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2 Thessalonians Sermon Series: Return of the King “Glorifying God in Tribulation” 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

2 Thessalonians Sermon Series:

Return of the King

“Glorifying God in Tribulation”

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Introduction

Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

“The Road Not Taken” has confused audiences literally from the beginning. In the spring of 1915, Frost sent an envelope to Edward Thomas that contained only one item: a draft of “The Road Not Taken,” under the title “Two Roads.” According to Lawrance Thompson, Frost had been inspired to write the poem by Thomas’s habit of regretting whatever path the pair took during their long walks in the countryside—an impulse that Frost equated with the romantic predisposition for “crying over what might have been.” Frost, Thompson writes, believed that his friend “would take the poem as a gentle joke and would protest, ‘Stop teasing me.’”[1]

In today’s passage the church in Thessalonica have to make a choice, continue on the Christian faith despite hardship and persecution – are they going to regret making this choice to follow Christ, perhaps they are struggling with why God is allowing them to go through this.

Biblical scholars believe that the person who delivered 1 Thessalonians stayed long enough to see the effect the letter from Paul had upon the early church. Then this person returned back to Paul and gave a report. Paul then penned the second letter to the Thessalonians.[2] It is also believed that the new church received an intentional forgery indicating that “the Day of the Lord” and its judgements was already occurring.[3] This went against what Paul taught them in the first letter to the Thessalonians.

The report that Paul received told him that they church had “made progress in their faith and love (1:3). They had remained firm under repeated outbreaks of persecution (1:4). Also, their distress about the death of their loved ones had been relieved by the teachings of the First Epistle. But their excitement relative to the second coming had been intensified. They were agitated by the view “that the day of the Lord is already here (2 Thess. 2:2).”[4] Some quit working, some become busy bodies, meddling in others business, so Paul responds to these conditions.

Prayer

The Growing Church is Encouraged (vv. 1-4).

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

Paul is writing the church to address specific issues (not working, wrong ideas about the return of Christ), but he first recognizes that for the most part, there are a majority of people who are “growing abundantly.” And while that small minority might be causing enough of an issue that it requires a letter to be written, he focuses first on those whose “love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”

In life it is sometimes so easy to focus on the one or two things that are wrong, and lose sight that there is a vast number of things that are right. The church is being persecuted, but they are being steadfast in their faith, they are enduring great afflictions, and yet Paul says, “your faith is growing abundantly.”

When a person puts their faith in Jesus, they believe in Christ’s deity, that He is capable of saving them from their sin, but it is also possible to learn by experience to trust the Lord in all things – this is a process that we grow in. As Christians go through life, they learn to trust God in different ways. Some even trust God for the eternal, but not the problem right in front of them.[5]

Paul doesn’t start with the problems and what is wrong, he starts with what is right. He even says, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you” We ought to begin with thanksgiving for what God is doing. There will always be issues that the church must work through, we are people after all, but the things we tend to focus on, what holds a majority of our attention, determines our overall view of the situation.

Paul is taking a moment to celebrate what God is doing in this church in spite of all the difficulty that surrounded it. We also, before we focus on the negative, ought to take time to thank God for what He is doing, and all the positive things we see Him doing in others around us. Otherwise, you just focus on the negative all the time. It’s always easier to see the bad, it takes extra effort to see the good.

If Paul had started with the few trouble makers, then it would have been like pouring cold water all over the many who that were growing in their faith, being an example to surrounding cities, and were excited themselves about what God was doing.

Also, Paul is acknowledging that they were growing, “In 1 Thessalonians Paul prayed for growth in faith, love, and hope (1:3). Now he thanked God that the Thessalonians had achieved this.”[6]

(v. 4) Paul praises them by saying, “your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.” He is boasting to other churches about how they were remaining steadfast, “As they kept on growing in faith and bearing abundant fruit in love, Paul kept on boasting about them in other churches of God.”[7]

The word used for steadfastness means patience, or “remaining under.”[8] Christians have burdens and cares they are under, or are carrying and want to get rid of them, yet remain under them. The steadfast person remains under the stress and burden and adjusts himself to the circumstances that he is called to live.

