Sermon Notes from Sunday 3.13.11

Here are the notes from today's sermon on Worship as Giving from Mark 12.35-44.  Our normal webmaster extraordinaire is on the mission field this week, so he'll have some catching up next week on posting the audio and a PDF of these notes at sermons.heritagepark.org.  At some point in the near future, you'll also find the audio on iTunes via our podcast.

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Part 4 – Giving as Worship

Mark 12.35-44

Giving that Worships

• God-worshipping people have giving as a priority (v.42-43).
• God-worshipping people know giving requires sacrifice (v.44).
• Her worship wasn’t in the amount but in the allegiance.  

Our Issues with Giving that Worships

Idolatry – “All you want is my money.” 

• Temporary treasures are not worth our worship – Matthew 6.19-24
• You can’t take it with you, but it can take you with it – 1 Timothy 6.6-10

Instruction – “I honestly don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

• Giving Path 1:  Tithing – 10% of your earned income to the local church.
• Giving Path 2:  Offerings – any cause that grabs the affection of my heart.

Information – “If I had known, I would’ve given.”

• A planned, disciplined approach to giving helps meet needs.
• A planned, disciplined approach to giving propels you toward generosity.

History – “I gave once and it didn’t go well.”

• Your history doesn’t negate your obedience.
• At Heritage Park, there is no question you can’t ask about our finances.

Distance – “Isn’t this just for air-conditioning and copy paper?”

• If you cannot see the impact, you might not be close enough.

Fear – “I can’t see how we’re going to give this month.”

• God is a good provider and worth our obedient worship.