History tells us Edward VI (1537-1553) of England sat on the throne in the 16^th century. He is remembered as being a very spiritual. He attended worship regularly. He stood when the Bible was read. He took notes on the weekly message and studied those notes later. And, he strived to apply the Gospel to his daily life, altering his opinions and actions. No one questioned his sincerity, because he always surrendered to God’s will. Here is an interesting question. Will you be remembered as one who did it your way? Will you be remembered as one who did it God’s way?

Today, we look at this line in the Lord’s Prayer: Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done.” In order to understand that line you must be able to answer this question. What is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God is not a location, like 12 Paradise Way. The Kingdom of God is not limited to a certain time, like during the time of King David. The Kingdom of God can’t be understood in human terms. It is much more elusive. If you do not believe me, then look at the teachings of Jesus. The Kingdom of God was central to his teaching. Sometimes Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God in the past. He said Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets were in the Kingdom of God. Sometimes, he speaks of the Kingdom of God in the present. In Luke 17:11, Jesus said, the Kingdom of God is, “in the midst of you.” Sometimes, he spoke of the Kingdom of God in the future. He taught people to pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God. It is all quite confusing. Theologians and Bible teachers don’t clarify the matter. William Barkley (1907-1978) was a Bible professor at the University of Glasgow. He wrote a popular Bible commentary on the New Testament. He sold 1.5 million copies of those commentaries. I own one. In that commentary, he defines the Kingdom of God as a society in this world where God’s will is perfectly done, as it is heaven. That maybe correct but it is a little wordy. Let me answer the question for you. I believe, the Kingdom of God can be summarized in one word, obedience. We are part of the Kingdom of God anytime we obey God. We are not part of the Kingdom of God when we don’t obey God. With that in mind, say the line in the prayer again. Thy Kingdom come thy will be done. It’s all about obeying God’s word. How obedient are you to God? We should not be surprised, because, being obedient is a dominant theme throughout the Bible, both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Do you remember these stories?

Do you remember Noah’s story? At the center of it is obedience. According to Genesis 6, the world had grown so wicked God decided to start over again. There is only one righteous man left, Noah. God tells Noah of His plans to destroy the world with water and commands Noah to build an ark of cypress wood to save himself and his family. There traveling partners will be the various animals. Noah hears God’s words and begins to build the ark on the driest day of the year. The people must have thought he was crazy, but he obeyed God. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done.

Do you remember Moses’s story? At the center of it is obedience. According to Exodus 3, God spoke to Moses through a burning bush that was not consumed by the flames. The sight was odd to Moses’s eyes, but the words God spoke to him were painful. God asks him to do the one thing Moses feared, face his past. You remember the story. Moses, a Hebrew, is raised in the palace of the Pharaoh. Yet, he never forgets his roots and on an ugly day Moses killed and Egyptian defending one of his own, a Hebrew. Moses runs away and plans to never return to Egypt, but God had other plans for him. God tells Moses to return to Egypt to liberate his people. Moses tries eluding his divine mission, but in the end, Moses returns and obeys God. The rest is history. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done.

Do you remember Mary’s story? At the center of it is obedience. Christmas was just a few weeks ago. According to Luke 2, Mary was a teenage girl with her entire life in front of her. She must have dreamed of being a respectable Jewish wife with a pack of youngsters. Unfortunately, that was not God’s plan for her life. Of all the women who had ever lived, Mary grabbed God’s attention. The angel said, she was highly favored, but Mary must have had her doubts. She is going to give birth to a boy and name him Jesus. He is the son of God, Himself. Two thousand years later, we still admire her, but on that day many scoffed. Discarding the personal plans for her life, she obeys God and changes this world forever. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done.

Do you remember Jesus’s story? At the center of it is obedience. Jesus did nothing wrong. He lived for thirty-three years and never committed a single sin. If salvation can be earned, then Jesus was home free. Unfortunately, salvation cannot be earned. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. Salvation is only possible by the sacrificial acts of Jesus. According to Mark 14, after Jesus ate the annual Seder with the disciples, he went to the garden to prayer. The scriptures say he was overwhelmed with sorrow, so he prayed these words, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” It was God’s will for Jesus to die an agonizing death, so we have an opportunity to spend eternity in heaven. Jesus didn’t like it, but Jesus obeyed. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done.

The problem is not ignorance. The problem is obedience. Don’t tell me you don’t know what God expects you to do. You know you are to love unconditionally. You know you are to forgive. You know you are to have faith. You know you are to respond to human need. You know you are to live generous lives, giving your time, talent and your financial resources. You know these things, but do you obey? How obedient are you? Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done.