This church is being persecuted because of their work for the Lord, and they are growing in their ability stand up under this weight. Their situation was the same as when Paul left, but the church, the members were not the same – they were growing in their faith.

“persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring” – the way Paul used the word enduring means that it is relentless, constant, there is no letting up. So in these opening verses Paul is commending them on their growth in love and faith. They are growing in how they are loving God, and how they are loving others, in spite of the circumstances around them. Whatever is going on in your life, there is no excuse for not growing in your relationship with the Lord.

God’s Promise to The Faithful (vv. 5-8a)

5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, . . .

(v. 5) “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God” – Now, Paul jumps from the present when they are suffering, to the future when those who persecute and cause them harm will suffer. The word for evidence is used only here in the New Testament and it means “proof.”

God’s judgement is given in the context of history. That judgment of God “will be in keeping with the evidence (proof) as found in the individual’s life on earth and the subsequent results of that life in the lives of others.”[9]

God’s people may be in affliction now, but at the final judgement the ones afflicting them on earth will be in affliction.[10]

(v. 7) “and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels” – Paul is also saying that this will not last forever. When Christ returns, all of His followers will be granted relief, rest. All the pain, suffering, persecution, hatred, . . . all of it will end.

In their suffering and pain, God has not left them to figure it out. Followers of God will experience God as his helper, and it has been this way since the beginning. “The patriarchs declared it, the prophets experienced it, the psalmists sang it, the disciples rejoiced in it, the martyrs evidenced it, and in the succeeding days men and women of every kindred and people and tongue have cried with those who have marched the rugged way before them: “‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear (Psalm 46:1-2).’”[11]

Paul is saying that the fact that they have been able to stand up under the weight of persecution, and absorb this punishment with patience is evidence of God’s power working in their lives. Also, God is working in their lives “making them worthy of the kingdom of God,” And there is a coming judgement.

God’s Promise to the Faithless (vv. 8b-10)

. . . inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

I don’t think the intention of Paul is to say, “those who hurt you, will be hurt.” Instead it is a reminder that you once were one of those who hurt people, but now you are not destined toward that future, you are now going in a different direction – because of your belief in the gospel.

The difference between the two groups of people is those that know God, and those that do not know God (not the good and the bad). Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

How then does one come to know God? You know God and are known by God by “obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” What then is the gospel?

So why would God punish someone who does not receive the gospel? Because like the persecutors of the church they have caused harm to themselves and others. (see the Ten Commandments).

(v. 9) There is are two time-limits that a person has to respond to the invitation of the gospel, their own death and Christ’s return (if they are still alive). There is also a time restriction to the state of those that know him and those that do not know him. Those that do not know Him, “will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”

The second part of the sentence explains the first[12]: What Paul means by “Eternal destruction” is being “Away from the presence of the Lord and “Away from the glory of his might.”[13] Eternal Life and Eternal Destruction are exact opposites. Eternal life is to be in the presence of the Lord and to experience His majesty, Eternal Destruction is to be away from the presence of the Lord and His majesty. [14]

Glorifying God With Our Lives (vv. 11-12)

11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is telling the church about the future, not to satisfy their curiosity, but for them (and us) to take action based on that information. “This is the point Paul makes here. He has reviewed their sufferings, and how God is able to take care of them. He has discussed how the wicked will be punished in due time. Then he makes a practical application. If this is our destiny, if there is glory ahead, if we are to be in the very presence of our glorious Savior, what an exhortation it constitutes to live for Christ right now.”[15]

Our lives are to be lived in such a way as to bring glory to God. Paul says, “so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you” – this is his prayer for the church, that God has given us so much, that we must grow in our walk with the Lord, and live in such a way as to “make you worthy of his calling.”

Psalm 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Creation declares the glory of God in intelligent design.[16] The heavens show His wisdom, power, and purpose in designing all creation for an intelligent end. Nature reveals that God is and what He can do.

But they do not reveal the love of God, nor His righteousness. “That is where Christians come into the picture. We are designed to show “the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ (Eph. 2:7).”

If we are to share that message with the world, then we must submit to the gospel message, and be an example to others of what the power of God and his grace can do in a person.

