Jun 19
What does radiating Jesus’ values to a lost and dying world mean? In today’s talk, Ben Stuart looks at the biblical definition of The Church and gives us practical applications for today on what it means to supply and serve the needs of the people around us.
Key Takeaway
We reflect God's character by freely giving our time and efforts to those in need.
Why do we supply and serve those in need?
God's kids reflect God's character. It doesn't mean you earn it—it means you look more like God. Because God is gracious, we are gracious. Because God is generous, we are generous.
Because we look like our dad, His generosity is aimed at those in need. God associates deeply with the weakest among us.
Generosity is a sign of faith in God's provision and solidarity with His mission. Trust that He will provide for you and then be about His mission. Greed comes from fear.
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"It's not trying to pay Him back in gratitude, it's an invitation to be a part of His expanding mission."
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Ben Stuart
Discussion Questions
What are some ways you are reflecting God's character?
What are some ways you aren't reflecting God's character?
Who among you is in need that you can help?
How are you personally exhibiting generosity?
Do you trust that God will provide for you? Why or why not?
How have you experienced fear in greed?
Are you trying to earn God's love by trying to pay Him back for what He's done for you? How do you feel knowing you can never out-give God?
Are you taking up the invitation to be a part of His mission?
Scripture References
41.Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.42.They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43.Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44.All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45.They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46.Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47.praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
32.All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33.With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34.that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35.and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.36.Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37.sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
18.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
20.Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
32.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33.And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34.And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35.But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36.Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37.“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
22.Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23.For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24.Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25.Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life12:25 Or single cubit to your height? 26.Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?27.
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28.If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29.And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30.For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31.But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.32.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33.Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Cain and Abel
1.Adam4:1 Or The man made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for brought forth or acquired. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth4:1 Or have acquired a man.” 2.Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3.In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4.And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5.but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6.Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7.If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
8.Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”4:8 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text does not have “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9.Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10.The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11.Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12.When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
13.Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14.Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15.But the Lord said to him, “Not so4:15 Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew Very well; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16.So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,4:16 Nod means wandering (see verses 12 and 14). east of Eden.
17.Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. 18.To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
19.Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20.Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21.His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. 22.Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of4:22 Or who instructed all who work in bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.
23.Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah, listen to me;
wives of Lamech, hear my words.
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for injuring me.
24.If Cain is avenged seven times,
then Lamech seventy-seven times.”
25.Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,4:25 Seth probably means granted. saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26.Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.
At that time people began to call on4:26 Or to proclaim the name of the Lord.
9.James, Cephas2:9 That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14 and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10.All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
24.I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25.Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there.
1.And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2.In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3.For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4.they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.