealth and happiness, poverty and despair. The other part of his statement is they gave because they had given themselves "unreservedly to God and us."
Two questions for you to consider today. To you connect wealth to happiness? Have you given yourself unreservedly to God?
2 Corinthians 8 & 9 reflect the first stewardship campaign in the early church. There is a famine in Jerusalem. Paul has agreed to raise an offering from the other churches to offer support to the church in Jerusalem. The Corinth church had previously committed to give to this offering. Time has passed and they have done nothing. These two chapters are Paul's encouragement to them to give.
The first encouragement he gives them is the generosity of the Macedonian church. "Their trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts... What explains it was that they had given themselves unreservedly to God and to us." (The Message) What is fascinating for us to hear is that people were "incredibly happy, though desperately poor." As Americans we struggle to conceive how someone can be desperately poor and happy. We associate wealth and happiness, poverty and despair. The other part of his statement is they gave because they had given themselves "unreservedly to God and us."
Two questions for you to consider today. To you connect wealth to happiness? Have you given yourself unreservedly to God?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
5/6 - Acts 6:1-6
Acts 6:1-6
This passage is a pivotal moment in the life of the early church. The "Twelve" or the apostles, cannot take care of all the needs. They have a choice to make of trying to keep in control of everything or they can appoint other leaders who can expand the ministry of the church. They decide to turn the ministry of feeding the widows over to another group of leaders. The end result was that the widows were cared for and "the word of God spread".
This passage is a pivotal moment in the life of the early church. The "Twelve" or the apostles, cannot take care of all the needs. They have a choice to make of trying to keep in control of everything or they can appoint other leaders who can expand the ministry of the church. They decide to turn the ministry of feeding the widows over to another group of leaders. The end result was that the widows were cared for and "the word of God spread".
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
May 5
1 Corinthians 14
"women should remain silent in the churches."
This verse has had a powerful influence in shaping Christianity. Many denominations/churches do not allow women in leadership. Some allow women in leadership but only in dealing with children. As Methodist we take a different approach. We feel that Paul was addressing a specific situation in the Corinthian Church. In other letters Paul writes, he speaks of women in leadership. We believe that the passage must be taken in the broader context of all the scripture. When taken in the broader context where there is "no Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave or free" (Galatians 3:28). We believe that the Spirit has gifted male and female for leadership.
"women should remain silent in the churches."
This verse has had a powerful influence in shaping Christianity. Many denominations/churches do not allow women in leadership. Some allow women in leadership but only in dealing with children. As Methodist we take a different approach. We feel that Paul was addressing a specific situation in the Corinthian Church. In other letters Paul writes, he speaks of women in leadership. We believe that the passage must be taken in the broader context of all the scripture. When taken in the broader context where there is "no Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave or free" (Galatians 3:28). We believe that the Spirit has gifted male and female for leadership.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
5/4 - 1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 12-14 deals with the community of faith and specifically how spiritual gifts are part of the community. In the middle of this discussion, Paul inserts this teaching on love. What he is telling us is that spiritual gifts are from God. They are to be used in doing the work of God. However, love is at the center of all that we do. We can have incredible gifts and do amazing acts of faith, but if we do not have love, "I gain nothing".
The community of faith is built on love. A love we extend to those in our community and beyond our community.
1 Corinthians 12-14 deals with the community of faith and specifically how spiritual gifts are part of the community. In the middle of this discussion, Paul inserts this teaching on love. What he is telling us is that spiritual gifts are from God. They are to be used in doing the work of God. However, love is at the center of all that we do. We can have incredible gifts and do amazing acts of faith, but if we do not have love, "I gain nothing".
The community of faith is built on love. A love we extend to those in our community and beyond our community.
Monday, May 3, 2010
May 3
1 Corinthians 12
We are part of the body of Christ. We are all connected. Everyone has significance because we are all needed to complete the body. But our significance can't be overblown, because we are incomplete without every other part. I can't do it alone.
What is vital is seeking to understand how God has gifted me. As I understand how God has gifted me, I can understand my role in the body of Christ, the church.
We are part of the body of Christ. We are all connected. Everyone has significance because we are all needed to complete the body. But our significance can't be overblown, because we are incomplete without every other part. I can't do it alone.
What is vital is seeking to understand how God has gifted me. As I understand how God has gifted me, I can understand my role in the body of Christ, the church.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
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