“I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

Have you made the choice to follow Christ, to put your faith in Him? Do you know Him and His gospel?

__________________________

[1] https://lithub.com/youre-probably-misreading-robert-frosts-most-famous-poem/

[2] D. Edmond Hiebert, An Introduction to the Pauline Epistles (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Press, 1954) 60.

[3] John F. Walvoord, The Thessalonian Epistles (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dunham Publication, 1968) 101.

[4] Hiebert, 60.

[5] Walvoord, 105.

[6] Clifton Allen, Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Publishing, 1971) 286.

[7] Allen, 286.

[8] Walvoord, 106.

[9] Allen, 287. See also Buttrick, 319. This is the only use of the word for proof , rare in classical Greek.

[10] lex talionis – the law of retaliation, “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.”

[11] George Arthur Buttrick, Commentary Editor, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1955) 320.

[12] Hendiadys

[13] Michael Holmes, The NIV Application Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1998) 215.

[14] Nature fights on the side of the good (Rev 12). “Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small.” Longfellow, “Poetic Aphorisms: Retribution.” Sinngedichte of Frederich von Logau Buttrick, 323).

[15] Walvood, 111.

[16] Ontological argument for the existence of God.

Unboxing the Bunny

Bellevue Baptist Church is offering a Photo Hoopertunity (hehehehe) for children, furry friends, and anyone else who wants to have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny! I think I will be making some adjustments to the costume. Mark your calendar for April 9th and sign up at https://bellevuenashville.org/photo-hoppertunity/

This is what it was supposed to look like, do you think it looks the same?:

Generous Sermon Series “You Reap What You Sow” 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Generous Sermon Series

“You Reap What You Sow”

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Introduction

One day, a man was lost in a desert without water, but he saw an old makeshift structure. He knew he couldn’t make it much longer, so he got to the covering as fast as his worn-out legs could carry him. To his surprise, inside he found a jar of pure looking water. This jar was on the floor next to a pump.

As he reached down to pick up the jar of water, though, he noticed a sign.

Filled with relief, he walked over to the jar to quench his overbearing thirst. As he reached down to pick up the jar of water, though, he noticed a sign. The sign read, “Use this water to prime the pump. When you have gotten as much water as you need, refill the jar, and leave it for the next person who will pass this way.”

This man suddenly found himself on the horns of a dilemma because he was so thirsty that he was close to dehydration. What if he followed the directions on the sign and there was no water in the well? What if he poured out all of the water he now held in his hand and got nothing in return? Was that worth the risk to even try? The man had to make a decision to either fill himself now, or pour out what he had and take the chance that deep down there was so much more. The man made the choice to prime the pump. It was a good choice because the water flowed freely. He drank to his delight and collected enough water to take him on his journey. Before he left, he filled the jar and placed it next to the note. Under the words of the note, he wrote, “Trust me. It works!”[1]

Prayer

God Supplies the Need of the Giver (vv. 6-10)

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap[2] 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.

(vv. 4-5) Whenever we study a passage of Scripture, it’s important to look at the passage in context. Verse 1-5 speak of the apostle Paul planning to arrive with some others and how this church (Corinth) has promised a gift for them. The gift is “to express concern of the Gentile churches for the needy Jewish churches in Judea.”[3]

Paul says, “The point is this,” He does not want to be humiliated and embarrassed or to embarrass those coming with him, when they arrive and the church in Corinth to not have gathered the offering. Paul says, “so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.” He doesn’t want it to look like the offering is “wrung” from them, but that it would truly appear as a gift, ready to be given when they arrive.

(v. 6) With an agricultural principle in mind, Paul shows that the harvest the farmer has at the end of the season is directly related to the amount of seed sown at the beginning of the season.[4] If the farmer sows a few seeds, he will reap a few plants.

You reap what you sow. “With the measure you give will be the measure that you get. In some form or another it comes back to us.”[5] This is a biblical principle that you see again and again through the Bible. This is also a universal principle, like “the sun rises on everyone, and the rains fall for everyone in common.”[6]

Jesus uses this principle in Matthew 7:2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” The idea of these passages is what you do with your life (good or bad) will come back to you in some form or another.

