Sunday Review: 1/26/20
On Sunday, January 26, 2020, Kevin Khoffie led worship, Christopher Deloglos gave a Prayer of Confession, and Matthew Williams preached the message, “The Grace of Giving (Part 2)" as part of our current series, Sunday Matters from 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. To listen to this message again, click here.
Prayer of Confession:
Oh Gracious Father,
We come to you today as a people in awe of your goodness. With every breath we find mercy. Every beat of our heart shows your faithful steadfastness. All that we need is from you and we adore you for being a God with open hands that lead us ever-more toward grace.Thank you for your goodness, poured on us through Jesus.
Yet, even with such abundant kindness, it is tempting to think of our portion here as meager. You have given us your very self as our provision, every good and perfect thing is from you. Yet, the idea of a “fetter” seems unappealing and constraining and we push back on even the fetters of your goodness. We complain when we feel pain, we forget about your leading in our lives, and in and of ourselves we do not follow your example of generosity toward others. You are so quick to pardon all of our sins, yet how often do we make the choice to hold on to the sin of others? Your fountain is ever flowing, yet we balk at opening our hands and our hearts to give of our money or our time when the offering plate is passed or there is another appeal to fill a serving need.
Oh Jesus, forgive me, forgive us, for the ways that I protect and cling to what was never really mine. Forgive me for seeing my money, my home, my weekends...as commodities I have earned instead of gifts from you meant to be given back out.But still, thank you for your goodness, poured on us through Jesus.
Thank you for grace, peace, health, and joy. You satisfy us every morning and every night and every hard time in between.Help us to long for your return as we give what we have to you. Open up our eyes to the wonder of who you are and what it means to follow well. We trust you for all that we need and believe it when You say that you have given us a helper in your Spirit as we seek to be a people marked by what we give and, most importantly, what we have been given.
Thank you for your goodness, poured on us through Jesus.
Amen.
Discussion Questions:
Have you pursued giving as a spiritual discipline no less than other disciplines (prayer, Bible reading, evangelism, etc.)?
Do you talk with other believers about how you steward finances?
Where are you tempted to selfishness?
Are you being active or passive in looking for opportunities to give?
Do you live as though God has a claim over your whole life?
Do you see giving as a "sanctification tollbooth" where you deposit your 10% to be squared up with God?
Read Philippians 2:5-8. How does seeing how Jesus used his wealth change the way you view your resources?