Knowing the Will of God (Engr. Markus Dye) 14-09-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1 - Garki, Abuja

14th September, 2014

SERMON

* Speaker: Engr. Markus Dye

* Topic: Prepared Giver

* Theme: Knowing the Will of God

* Excelling in the Grace of Giving

* Service Leader: Mrs. Lois Dakum

* Text: 1st Corinthians 16:2 "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made."

* 2nd Corinthians 9:4-5

* If you are not prepared, you will be caught Unaware

* Preparation entails getting ready for something

* Preparation is also part of Planning - preparation is a critical element of Success

* John 14:1-2- Jesus himself went to prepare a place for us in heaven

* Jesus gave himself first before requiring us to give

* To get to Heaven, you must prepare yourself

* Preparation is setting aside time to do something or to perfect an objective/goal

* Preparation positions you to maximize opportunities that come your way

* Who is a giver? - God Himself is a giver. He demonstrated His love to us by giving us His Son

* You cannot give what you do not have

* You must prepare yourself to receive what God has prepared for you to get

* When you receive the free gift of God, you are in a better position to give

* A prepared giver is one who gives thankfully

* Before your giving is acceptable to God, you must:

(a) be submissive to God's authority

(b) give cheerfully

* Prepare or decide in advance what you want to give

* You must not appear before God empty handed- prepare before you appear

* You must, as a Child of God yield to the call to give for the expansion of the kingdom of God here on earth

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A Sacrificial Giver (Rev. John Chrysanthus Bala) 17-08-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

17th August, 2014 (My Birthday!)

* Rev. John Chrysanthus Bala

* Topic: A Sacrificial Giver

* Mark 12:41-44

* The woman in This passage was disadvantaged by her situation in life: She was a widow and she was poor

* Jesus took notice of every person's giving in the Temple

* Jesus looks at our hearts & He observes the principle we act upon when giving (whether cheerfully or grudgingly)

* Sacrificial giving is the kind of giving that shows you love God

* When you love someone, no gift (for the loved one) is too much; You would always want to go the extra mile

* Sacrificial giving is a giving that honours God, and it is commiserate with your income

* God always recognizes sacrificial giving & rewards it

* God gave us His son, what can we give Him? What do you have that you think is too much to be given to God?

* Some greedy people hide themselves behind the common expression: "widows' mite" so that they do not give sacrificially

* The value of your offering to God depends on what is left after you have made that offering

* NOTE: There is no where in the Bible where we are commanded to give as this poor widow; but your giving must be such that honours God

* When you trust God in the area of sacrificial giving, He will "embarrass" you with His blessings