John Calvin said, “Whenever fleshly reason calls us back from doing good through fear and loss, we should immediately oppose it with this shield; But the Lord declares that we are sowing.”[7]

Also, when you plant one kernel in the ground it produces multiple ears of corn, with hundreds and hundreds of kernels of corn in season. Now multiply that by acres of property, so that not only can the farmer feed his family by sowing the seed, but now he has the ability to feed others as well.[8] The farmer trusts the soil to take the seed and multiply it. We trust God’s Word that when we seek to faithfully and cheerfully give, that our efforts will be multiplied.

The context also helps us to answer the question, “what is the harvest?” – it is not your personal finances. There are some who will say, give a seed offering to whatever ministry and they use this passage to say that you will get more back than you gave.

The harvest here is a result of the ministry of the church – we give so that a harvest of souls can be gathered at harvest time. We give to the church (like Corinth is giving to this other church) so that the gospel can go forth and people will be saved.

(v. 7) “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion,” – Paul does not want to apply pressure; if they give while feeling under compulsion (from Paul), then their contributions will be made reluctantly and the whole purpose of the project was to show they want to help.

Giving for Paul is “an outward act expressing inward conviction rather than desire for praise or fear of censure.”[9] Also, the church had decided to take this on as a project, so no one should have to wring, pry, cajole, etc. the people to give toward something they said they were in favor of.

“What each man ought to give must be thought out in light of his own responsibilities for the use of his money.” Giving is a spiritual disciple because you have to (or should) sit down, and evaluate all your expenses and responsibilities and putting God first, you then give the Lord. We allow the Holy Spirit to guide our decision to give whatever that amount may be.

“for God loves a cheerful giver” – God is a giver and as his followers we are to have his characteristics. We get our word hilarious from this word “cheerful.”[10]

Now Paul moves to the reason why God would bless the cheerful giver. (v. 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.” – look at how many times the word all is used here. The way God gives his grace is the opposite of “sowing sparingly.” God gives His all. “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son.” John 3:16 He holds nothing back.

“The sense of the verse seems to be that if men are willing to give, God will always make it possible for them to give (having all sufficiency).”[11] Paul is not saying that if you give, then you will always have a standard of living that will allow you to give to those in need.

Paul himself had times of poverty and wealth, Philippians 4:12 “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Also, the offering they are collecting is going to the poor in the Jewish church.

Jesus helps us to understand this principle when he took the small gift from an unknown little boy and miraculously fed five thousand people, and had baskets full left over (John 6:5 ff). That little boy’s offering is an example where “God is able to make all grace abound to you”

What we have does not come from within us but by the grace of God, and there will always be some kind of work that we can do. (v.8) “the term for blessing is literally “grace” (charis), which Paul employs in the sense of gracious gift. God is able to provide those material resources for your own needs, and enough to provide in abundance, that you may give to others in a manner which matches God’s abundant giving to you.”[12] Grace (you being blessed) may abound so that good works (your ministry to others) may abound.

Also, If we show love toward another person, the “true return is not even the love of others; it is the increased capacity to love. The reward for generosity is the generous heart which rejoices in giving and seeks no return.”

(v. 9) “As it is written” – is a reference to Psalm 112:9, “God will give the man enough to have contentment in life and to enable him to be rich in good works and generous giving.”[13] By quoting from Psalm 112 he is saying that “those who give generously to the needy should know that their charitable act is a part of that larger righteousness of God by which they themselves live and in which they shall remain forever (.v 9).”[14]

If the Corinthian church would give generously, Paul is saying that they will see more resources in the next season, where then they will be able to give even more. The work will grow.

Our Giving Affects the Future (vv. 11-15)

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[15], because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

(v. 13) “they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ” – Giving in this passage is a picture of where God has moved in their hearts. “There the racial barrier between Greeks and Jews was very real.”[16]

There were also leaders in the early church that said if you were not circumcised then you were not a true follower of Christ. These Judaizers “asserted that without circumcision and other requirements of the Jewish law the Christian standing of Gentiles was defective.” So here the Gentile church was giving an offering to the Jewish church and Paul is saying, God will get the glory in this love offering.

