The Weight of Sacrificial Giving Mark 12:35-45 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:2). “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Hebrews 13:16). “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Statistics According to the Non-Profit Source: -8 out of 10 people who give have no debt. -Tithers make up 10-25% of church. -On average today, Christians give 2.5% of their income. During the Great Depression they gave 3.3%. -Of families making $75,000 or more, only 1% of them give at least 10%. -The average amount adults give is $17.00 per week. -And 37% don’t give a dime to the local church, which ministers to them. World Says God Say’s -I am the owner of my money -You are steward of My money -Give as little as possible -Give as much as possible -Give only if you are able -Give even if you feel unable -The more you have the happier you will be -The more you give the happier you will be -Give out of your abundance -Give out of your poverty and abundance -The more you make the more you can gain -The more you gain the more you can give 


1. Sacrificial Giving Instigates God’s Pleasure “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:2-4). 2. Sacrificial Giving Inspires Sacrificial Giving 3. Sacrificial Giving Illustrates Extraordinary Trust in God “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:24 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes” (Haggai 1:4-6). “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (Malachi 3:8-10). 4. Sacrificial Giving Is Identified Not by Portion, But Proportion “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).