There’s a story about a Baptist pastor who was trying to increase donations to the church.  One Saturday afternoon he wired each seat in the sanctuary up to a switch located behind the pulpit.  So this pastor could zap each seat with electricity and control the strength of that current.

During the Sunday morning service the pastor talked about stewardship - challenging the congregation to increase their donations.  He started off pretty low.  “Who will stand and make a commitment of a $10 donation?”  He put some current through some of the seats and people jumped to their feet.  He went on that way - $50 - $100.  Each time increasing the current going through the seats.  People who were initially resistant finally having to stand for the increasingly larger donations.  When he got to $1,000.  He electrocuted the entire Deacons Board.

This morning - and next Sunday - we’re going to be talking about giving financially to the church - money.  Having said that, I want to put you all at ease that I’m not going to make a pitch for money or try to make us all feel guilty about what we give.  One of the top 5 reasons people give for not coming to a church is the impression - sometimes deserved - the impression that, “The church isn’t interested in me.  The church is only interested in my money.”  That’s not what this is about - guilt and giving.  We took the offering before the sermon.

Hear this:  Giving to the Lord is never intended by God to be a guilt thing.  Giving is suppose to help us grow closer to God - to experience His blessings - to live in a deepening - dependent - relationship with Him.

Our purpose statement as a congregation is what?  Leading people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and equipping them to serve God.  Let’s say that together.  “Leading people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and equipping them to serve God.”  That’s what we’ve felt God calling us to do right here.

Not too long ago this congregation made a decision to sell its property out on Yosemite Avenue.  After a whole lot of prayer and exploration of a number of different options and more prayer and conversation together and more prayer we’ve felt God’s leading us to remain right here on G street.  As we’ve purposed to remain here God has been showing us some of the potential - little glimpses - of what He may be opening up to us. 

Remember New Hope Merced Youth?  The gang ministry that we’ve been supporting and praying for.  They’ve got a full Board of Directors now. They’re working towards incorporation.

One of the glimpses were seeing - of what God may do here - was when we found out the strategic importance of this location.  Remember this?  As the gangs have carved up Merced into territories - so its dangerous - maybe lethal for a gang member to go into the territory of another gang - the one place where a ministry can take place where gang members would be less likely to kill each other - the neutral zone is right here.

We have the privilege of hosting some of that gang ministry right here.  Gang members coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

We’ve begun trying to connect with people in the apartments across the street.  If you haven’t done this - you really need to do this.  Go over there some time and walk and pray through those apartments.  Keep your eyes open to the needs.  Single parent homes.  Hurting men and women.  Kids in trouble.  Or, cross Bear Creek - go south - or north - we’re strategically located in the middle of a spiritual battle zone.  There’s huge spiritual needs right outside our door.  70 to 80,000 people in Merced who need Jesus.  And, we are right in the middle of it.  Praise God.

In recent months - through God’s ministry through this congregation - there are people who’ve have made decisions to trust Jesus as their Savior.  Over the years God’s been doing that here.  People finding God’s grace and salvation - His healing for their lives - for their marriages - for their families.  God is at work.  Right here.

When we talk about tearing this place down and rebuilding - the last thing we should be thinking about is steel and stucco.  The first thing on our minds must be the ministry God has called us to - leading people into a relationship with Jesus Christ.  That’s why we’re here.  That’s why we exist as a congregation.  Leading people into a relationship with Jesus Christ - and the second part - helping them - equipping them - to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.  The whole point of building safe and expanded facilities is expanding ministry impact.  Facilities that facilitate ministry - that enable us to do our job as a congregation.

If you’ve wandered into our youth room lately - on a Sunday night - or any other time when youth ministry is happening - this gets real clear real fast.  We’ve got more youth than we’ve got room.  And we haven’t even begun to tap into this neighborhood.  Putting a larger youth room right up front - with outside access - a destination point for the youth of the neighborhood where they can hear about Jesus - that makes strategic sense.  Create a place where youth can minister more effectively to their peers.

Its crucial to have a sanctuary - a worship and outreach center - that will be more useful in inviting the community to hear the Gospel - to be a place of refuge for the hurting and those seeking God - where we can grow in His grace together.  And especially one that isn’t claustrophobic or in the process of falling apart.

Its important for us - when we’re talking about money - financial stewardship - its important for us to see the connection between financial giving and fulfilling God’s calling for us here on G street - on making the greatest impact we can for the Kingdom of God between now and eternity.

That’s what financial stewardship is about.  Not guilt.  Not sales pitches.  Not,  we’re going to build the building so we have to cough up the money.  But expanding ministry.  Using God given resources to enable the ministry of leading people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and equipping them to serve God.