1 John 4:20-21, “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot1 love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Paul is teaching and encouraging this church to serve and minister to another church who had a need. Paul in another place says, “faith without works is dead.”[17] If we know there are brothers in Christ starving, without clothes, suffering, and we can do something, but choose not to, then our faith is worthless.

Verses 11-15 are pointing toward the future, there can be a change in the future. How do we change hateful and bitter attitudes between people who have differences? These two groups were incredibly different, but it was the gospel and generosity that brought them together.[18]

Jesus taught that the reality of our Christian spirit is tested by its fruits, Matthew 7:218-0 “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

If this Gentile church in Corinth wanted to show the Jewish church that their faith was just as genuine as theirs, then this collection would show it. It would be a real life depiction of the parable of the good Samaritan.[19] Their fruit of their faith was this love offering to this church. Paul says, “the generosity of your contribution for them.” If you have a disagreement with another believer, then love them, be generous to them, and shower them with grace.

The world wants to church to fail. We are seen as hateful, hypocritical, and bigoted. We overcome these views when the world sees the working of grace within us. Paul says, “By their approval of this service (your gift offering), they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ (your changed heart)” They will glorify God because of you showing how your heart has been changed by the gospel.

Paul’s goals with this offering are going to be reached: “God will be glorified in the thanksgiving of many, and the divided Jewish and Gentile churches will abound in love to one another.”[20]

So did they give? Were they ready when Paul and the delegation arrived? “The apostle paid a third visit to Corinth as planned (12:14; 13:1), Spending three months (the winter of 56-57 AD) in Greece (Acts 20:2,3), during which he wrote Romans (Pom 16:23; 1 Cor. 1:14). Romans 15:26, 27 “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, . . .”

Years ago, Chinese farmers decided they would eat the good big potatoes and just use the small ones for seed. A new understanding of the laws of life came to them when, through the years during which they kept up the practice, nature reduced all their potatoes to the size of marbles!

Those farmers learned through bitter experience that they could not keep the best things of life for themselves and use the leftovers for seed. The laws of life decreed that the harvest would reflect the planting.[21]

(v. 15) “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” – The apostle Paul has given his life for the sake of the gospel, and now has one new church helping another new church as the gospel is spreading and new churches are developing. He got to be apart of this work, and the writing of the New Testament, because of his willingness to give of himself.

We get to be apart of what God is doing in our time, we get to be apart of gospel expanding in our day. We, like Paul should shout out, thank you God, for allowing me to be apart of your work.

Paul also concludes with a shout of thanks to God for his gift to us, His only Son, the Savior of mankind. “The divine gift that inspires all gifts” (Tasker).[22] Do you know Him today? Are you apart of His work?

_______________________

[1] https://tonyevans.org/blog/prime-the-pump

[2] Proverbs 22:8a

[3] Colin Kruse, Tyndale New Testament Commentary, 2 Corinthians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdsmans Publishing Company, 1987) 165.

[4] Pr. 11:24-25, Gal. 6:7-9

[5] George Arthur Buttrick, Commentary Editor, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 10 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1953) 376.

[6] Ambrosiaster, Ancient Christian Texts, Romans and 1-2 Corinthians (Downers Grove, Illinois; IVP Academic, 2009) 242.

[7] Philip E. Hughes, Paul’s Second Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962) 329.

[8] Buttrick, 378.

[9] C.K. Barrett, Harper’s New Testament, A Commentary On The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (New York, New York; Harper & Row Publishers, 1973) 236.

[10] Archbald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume 4 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Publishing, 1931) 248.

[11] Barrett, 237.

[12] Clifton Allen, General Editor, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman press, 1971) 62.

[13] Allen. 62.

[14] Victor Paul Furnish, 2 Corinthians, volume 32a (New York, New York; Doubleday, 1984) 449.

[15] Paul is anticipating that once the other church receives the offering that they will then pray for the church in Corinth. “The belief that the prayers of the poor were especially efficacious was present in the early church as well as in Judaism.” Furnish, 452.

[16] Buttrick, 379.

[17] James 2:14ff.

[18] “He drew a circle that shut me out, Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But Love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in.” Edwin Marklam “Outwitted”

[19] John 4:9. Hughes, 339.

