"Giving Generously"
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem
Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints,2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
The Cheerful Giver
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
SERMON NOTES
“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures excludes them.”
— C.S. Lewis, English author and scholar
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“Paul says 2 Corinthians 9:6 that “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” What does this mean to you? How can you apply this principle in your life?
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Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:9 “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.” How can we best follow Jesus example? How does 2 Corinthians 8:9 influence what Paul is saying in 2 Corinthians 9?
SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER
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Proverbs 11:24-25
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Deuteronomy 16:17
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Malachi 3:10
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, April 24
9:30 am Men’s Outreach Prayer
1:30 pm Women’s Prayertime
7:30 pm Monday Knight Men
TUESDAY, April 25
9:00 am Daybreak
7:00 pm Adult Badminton
WEDNESDAY, April 26
9:00 am Daybreak
9:45 am Keenager’s Study
6:30 pm AWANA Awards Night
6:30 pm Jr. High Small Groups
7:00 pm Young Adults Study at Vanderveen’s
THURSDAY, April 27
6:30 pm Sr. High Small Group at the Weibe's
7:00 pm Men's Floor Hockey
FRIDAY, April 28
Women's Retreat at Camp Nakamun
7:30 pm YOUTH "Terminal Velocity"
SATURDAY , April 29
EASTER SUNDAY, April 30
9:15 am Worship Service
11:15 am Worship Service
1:00 pm Filipino Celebration
JOURNEY UPDATES
CHILDREN’S Action Bibles and Devotionals are for sale Sunday morning at the Check In Kiosk. Bibles - $15, Devotionals - $18.
SINGIN' THE GOSPEL Sunday at 6:00 pm. Andrew Martin, from Ontario, will take us on a journey through Gospel , Soul, and Inspirational music Jamie Blahun will bring her powerful message in song with a country flare. Freewill offering will be taken.
AWANA AWARDS NIGHT April 26 at 6:30 pm. Come out and recognize all the hard work our clubbers have accomplished this year. Clubbers remember to bring your money for Store Night.
Please bring peanut-free snacks to share after the event.
SPRING'S HERE! Sign up today to help us do a church-wide clean up on Saturday, May 13.
Please contact Ken or Kenton for details.
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DESSERT NIGHT is May 24 at 7:00 pm. We are pleased to have Phil Callaway here to lift our spirits and encourage us. Please RSVP to the church office.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE is a time for pastors, church leaders, and lay people to hear stories of what God is doing in our district, understand deeper the denominational vision and goals of our district, be a part of the decision making process that impacts the district and reconnect with old and new friends. Every two years our district invites all of our pastors, church leaders, and lay people to participate in this provincial two day event. Please consider attending in Edmonton on May 12 & 13. For details and to register, please visit https://districtconference.transformcma.ca/ . Deadline to register is April 25.
FAMILY CAMPING TRIP June 29 - July 2. 752 RV Park is located 34 km west of Rocky Mountain House. Trailers are $120 for the weekend and tents are $82. Registration will take place at the Welcome Centre today, April 23 and April 30. Space is limited.
DEEPER LIFE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY is offering the course “Creation Our Foundation I” with Grady McMurtry on May 25 – 27. The topics include scientific creationism, Mt. St. Helens, physical evidences for Noah’s Flood, Dinosaurs and the origin of races. Contact Pastor Coreen to register by May 7.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Building a Spiritual Home for Spruce Grove
Thank you for taking the time to vote on Phase One of our Future Development.
We will be counting votes on Sunday Afternoon. To get District approval, we need 50% plus one to move ahead. However, the board has decided that if we get under 75% support, we will need to evaluate the direction we are going.
Thank you again for being engaged in this process and we look forward to sharing the results of the vote this week.
-Board of Elders
PRAYER
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Our International Workers: Ric & Kareen Strangway, Stephen & Marilyn Rigby, Roy & Joyce Hewko.
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Our Pastoral Staff: Pastor Jerry D. Jerry is the Pastor at Calahoo Alliance. He is married to Lois and they have one married child.
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Our Administrative Staff: Debbie is married to Rod and they have two children ages 13 and 12.
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Our Elders: Tory Tebb. Tory is married to Shawna and they have 4 children ages 18, 16, 14 and 12.
Family Matters
- CONGRATULATIONS to Joseph , Jeff, and Kari for taking the step of obedience in getting baptized this weekend.
- There are 52 women and the Women’s Retreat at Camp Nakamun this weekend.