Becoming a 'Generosity-Driven Church

A Sermon delivered to All Saints Anglican Church on June 28, 2009 at the Convent Chapel of St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, WV, and based on 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Deuteronomy 15: 7-11 and Psalm 112.

8:1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you —see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” (ESV)


Today, I’d like for us to consider something I think would please the Lord greatly: becoming a “Generosity – Driven” Church. Here are three B’s around which we may organize our thoughts:

The Basis for Generosity
The Barriers to Generosity
The Benefits of Generosity

But first a story:

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove tells about a church he knew that “decided to launch a building campaign. They were a healthy church with a good pastor, and new members kept coming every month. It was a rural congregation whose size was somewhat limited by the community that surrounded it. If every living soul for five miles around found Jesus, they could probably have still fit in their building. But some folks in the congregation had heard about church growth and started thinking that they needed to build a larger sanctuary along with new classrooms and ‘multi-purpose’ space. So they launched a building campaign.

Through the denomination they hired a fundraising expert who organized an ambitious effort, seeking to raise millions of dollars. But after the church had been at it a number of years and reached only about half of the goal, they decided to end the campaign. Some people felt like it was a failure. They didn’t have enough money to build their big new building. But since they could still fit in the old one, they looked around and asked what else they might use the money for.

It turned out that one family that had come to the church during this time of growth didn’t have much money. The father was disabled, and they struggled to make ends meet. But the church was genuinely glad to have them and really enjoyed the gifts they brought to the community. So the church decided to use some of the money from the campaign fund to build that family a house.”

I think the pastor’s name was Ty Pennington…

But seriously folks…Hartgrove goes on to allow as how there is nothing wrong with building meeting spaces when a church needs it, but he concludes that “a generosity-driven church that builds houses for the poor will never have to worry about church growth. A church that pours itself out as Christ gave himself for the church will always be budding with new life. (“New Monasticism”: pgs. 104-105)

With that example in mind, let’ look at our first ‘B”: The Basis for Generosity

Verse 9 of 2 Cor. 8: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

Phillipians 2:3-8 expands upon this idea in this way: “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

The Basis for Generosity is first and foremost God’s generosity in sending Jesus Christ to empty himself out of all his divine prerogatives, take on human flesh and live and die for sinners such as us – while we were still sinners! (Romans 5:6). Now that’s Generosity!

By way of contrast, let’s go on to consider what Generosity is NOT based upon:

1) Generosity is not based on what you have – on wealth or riches.

In our passage from Second Corinthians 8: 1-3, Paul tells of the
…”grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify - and beyond their means…”

The context for this remark was that in the years 45-47 AD, there was a general famine in the Mediterranean world, but especially in Syria. Crops failed and as a result it was almost impossible to find bread in Jerusalem. The people were starving – and money didn’t help because coins couldn’t scare up grain. So Paul spent a considerable amount of time – maybe up to a couple of years – trying to collect food for those in Jerusalem. This was a formidable task because he had to actually collect the food itself and transport it over hundreds of miles.

Now the Macedonian church was going through a ‘severe test of affliction’ itself. The people were extremely poor. Not just poor, extremely poor. Their giving went beyond their means and became an overflowing wealth of generosity. 2 Cor. 8:12: “For if the readiness [to give] is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”

Generosity is NOT based on our means.

2) It follows logically that Generosity is not based on having a great financial plan for the future. The Macedonians didn’t evaluate their portfolios and then decided how much they could give based on their projected rate of return, market conditions, etc. Their giving was based on a heart of compassion that sought to help others even more pressed than them. This was an ‘act of grace” (v.7). They were determined to give even though they could not see provision up ahead. Therefore, their basis of giving must have been confidence in God and His ability to provide rather than what they could see or plan. This doesn’t preclude planning, but –

Generosity is NOT based on having a great financial plan.

3) Finally, true Generosity is not based on compulsion. The Macedonians begged earnestly for the favor of contributing to the needs of the saints in Jerusalem of their own accord (v. 3). This was not by way of command (v.8), but voluntary giving - the same as that shown by the saints in Jerusalem in the very early days of the church, when the saints were “selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (Acts 2:45).

Contrast this with State taxation. Government programs to help the poor cannot truly be said to be Generous because they are based on the coercive power of the State to extract your money whether you want to give or not. Rather, Paul sees this as a matter of fairness:

13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

True Generosity is Not compulsory.

To summarize our first 'B' then: the Basis for Generosity is Christ’s example of self-giving, thankfulness for what God has done, Confidence in God as Provider, Compassion for others, and a desire to participate in what God is doing.

Now let’s look at some Barriers to Generosity

Our reading from Deut. 15:7-11 says : “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. 9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, [Jubilee] the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Need is say more? The first barrier to Generosity is Hardness of Heart.

Closely akin to this is Greed. I can’t give because I want stuff, status, or prestige.

This past week I talked to a woman whose heart desire was to stay at home with her kids. Her husband, however, insisted that she go to work full time, even though he himself was making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Worse – when she protested and asked what it was they needed her income for – he couldn’t even say. He wanted money for the sake of prestige and status – not even to buy toys. Greed like this is excessively wicked and God will judge it severely.