[20] Allen, 63.

[21] https://www.voicings.com/illustration/894

[22] Hughes, 342.

Generous Sermon Series “The Heart of Giving” Luke 20:45-21:4

Generous Sermon Series

“The Heart of Giving”

Luke 20:45-21:4

Introduction

In today’s passage Jesus is continuing his preaching ministry in the temple, and after a long and trying day Jesus wants his disciples to observe something. He is going to compare scribes who are looked at by society as being examples and persons to be looked up to (well-dressed, positions of power, respected when they enter into an area), against a widow (poor, low position in society, and for the most part invisible). But Jesus saw her. This is a story about being seen. Jesus is saying, “I know typically you pay attention and watch these guys, but today, I want you to see this person – watch her.”

Giving to Get Something (20:45-47)[1]

45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”[2]

Earlier in the day while Jesus was teaching in the temple, scribes and the Saducees on separate occasions asked Him questions. In vv. 41-44 Jesus is pointing out that they do not interpret the Scriptures correctly, and here they are no responding to Scripture correctly (v. 45) tells us that once He had answered their questions, he warns the people about their pride. He makes comments about the scribes that where “in the hearing of all the people.”

Jesus is not saying all scribes are bad or wrong, but that they should “beware” of the scribes who have certain character flaws. When these flaws become too apparent, we must beware.

The scribes Jesus mentions are men who “like” . . . They coveted these marks of distinction.

1) “walk around in long robes” – this was the distinctive dress of the Jewish scholar. Ostentatious. “One could always recognize a scribe because he wore a white linen robe with a long fringe that reached to his feet.”[3] The robes also marked them as people who did not do physical labor, “his living would not be cumbered with such clothing.”[4]

These men made their living with their minds, and they wanted everyone to know it. Only those involved in physical labor when they passed didn’t have to stop what they were doing and recognize them.

2) “love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts” – People were to call them Rabbi, invite them to their social parties, giving them the place of honor at the left or right of the host. In the temple, there was a semicircular bench in front of the ark and faced the congregation. They sat with their back to the Torah.

Jesus even specifically warned about assuming the seat of honor, and how we should not do that in Luke 14:10-11 “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

3) who devour widows’ houses – as part of their responsibility to oversee the affairs of widow’s estates, they would collect an exaggerated administrative fee.[5] As a leader there were a dozen ways they could devour a widows resources, “the widows saw themselves impoverished while their guardians grew fat.”[6]

For the most powerful to devour the most vulnerable was heinous to Jesus. They used their positions to improve their estate at the cost of those they were supposed to be helping and ministering to.

4) “for a pretense make long prayers” – When you combine excessive pride, with unrelenting greed, you cover that with as Hamlet said, “thou protest too much.” Their public prayers had to show they deserved to wear the robes, and cover the guilt of their conscience.[7]

“Such behavior represents the hypocrisy of the religious elite who were concerned only with external appearance and sought to look good in the eyes of others.”[8] James even warns those who desire to teach and lead in the church, James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” “Increased responsibility means increased accountability.”[9] Some people just want the position because of how other people will see them, the church must beware.

Jesus wanted the disciples to look at the giving of the scribes (even though they had power, riches, and fame), they took advantage of their position to take from (the widows) even though it was their job to help them.

Hosea 6:6 “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” This passage tells us that our hearts is more important than the rituals of worship. The scribes and the Pharisees gave to get something (prestige, power, flattery, etc.)

Giving to Honor Someone (21:1-4)

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Where are the scribes and Pharisees, now? They have left the scene having been blasted by Jesus’ comments about them.

“Contributions for running the temple were placed in trumpet-shaped receptacles, thirteen of which were located on the court of women.” The chests had specific offerings that the contents of the chest were to go towards (doves, coins, etc.) Some were for required offerings by the worshippers, some were voluntary gifts.

“According to the Misnah, each of the chests bore inscriptions designating what the offerings were for: “New Shekel dues, old shekel dues, bird offerings, young birds for the whole offering, wood, frankincense, gold for the mercy seat, and on six of them ‘free-will offerings.’”[10]

When Mary went to the Temple after Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:22,24) this is where she would have gone to present her offering, and where she would have met Simeon.[11]

“An officer oversaw the collection and often counted what had been given. The coins the widow gave were the smallest ones made – each worth 1/100 of a denarious (about five-minutes of labor at minimum wage).”[12] The coins were called lepta, literally “peeled” or “fine.” The two lepta represented barely anything.