What I’d like to share today and next Sunday may not necessarily new.  But it is helpful - to jog our thinking - to be reminded - to help us think about the strategic ministry importance - the life transformation importance - of our giving.

Please turn with me to 1 Corinthians 16 - starting at verse 1.  As you’re turning - let me share some background that’ll be helpful to have in mind.

You’ll see in these verses - that we’re about to read - you’ll see Paul refer to a collection for the saints.  What that’s about is that at the time that Paul is writing to the Corinthian Church he had also been instructing the churches in Galatia, Macedonia, Asia, and now Corinth - instructing the churches there to take up a collection for the church in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem at the time was a fairly poor city.  There had been a famine that had decimated the economy.   The church in Jerusalem - whether because of the economy or persecution - the church was very poverty stricken.    Paul is instructing the churches to take up a collection to help the Jerusalem Church take care of the needy there.  For the Corinthian church this a real financial ministry opportunity of great importance.

If you’ve got your sermon notes in front of you or want to look at the screen - let’s read these verses out loud together.  “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.  On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.  When I arrive, whomever you may approved, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.”

There are three principles of giving that Paul touches on here and that we’d like to think about this morning.  The first is The Principle of Regularity.  Let’s say that together.  “The principle of regularity.”

In verse 2 Paul writes:  “On the first day of every week.”   

The Jewish day of worship began when? on Friday evening and went until Saturday evening - the seventh day.  What Paul writes here is one of the first indications we have that the early Christians had begun to regularly come together on Sunday - the first day of the week - for worship and prayer.

If you back up one chapter to 1 Corinthians 15 - what Paul writes there - in that chapter - is one of the most powerful passages dealing with Jesus’ resurrection.  Which connects beautifully with why we worship on Sunday - and Paul’s comments here in chapter 16.

The first day is the day Jesus rose from death.  Its the beginning of life on a totally different level.  Every Sunday we celebrate that resurrection and that life.  Paul writes, with that reality in mind - that life in Jesus - give.  Every first day of every week - week in and week out - give.  That’s regularity.

Now, some of us get paid bi-weekly or monthly.  Let’s not get legalistic.  Grab the principle - regularity.

Regularity takes a lot of pain out of giving.

Its been said that, “When we tell people to give until they hurt, we discover that the pain threshold of many people is very low.” (1)  Well, there’s good reason for that.  Let’s be honest - money represents days and hours of sweat and tears.  There’s a reason we call work - work.  So, there’s a certain amount of pain in giving.  We’re giving a part of ourselves.

The decision to remember God - life in Jesus - and to give regularly takes a lot of that pain away.  Regularity is following through on the commitment we made to follow Jesus.  When we come to the altar to be married and we say, “I do” it means we’re don’t have to think real hard - get all stressed out - about who we’re going to take out on Saturday night.  We’re just following through on the decision that’s already been made.   

Make the decision to follow Jesus and when the time comes to give the question of, “To give or not to give” - its already settled.  Its what we do.  There’s no reason to debate or question whether we should or shouldn’t give.  Prayerfully - before God - we make one basic decision.  Then it’s simply a matter of carrying out that decision regularly and systematically.  On this day we give to God.

Regularity also helps to save us from self-deception.

A man called the church and asked if he could speak to the Head Hog at the Trough.  The secretary said, “Who?”

The man replied, “I want to speak to the Head Hog at the Trough!”

Sure now that she had heard correctly, the secretary said, “Sir, if you mean our pastor, you’ll have to treat him with more respect and ask for, ‘The Reverend’ or ‘The Pastor.’  But certainly you cannot refer to him as the Head Hog at the Trough!”

At this, the man came back, “Oh, I see.  Well, I have ten thousand dollars I was thinking of donating to the Building Fund.”

The secretary said:  “Hold the line.  I think the Big Pig just walked in the door.” (2)

Too often we’re impressed with large donations.  Too often we get entangled in our egos when we make donations.  Regularity restrains that possibility.

When we give only because of a special appeal or make some large donation - neglecting regular giving we can deceive ourselves into thinking that we’re being really generous.  $500 sounds impressive as a one time gift.  But, divided by 52 weeks - how many of us would claim $10 as a really generous gift?

But, $10 - given regularly - week in and week out - is less about our egos - and more about being committed to daily living out our relationship with Jesus.

Regularity.  Second - The Principle of Priority.  Let’s say that together, “The principle of priority.”

Paul writes, “Each one of you is to put aside and save.”   That means that God’s part is set aside first - set aside before the rest of it gets spent.  God’s part gets saved up for the collection coming on Sunday.

