PowerPoint Presentation

Thanks Giving

John F. KennedyAs we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

John F. Kennedy

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

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Series VerseJames 1:22But bedoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

22But bedoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

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First PointPutting Feet to Your Faith through Sacrificial Giving.

First Point

Putting Feet to our Faith through Sacrificial Giving.

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2 Corinthians 81We want you to know, brothers,about the grace of God that has beengiven among the churches of Macedonia,

2 Corinthians 8

1We want you to know, brothers,about the grace of God that has beengiven among the churches of Macedonia,

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2 Corinthians 82for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy andtheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy andtheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

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2 Corinthians 83For they gaveaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,4begging us earnestlyfor the favorof taking part inthe relief of the saints

3For they gaveaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,4begging us earnestlyfor the favorof taking part inthe relief of the saints

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2 Corinthians 85and this, not as we expected, but theygave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

5and this, not as we expected, but theygave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

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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.

C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis

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. 10

In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusement, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little.

C.S. Lewis

In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusement, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little.11

If our giving does not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say it is too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our commitment to giving excludes them.

C.S. Lewis

If our giving does not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say it is too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our commitment to giving excludes them.12

Second PointPutting Feet to Your Faith through Uncoerced Giving.

Second Point

Putting Feet to our Faith through Uncoerced Giving.

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Uncoerced GivingUncoerced giving is motivated by grace.

2 Corinthians 86Accordingly,we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among youthis act of grace.

6Accordingly,we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among youthis act of grace.

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2 Corinthians 87But asyou excel in everythingin faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for yousee that you excel in this act of grace also.

7But asyou excel in everythingin faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for yousee that you excel in this act of grace also.

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2 Corinthians 88I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.

8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.

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2 Corinthians 89For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, thatthough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, thatthough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

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Uncoerced GivingUncoerced giving is motivated by grace.Uncoerced giving is evidenced by follow through.

2 Corinthians 810And in this matterI give my judgment:this benefits you, whoa year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.

10And in this matterI give my judgment:this benefits you, whoa year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.

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2 Corinthians 811So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

11So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

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William BarclayThe Devil will let you resolve as much as you like; the more the better, just as long as you never carry it out.

William Barclay

The Devil will let you resolve as much as you like; the more the better, just as long as you never carry it out. The tragedy of life so often is, not that we have no high impulses, but that we fail to turn them into actions.

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The tragedy of life so often is, not that we have no high impulses, but that we fail to turn them into actions.William Barclay

William Barclay

The Devil will let you resolve as much as you like; the more the better, just as long as you never carry it out. The tragedy of life so often is, not that we have no high impulses, but that we fail to turn them into actions.

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Uncoerced GivingUncoerced giving is motivated by grace.Uncoerced giving is evidenced by follow through.Uncoerced giving is proportional.

2 Corinthians 812For if the readiness is there, it is acceptableaccording to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptableaccording to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

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13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14your abundance at the present time should supplytheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.

13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairnes 14your abundance at the present time should supplytheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.

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2 Corinthians 815As it is written,Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.

15As it is written,Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.

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Third PointPutting Feet to Your Faith through Cheerful Giving.

Third Point

Putting Feet to our Faith through Cheerful Giving.

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2 Corinthians 96The point is this:whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifullywill also reap bountifully.

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

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2 Corinthians 97Each one must give as he has decided in his heart,not reluctantly or under compulsion, forGod loves a cheerful giver./ hilaros

7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart,not reluctantly or under compulsion, forGod loves a cheerful giver.

The Jews had in the templetwo chestsfor alms; the one was of what wasnecessary, i.e. what the law required, the other was of thefree-will offerings. To escape perdition some would grudgingly, give whatnecessityobliged them; others would givecheerfully, for the love of God, and through pity to the poor. Of thefirst, nothing is said; they simply did what the law required. Of thesecond, much is said;God loves them. . . To these two sorts of alms in the temple the apostle most evidently alludes.

I want you to see one more really interesting detail in this text. The Greek word for cheerful is hilaros. It only appears once in the Greek New Testament. We get our word hilarious from this Greek word. This shows us something of the joy that we can genuinely experience in giving. There is real happiness in giving to others and giving to God. Listen to these words by Booker T. Washington.

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2 Corinthians 98AndGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiencyin all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

8AndGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiencyin all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.32

2 Corinthians 99As it is written,

He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.

9As it is written,

He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.

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2 Corinthians 910He who suppliesseed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing andincrease the harvest of your righteousness.

10He who suppliesseed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing andincrease the harvest of your righteousness.

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2 Corinthians 911You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, whichthrough us will produce thanksgiving to God.

11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, whichthrough us will produce thanksgiving to God.

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2 Corinthians 912For the ministry of this service is not only supplyingthe needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

12For the ministry of this service is not only supplyingthe needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

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2 Corinthians 913By their approval of this service,theywill glorify God because of your submission that comes from yourconfession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

13By their approval of this service,theywill glorify God because of your submission that comes from yourconfession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

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2 Corinthians 914while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.15Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

14while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.15Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

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Thanks Giving