Missions Week - 29 Jan 12

Spoke at two services in church today, being the missions Sunday. Great achievements for the year 2011. Evangelism teams started over 400 new cells/house groups in villages in AP alone in 2011. There were many more achievements to praise God for.

Giving Church - Poor yet rich
2 Cor 8:1-5

Paul cites the Macedonian churches as an example of giving.

5 Principles of giving as seen in the Macedonian churches

  1. They gave generously - verse 2
  2. The gave voluntarily - verse 3
  3. They gave persistently - verse 4
  4. They gave joyfully - verse 2
  5. They gave sacrificially - verse 3

How is this possible?

Verse 5 - They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

  • Total submission to God
  • Willing partners with God’s servants

You can give without loving but you can't love without giving - Amy Carmichael

A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing is worth nothing - Martin Luther.

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