Giving of our tithes and offerings are a response to God’s goodness and is one of the essential activities of healthy Christian and a healthy church. We should desire to bring gifts of value and sacrifice which demonstrate our devotion.
For believers, as a part of the body of Christ, you are a vital, gifted part. The body needs you to function. The church can’t fulfill its mission without the members doing their part. Ministry is among the people, not just the leaders.
Every human being was created to serve. Service was central to Jesus’ life. Service is a natural response to God’s grace. Service is what all believers are destined for.
Making disciples is an essential part of healthy discipleship and a healthy church.
Living our lives dedicated/submitted/obedient to God and his ways is only a the reasonable response to God’s power, his faithfulness, and mercy.
Jesus said we are the light of the world. The world will remain in darkness if we don’t offer the light.
God the Father takes care of us, protects us, deserves respect/recognition.
Like a body is made healthy/effective when all the parts are working together, so too the unified church in our endeavors to uphold Christ’s reputation or accomplish our mission of growing, glorifying, and introducing God to others.
All members are a “vital” part of the body and must be committed, healthy, functioning, and submitted to the Head.
The church is the Body of Christ, and like a human body, many parts make up one body. Jesus is the head, and we are the body. Christ takes care of His body, and demands commitment from each part.
The church is a gathering of God’s people who are called out, set apart, with specific purpose to proclaim and promote the Truth — the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Back to the Basics of Discipleship…the foundations of the faith…by studying the identity and activity of the church and Christians. This week the intro, highlighting that the church is first of all God’s precious possession.
Part 2 of the basic activities and characteristics of healthy Christians: meeting together, studying the Bible, prayer, Communion, giving/offering, service/ministry, and hospitality.
What are Christians? What do they do? We look to the book of Acts to see the basic characteristics of believers.
After making a decision to follow Christ, what is your next step of obedience?
Christ conquered death to give you life. But do you recognize him?
Serving gets physical things accomplished, and yet God blesses us spiritually when we serve. There is something special and supernatural, eternal even, as God’s people serve in the ministry and mission of the church.
Offering was commanded by God and practiced by God’s people. It is not a duty but is part of our discipleship and devotion to God; to give guilt-free and to generously to God’s work and see it make a difference.
God commanded a Sabbath. Ultimately Sabbath is good for us, will lead to holiness, and will enable us to be more productive spiritually and physically.
God is gracious and good, even in our sin. Nevertheless, God is no joke but requires seriousness of sin, obedience, and holiness.