DEFINITION
The offering is a gift to God after our tithes.
SCRIPTURE READING
2 Corinthians 9:11, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
MAIN POINTS
- THANKSGIVING: People “give thanks” to God when they benefit from offerings given to God. For example, the Christians who receive the missions offering in the form of Bibles, books, and supplies give thanks to God because other disciples helped them.
- THE GOLDEN RULE: How thankful would you be if someone gave offerings to help your family in time of need? Imagine if your home was destroyed in a hurricane and people came from around the country with offerings from their church to help rebuild your home- how thankful would you be? Therefore, make happen for others what you would want to happen for you!
SUMMARY
Whenever we give offerings to the work of God (whether its to missions, charity, the church, etc) it will always result in thanksgiving to God!
APPLICATION
- Be a faithful tither.
- Prayerfully ask God to lead you in giving generous offerings to the work of God.
- Always be thankful that you get to help others!
CONFESSION
The offering is a gift to God “after” the tithe and is given in a “variety” of ways. God said it should be a “generous” “seed” given with a “cheerful” heart from personal “sacrifice.” Offerings will always bring “thanksgiving” to God because they go towards “charity” and ministry “supplies.” We give offerings in “obedience” to God’s Word, “sharing” with others our blessings with a “gracious” heart by “imitating” Jesus and revealing where our “treasure” really is.