Bock says, “We tend to appreciate the amount of the gift, not necessarily the sacrifice that went into the giving.”[13]

How did Jesus know she was a widow? Just like the scribes wore their white robes, widows also wore distinctive mourning clothes. Hers were probably worn and tattered.

(v. 4) “For they all contributed out of their abundance” – Jesus is referencing everyone there in the temple.[14] Jesus is not saying that those who gave made a big deal of it, or that they did not give in such a way that was wrong. The contribution from abundance means that it will not be missed. Giving it to God, did not really cost them anything.[15]

But, only the widow gave in sacrificially. Luke (the author) uses a rare and archaic word for poor, “he saw a poor (penichra) widow”; it suggests one who has to labor hard with toil for a living (penurious). Luke’s word choice is telling us that this poor woman has to labor hard for whatever she has. While the scribes were devouring and taking, this woman has to labor hard.[16]

For the scribes and the rich it was their wealth that got in the way of their giving.[17] They had everything to lose, the widow had nothing to lose, so she gave it all. This is a mindset that we have to watch out for – the wealthier we become, the more likely we are to stop depending on God, and seeing our possessions as our own – everything has always and will always belong to Him, whether you have two pennies or two billion pennies.

Her loss, was used by God to bring honor to her. God does not waste our tears. In Psalm 42:7 “Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.”

The giving that Jesus praises is the one where a person gave everything they had. So, is this teaching saying that Jesus wants me to give everything to God? Yes. Our hand should be open to God. God knows we have to have a place to sleep, a way to move around in our environment, we need to eat and drink, and we need clothing. Our kids need school supplies, and medicine when they get sick.

All of this comes out of our pockets – along with our expenses is our giving to the Lord at church. We are not a compartmentalized person; we should not have closed fists with God – we are always and completely a worshipper of God (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc.) All of our possessions are to be used for the glory of God (the couch, our car, our home, and giving to the Lord). Our gifts, skills, talents are used throughout the entire week for the glory of God – We are a whole person.

If this widow had decided to keep her two widow’s mites – it would not have been missed. Her offering would not have changed the temple worship very much – but she would have lost her participation in the life of the temple. We are able to participate on the life of the church when we give. God doesn’t count the coins, He weighs the heart. Just like Jesus saw the widow, God sees us, in our entirety (a loves us anyway).

Two leptas was the smallest amount that could be given by law.[18] God allowed this woman to have something to give, so that she could participate in the time of worship. She could not give less, and she could not give more (it was the perfect amount for her) – it was all she had. It was enough to worship, but not enough to draw any kind of attention.

She was saying to God, “I love you. Here’s my heart, my life, I trust you with it all. It’s not much, but it’s all I have.” It is also a question of security. The rich people had kept and used a vast majority of their money – their giving to God did not really cost them anything in the future. Therefore, they didn’t really need God in the future. Their security was in themselves and their riches. For the widow, her security comes from God alone.

Giving is a way that God uses to teach us about ourselves, our desires, what we are willing to live without, our hearts, our relationship to Him, how we put God’s priorities first or our own, where does our security come from?

Whereas, the poor widow gave all she had now – and had to trust the Lord for her future.[19] Marshall says, “what matters is not the amount that one gives, but the amount that one keeps for oneself.”

There are some things we can hold on to from this passage:

The condition of our heart matters to God when we give. If I have credit card debt, the credit card doesn’t care about the condition of my heart, I need to pay my bill. That’s all they care about, give them the money owed. This is not true with God; He cares about the motive and the condition of our relationship with Him as we are giving.

The giving that pleases God will cost you something. We must give in such a way that we go without something we would like to hang on to. 2 Samuel 24:24 “But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.”