Next on our list of barriers is Fear

“What if the economy goes bad?” “What if …Wait a minute! The economy IS bad! What if it gets worse? What if we can’t pay our bills?! What if, What if, What if the sky falls in?! Somehow, I just don’t think this argument would hold much weight with the Macedonians. You see, generosity is based in confidence in God as Provider, no matter what the circumstances. Fear is never a legitimate reason not to give in God’s economy.

Then there is perhaps a more subtle barrier: the challenge to give wisely. It’s possible to give badly – with strings or expectations attached. In Spencer, where my mother and my sister live, there are two Methodist churches within a block of one another. One church has a large endowment which is earmarked for the maintenance and upkeep of the building. The problem is that the money can’t be used for anything else. So the membership keeps dwindling and they can’t pay their monthly bills or fund Outreach ministry– but they have a well-kept building!

Gifts of money can create unhealthy relationships or circumstances. Throwing money at problems can create other problems in its wake. It takes true discernment to give wisely.
So the need to give wisely is a potential barrier to true Generosity – but it’s no excuse. We are still expected to be Generous.

But enough with barriers and problems; on to the Benefits of Generosity

Psalm 112, beginning in verse 5:
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;who conducts his affairs with justice.6 For the righteous will never be moved;he will be remembered forever.7 He is not afraid of bad news;his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;his righteousness endures forever;his horn is exalted in honor.

The Generous person will be blessed with

Stability
A Righteous Legacy
Confidence
Triumph over enemies
Power

Verses 1-3 of Psalm 112 also add the following benefits:

Great Offspring
Wealth
Riches
Righteousness

Let’s look at these verses now:
“1 Praise the Lord!Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,who greatly delights in his commandments!2 His offspring will be mighty in the land;the generation of the upright will be blessed.3 Wealth and riches are in his house,and his righteousness endures forever.”

Note the exuberance of the Psalmist’s praise. In 2 Cor 8: 2, we find a wonderful phrase to describe this: “Abundance of Joy”.

An excellent benefit of Generosity is Abundance of Joy.

This week, I have watched this Generosity in action as we have had a crew from the World Changers working at Hope House. In talking to the crew members, we learned from one joyful woman, Pam, that this was her 10th World Changers trip in as many years!

Another lady on the crew, Ginger, told us how her church of some 300 people sent 60 of its members to work in Huntington this week! And 11 of them were from her own immediate and extended family! This is extravagant Generosity. And its reward is Joy.

Friday night we went to the World Changers wrap-up dinner and Worship Service at Huntington High School. Believe me, there was lots of enthusiasm and joy in the crowd as they worshipped the Lord and told of experiences they had had during the week.

This kind of giving also leads to Growth in Faith. Generosity opens up opportunities to see God work in ways that we could never imagine. Generosity increases Faith.

It also produces a Good Testimony in the world.

On Monday, I met a young man named Marcel, who lives with his girlfriend, Letitia, three doors down from Hope House. Marcel starts his days by sitting out on the front stoop and drinking beer from a bottle in a paper bag. Over the course of five days, I talked with Marcel numerous times and even had the opportunity to invite him into Hope House at one point. He looked around and after the tour, he told me in slurred speech, “You guys sure are doin’ a great thing here. After you get this done, we should have a party – a good one, not a bad one, you know. We’ll get together and celebrate. …”

Because we as a congregation have been generous in the Fairfield community, we have a good reputation with nonbelievers. Over the course of time, I fully expect that some, if not many, will come to know Christ – largely because we have sown into the life of the community generously thus creating a Good Testimony.

So to return to our challenge or call – It pleases God for us to become a Generosity – Driven Church.

I do believe that we are generous already. When you look at the numbers on our financial report every month, I think you would have to agree that we are generous. But I think we have room to grow in this.

Robert Shnase, in his book, “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” says that ‘Extravagantly Generous congregations emphasize mission, purpose, and life-changing results rather than shortages, budgets and institutional loyalty”. …”They emphasize the Christian’s need to give more than the church’s need for money. They teach, preach, and practice proportional giving with the goal of tithing. …They speak of joy, devotion, honoring God, and the steady growth of spirit that leads to greater [and greater] generosity.” (pg 119).

I think that sounds like an exciting way to approach giving – and I hope you do too.

So how shall we proceed? How do we become “Generosity-Driven”?

Start with the Tithe. If you’re not tithing already, make a plan to become a tither. This is the one area where God specifically invites us to test him: Malachi 3:10-12: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Put God to the test and see if He will not provide for you as you give generously. Plan to increase your giving one per cent per year until you have reached the Tithe – and see if the Lord does not provide for your every need.

Our commitment to AMIA is that we participate in the 10-10-10 plan. We all tithe to the church. The Church tithes to AMIA, and AMIA sends a tithe to Rwanda, granting 50% of its monies back to local ministries. This is where our $9500 grant for the HVAC system at Hope House came from. We benefited from others’ generosity and we in turn we must be a blessing to others.

But even beyond ‘paying our dues’ to AMIA, as a congregation, let’s begin to think about this notion of Extravagant Giving. What would the Lord have us to do that we would become more and more known as a Generosity-Driven Church? Let’s commit to praying about it and ‘put God to the Test” and see if He does not open the windows of heaven – even to the point where we have to say “Enough, Lord, stay your hand.”

Let’s become Macedonians, characterized by Abundance of Joy who give ‘beyond our means because we know that God’s means can never be exhausted. Amen? Amen.