There’s a story that I’ve shared before.  But it’s a good story.  So humor me and enjoy it anyway.  There’s a farmer who went into the house one day to tell his wife and family some good news.  He said, “The cow just gave birth to twin calves, one black and one white.  We need to dedicate one of these calves to the Lord.  We’ll bring them up together, and when the time comes, we’ll sell one and keep the proceeds and we’ll sell the other and give the proceeds to the Lord’s work.”

When his wife asked him which one he was going to dedicate to the Lord.  The farmer said, “There’s no need to think about that now.  We’ll treat them both the same way, and when the time comes, we’ll do as I say.”

A few days later, the farmer came into the kitchen looking very unhappy.  His wife asked, “What happened?”  The farmer replied, “I have bad news.  The Lord’s calf is dead.”

His wife said, “Wait, you didn’t decide which calf was the Lord’s.”

The farmer said, “Yes, I decided it was the white one, and the white one died.  The Lord’s calf is dead.”  (3) (Obligatory laugh?)

It may seem intelligent to take care of all our necessities and then to look around to see if something is left for God.  But honestly - it’s amazing how many “necessities” we have that can eat up our resources.  Isn’t it?  While we’re piling up debt and financial obligations - its amazing how easy God’s portion gets squeezed.

Something I’ve found from my own life.  When God comes second its amazing how the necessities never seem to really get taken care of.  And this - the reverse is also true.  When we give to God first its amazing how all the real necessities get taken care of.

Priority is setting aside God’s share first - off the top - the gross - the net - whatever - not the bottom.  All that beautiful language about “God first, others are second, and I’m third” becomes concrete and actual for the first time.  When we do that it reorganizes our life - which is what financial stewardship should do.  Draw us closer to God - to experience His blessings - to live in a deepening - dependent - relationship with Him.

Regularity.  Priority.  Third - The Principle of Proportionality.  Let’s say that together, “The principle of proportionality.”

Paul writes, “as he may prosper.”

Perhaps the best example of this that I’ve ever run across - and I’ve shared this before - and its worth hearing again - is John Wesley’s tremendous example of giving with proportionality.  When John Wesley began his career as a teacher at Oxford University back in the 1700’s - he was paid 30 pounds per year.  His living expenses were 28 pounds - so he gave 2 pounds away.

The next year his income doubled.  But he still managed to live on 28 pounds.  So he gave away 32 pounds.  The third year he earned 90 pounds - lived on 28 - gave away 62.  The years went by.  One year his income was a little over 1,400 pounds - he lived on 30 and gave away nearly all of the 1,400 pounds.

Wesley felt that the Christian should not merely tithe but give away all extra income once the family and creditors were taken care of.  He believed that with increasing income, what should rise is not the Christian’s standard of living but the standard of giving.  Have you heard that?  That’s a challenge for us.

Proportional giving helps us to evaluate how we’re using God given resources.

God blesses us not so we can spend more on ourselves - better cars - bigger houses - more toys.  We fall into this trap and its so important that we think clearly about how we’re spending our money.  Five Venti’s a week adds up to $455 per year.  Five Venti Carmel Frappuccinos comes out to $1,092.  I realize I’m on thin ice here.  But, balance even a portion of that with how many people might come to salvation if that money was invested in reaching people with the Gospel. 

Wesley said, “When the possessor of heaven and earth brought you into being and placed you in this world, He placed you here not as owner but as steward.” (4)

Proportional giving should take us out of the driver seat. 

When Star Wars III premiered up in Modesto - for $250 a ticket you could get your picture taken with Chewbacca.  That’s my goal in life - get my picture taken with a walking carpet.

If we were selling tickets - like a theater - it costs an average of $38.75 per Sunday - per person sitting in one these comfy chairs - to keep the doors open.  So, if you’re an attender here, your obligation per week - bottom line - is $38.75.  That’s all that’s required.  There are churches that look at ministry that way.  God doesn’t. 

When we start totaling up a church budget and dividing it by the number of giving units to determine “what’s my share” or what’s expected of every member - it puts us in the driver seat.  When we look at the church’s income - or lack of it - or what’s in the bank - and base our giving on that rather than simple obedience to God - we’re forgetting that God has a purpose in blessing us.

God blesses us materially because He wants to use those resources according to His will - for His glory - in His work of redeeming mankind from sin.  The issue of proportionality is the examining of our real needs - to consider our income - our resources - our blessings - in order to determine - in obedience - what share God would have us give.  The bottom line question is, “How much can I give for God’s work?”

Three principles - Regularity, Priority, Proportionality

The Church of Corinth had a tremendous opportunity to financially support crucial life changing ministry in Jerusalem.  God gives us that kind of opportunity around here every day.  Using God given resources to enable the ministry of leading people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and equipping them to serve God.  Expanding ministry that impacts lives for Jesus.  

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