God is the one who grows His church – He takes what we give Him and He can do great things with tiny offerings given with the right heart. Hughes says, “If there is love in the sacrifice on the part of the giver, there will be spiritual power in the gift.”[20]

Once Jesus left the temple that day, he would never return. At this point He is destined toward the cross and crucifixion for the salvation of mankind. In that ultimate offering, He held nothing back. He gave it all.

________________________

[1] Mark 12:37ff.

[2] “Matthew 23:1-39 has a very full and rich description of this last phase of the debate in the temple where Jesus drew a full-length portrait of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes in their presence. It was the last solemn climax to this last public appearance of Christ in the temple when Jesus poured out the vials of his indignation as he had done before (Matt. 6:12; Luke 11:12; 15-18).” A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume 2 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Publishing, 1930) 255.

[3] R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word, Luke (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway, 2015) 715.

[4] Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan; W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990) 321.

[5] George Arthur Buttrick, General Editor, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 8 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1952) 359.

[6] W. N. Clarke, Commentary on the Gospel of Mark (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Judson Press, 1881) 298.

[7] See also, Jeremias, Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus.

[8] David Dockery, General Editor, The New American Commentary, Volume 24 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1992) 508.

[9] Hughes, 720.

[10] Hughes, 724.

[11] Alfred Edersheim, The Temple Its Ministry and Services (Peaboy, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishing, 2002) 25.

[12] Darrel L. Bock, The NIV Application Commentary, Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing House, 1996) 526.

[13] Bock, 527.

[14] Robertson, 256. Constative second aorist active indicative, “covering the whole crowd, except for the widow.”

[15] Buttrick, 359.

[16] Ibid.

[17] E. J. Tinsley, The Cambridge Bible Commentary, The Gospel According to Luke (New York New York; Cambridge Press, 1965) 182.

[18] Herschel H. Hobbs, An Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Book House, 1972) 290. “Schottgen on Mark 12:42, cites a Rabbinic rule that a single mite should not be given to the eleemosynart chest, from which he infers that the widow’s gift was the very smallest that was allowed.” (Clarke, 299).

[19] Clifton Allen, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 9 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Publishing, 1970) 158.

[20] Hughes, 727.

Staffing Your Team: “When is the Right Time to Hire Staff?”

Hiring Church Staff

When is the right time to add staff to your team?

1) When no volunteer or team is able to do what needs to be done in a given area.

2) When what is required to be done is more than a single leader or team can reasonable do.

3) When leadership is needed in a given area and there is one to do it.

4) When there is an expectation that needs to be met so often that it is not reasonable for a volunteer.

“Parkinson’s Law” – when work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. People find a way to make jobs more complicated and time-consuming, which in the end requires more staff to get the same amount of work done. When there are transitions in leadership, there should be an analysis of the work required to the time you are asking the leader to complete it – is it reasonable, exaggerated, etc.?

5) When expertise is needed that is not found within the church body, and that expertise is needed on such a regular basis that it is reasonable to hire a person to do it.

Things to Consider for the Staff Position:

• The person will be asking three questions that need to be addressed.
1) What am I responsible for?
2) What decisions am I able to make on my own?
3) Whom do I report to for help?

• Staff should not do what volunteers can do. The goal of the leader is to put church members in place of ministry so they can grow in their faith, and experience the joy and blessing of service. This is also how we grow and mature in our walk with the Lord. If the leaders do everything, they limit the growth of the ministry, and rob members of these blessings.

• A team should always support the staff – no lone rangers. Sometimes. Staff are hired because no one can do what needs to be done, but the leader must immediately seek to build a team.

• Be careful not to load a new staff person with all the needs of the church. The example of deacons in Acts 6:2 was an effort to allow the elders to focus on their calling/ministry. The staff need to be able to focus, and should avoiding generalizing as much as possible.

• Church leaders should be equipping/teaching others on their team to do what they do. Ephesians 4:11-13 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, . . .”

• Hire leaders of ministry, not people to do the ministry themselves.

Should the church hire from within or hire from the outside?

• When your church culture is healthy, hiring from within will perpetuate that culture. Hiring from the outside will change the church culture.

https://seniorpastorcentral.com/2830/staff-churches-under-600/

I would suggest this article because he does a good job of describing when you should hire staff and the order they should be hired. It’s a good read if you are interested in this topic.