The Oldham Woods churchWelcomes You To Our Services

December Lesson Topics

• Tonight: SINGING

• 12/14 AM & PM Traits of Winning Families.

• 12/21 AM It is a wonderful life.

• 12/21 PM. Generosity and the Christian.

GIVERS VS TAKERSGIVERS VS TAKERS

Are you a Are you a givergiver??

or a or a takertaker??

What does the Lord want us to be?What does the Lord want us to be?

Acts 20:35 It is more blessed toActs 20:35 It is more blessed to GIVEGIVE . . .. than to receive. . . .. than to receive. II Cor 9:7 God loveth a cheerfulII Cor 9:7 God loveth a cheerful GIVER…GIVER… Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that heJn 3:16 For God so loved the world that he GAVEGAVE His only begotten son.. His only begotten son..GOD HAS GOD HAS ALWAYS BEENALWAYS BEEN A GIVER… A GIVER…

What About You?What About You?

Jesus was a Jesus was a Giver Giver - why we love Him - why we love Him so!so!

What do you What do you choose?choose?

JESUS: Lk 6:38 JESUS: Lk 6:38

““GiveGive and it shall be and it shall be given unto yougiven unto you. Good . Good measure pressed down, shaken together, measure pressed down, shaken together, running overrunning over shall the shall the Lord giveLord give unto your unto your bosom. With the same measure you give, bosom. With the same measure you give, shall be given unto you again.”shall be given unto you again.”

With what measure do With what measure do youyou give?give?

The churches of Macedonia first gave of themselves! II Cor 8:2-5The churches of Macedonia first gave of themselves! II Cor 8:2-5

Though in Though in “affliction”“affliction” and and “deep “deep poverty”poverty” the abundance of their joy the abundance of their joy abounded unto the abounded unto the riches of their riches of their liberality.liberality.

““They gave They gave beyond their powerbeyond their power of their of their own accord.” (Vs 3)own accord.” (Vs 3)

““First they First they gave of their own selvesgave of their own selves to to the Lordthe Lord ” (Vs 5) ” (Vs 5)

How to be a Giver?How to be a Giver?

Who are the most loved people in Who are the most loved people in this church? this church?

THE PEOPLE WHO THE PEOPLE WHO SERVESERVE AND AND LOVELOVE THE MOST! THE MOST!

Giving is a matter of Spiritual MaturityGiving is a matter of

Spiritual Maturity

We are born…We are born…self-centeredself-centered……Babies must be Babies must be taughttaught to be to be

considerate & generous!considerate & generous!Some rob God by meager offerings.

Lk 16:11Lk 16:11

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the un-righteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches ?

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

1.1. Become Become truly thankfultruly thankful..for our ..for our blessings and realize the blessings and realize the source of our source of our blessings!blessings! Matt 10:18 Matt 10:18 “Freely received should “Freely received should

freely give!” freely give!”

2.2. Must have faith to Must have faith to give believinggive believing….…. Phil 4:19 “My God will supply all your Phil 4:19 “My God will supply all your

needs.” needs.”

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

3.3. Watch your focus!Watch your focus! Not what you Not what you getget, , but can givebut can give! ! GivingGiving is the essence of Worship! is the essence of Worship! Matt 16:25 “Gain your life by Matt 16:25 “Gain your life by

losing it!”losing it!” Prayer: “Lord, may our lives be a Prayer: “Lord, may our lives be a

blessing to others today.”blessing to others today.”

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

4. AVOID FAULT FINDING4. AVOID FAULT FINDINGGiving and Criticism are Giving and Criticism are inversely inversely

relatedrelated..

Stop criticizing and be determined to be Stop criticizing and be determined to be apart of the solution not the problem!apart of the solution not the problem!

Prayer: “Revive the church beginning Prayer: “Revive the church beginning with me!” with me!”

WHAT IT THE SOLUTION?WHAT IT THE SOLUTION?

5.5. FORGET ABOUT “CREDIT.”FORGET ABOUT “CREDIT.”

Key: Let Key: Let other’sother’s get the credit, get the credit, God get the gloryGod get the glory, , youyou get the get the joyjoy! !

““It is more blessed to give than to It is more blessed to give than to receive.”receive.” Jesus. Jesus.

““Wealth’s greatest satisfaction is Wealth’s greatest satisfaction is seeing it help others while you seeing it help others while you are living!”are living!”

Giving is a Matter ofFaith & Character

Giving is a Matter ofFaith & Character

Character = “Doing right Character = “Doing right on purposeon purpose.” .” Ps 15:4Ps 15:4

The more religious people are the more The more religious people are the more likely they are to be personally likely they are to be personally benevolent!benevolent!C - ompassion -- Big brother do itC - ompassion -- Big brother do itc - ompassion -- c - ompassion -- I will do it!I will do it!

DANIEL: A MAN OF TRUE CHARACTER

DANIEL: A MAN OF TRUE CHARACTER

He learned to say “no” before the He learned to say “no” before the question was even askedquestion was even asked Conviction= a Conviction= a predetermined predetermined answer answer Givers= Givers= purpose in their hearts..purpose in their hearts..

He learned to He learned to trust the wisdom of God trust the wisdom of God instead of the logic of men.instead of the logic of men.God says: God says: “Sow bountifully, reap “Sow bountifully, reap

bountifully.”bountifully.” 2 Cor 9:6 2 Cor 9:6

DANIEL: A MAN OF TRUE CHARACTER

DANIEL: A MAN OF TRUE CHARACTER

He did well --gave the glory to God!He did well --gave the glory to God!Dan 6:22 “My God has sent the Dan 6:22 “My God has sent the

angels and angels and theythey shut the lions mouth.” shut the lions mouth.”When praised, accept the compliment When praised, accept the compliment

but praise God that blesses and but praise God that blesses and motives and directs your giving! motives and directs your giving!

Barriers to being GiversBarriers to being Givers

LazinessLaziness - Eph 4:28 - Eph 4:28CovetousnessCovetousness - Lk 12:15 - Lk 12:15Losing FocusLosing Focus -- --

Forgetting that God gives to us Forgetting that God gives to us that we that we might give!might give! I Cor 16:2 I Cor 16:2

I Chron. 29:14 “All things come of I Chron. 29:14 “All things come of thee.” thee.”

We are made for Giving!(Heb 13:16)

We are made for Giving!(Heb 13:16)

““God hath given us two God hath given us two hands--one to hands--one to receivereceive with, and the other to with, and the other to givegive with. We are not with. We are not cisterns made for cisterns made for hoardinghoarding but but channels channels made for giving!”made for giving!”

InvitationInvitation

What will the Lord say at judgment? What will the Lord say at judgment? Well, done you were a good and faithful giver!Well, done you were a good and faithful giver!

Rom 12:1 Rom 12:1 “Present yourselves to “Present yourselves to God.”God.”Obeying the gospel! II Thess 1:8Obeying the gospel! II Thess 1:8Repenting and seeking prayersRepenting and seeking prayers

Daniel: A Man of Character

Daniel: A Man of Character

He learned to be promoted yet remained the He learned to be promoted yet remained the samesame Givers do not become proud but lay up Givers do not become proud but lay up

treasures in heaventreasures in heaven He did what was right whatever it costs!He did what was right whatever it costs!

Givers don’t let fear of criticism stop them Givers don’t let fear of criticism stop them from giving!from giving!