Mary Fairchild is a Christian blogger. In a blog called Why Is Obedience to God Important, she says there isn’t a single reason why we shouldn’t be obedient to God. She says, there are numerous reasons. Let me read some of them to you.

1. Jesus calls us to be obedient. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you need to obey what Jesus said. John 14:15 quotes Jesus. He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

• Obedience is an act of worship. You cannot earn your salvation by obedience, but you can express your gratitude for your salvation by obedience. Romans 12:1 says, Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.”

• God rewards obedience. That is a constant theme in the Bible. Luke 11:28 says, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

• Obedience to God proves love. 2 John 6 says, “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.”

• Obedience to God demonstrates our faith. Your obedience is part of your personal evangelism. 1 John 1:3-4 says, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know him but does not keep his commands is a liar.”

This is the bottom line. If you want to be part of the Kingdom of God, then you must obey. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done.

When I was about five years old, my family got our first dog. She was a black miniature dachshund by the name of Jenny. I believe they got her because my Uncle Bob and Aunt Phyllis had two miniature dachshunds, Heidi and Fritz. They were great dogs. They loved everyone. Jenny wasn’t a great dog. She hated nearly everyone. She hated children, including me. She bit me and my friends regularly. She hated all men, including my grandfather. She growled at him the entire time he was in our home. She hated everyone who was in the room when she was eating. She once bit a family friend during mealtime. The woman got mad. She bit the vet during her annual visits, so we had to tranquilize her. She wanted to maim the mailman daily. At some point, my parents decided to take her to obedience school. They wanted to teach her the basic commands, sit, heal, and bark on command. It didn’t go well. During the final exam, she bit the instructor. I believe, she is the only dog in the county to fail obedience school. In the end, her sparkling personality was her demise. That is another story for another day. However, Jenny was not dumb. Jenny loved my mother and my mother loved her. My mother defended the dog’s poor behavior for years. This is the truth. Despite all the biting, we loved Jenny because she was our dog. This is equally true. We loved her but we never trusted her. How could you? She was disobedient and may have been the world’s worst dog.

What does my childhood family dog, Jenny, have to do Lord’s Prayer? You are more like a miniature black dachshund of yesterday than you think. Just think about it for a moment. We loved our disobedient dog, but we never trusted her. In the end, she was the one who missed out. In the same way, God loves His disobedient people, but He can’t trust them. How obedient are you to God’s will? Maybe this is a better question. Can God trust you? In the end, the disobedient miss out. Joyce Meyer (born 1946) is an American author and speaker. She once said, “Obedience to God is the pathway to the life you really want to live.” Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done.

For the next five weeks we are going to be in the Gospel of Matthew, so it is important you get some background. The early church believed it was written by the the former tax collector, then disciple, then Apostle Matthew, between the years AD 50 and 70. The original recipients were Greek-speaking Jewish Christians. That is why Matthew quotes more Old Testament verses than Mark, Luke or John. It was written for one reason. He wanted to proclaim Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. That is helpful but what is equally helpful is the outline of the Gospel. Matthew contains five great discourses. Our reading for today comes from the first.

It is found in the sixth chapter of Matthew. Many call it the Sermon on the Mount. It covers chapters five through seven. Several years ago, I was in Israel and part of our tour was the location of the Sermon on the Mount. I was surprised. It was more of a hill than a mountain. Jesus must have had strong lungs for all to hear. Many believe, it didn’t happen on a single occasion. They believe it is a collection of Jesus’s teaching from various times and locations. They may be right. I don’t know. However, what I do know is the Sermon on the Mount is rich in divine truth found in three different kinds of literature. The first are the beatitudes, the blessings. The second are the ethical teachings. The third is the contrast between Jesus’s teaching and the teachings of the orthodox faith. The Sermon on the Mount ends with a short parable about practicing what Jesus taught. Our reading for today, Matthew 6:5-13, is considered an ethical teaching.

In our reading for today, Jesus teaches us about prayer. He begins by saying that prayer must be sincere. Pray is not about religion, it is about a relationship. Do not pray to show off your piety to impress others. Pray to build a relationship with God. Please don’t misunderstand the scripture. There are times we pray in public. The faith is lived out in a community. For example, I utter a Pastoral Prayer three times each Sunday. I pray before each meeting and meal. It is important we pray together as a church. There are times we pray with fellow believers. For example, I pray with people who are hospitalized. People expect me to pray before their surgery. There are times we pray alone. Those are the times we can be completely honest with God and share our greatest concerns with Him. That is when I pray for my wife, children, and granddaughter. That is where I confess my great shortcomings, disappointments and fears. The location and the company do not matter. The only thing that matters is our prayers are sincere. Let me state the obvious. Jesus understood the value of pray! According to the Lord’s Prayer the first thing every prayer must contain is praise. How much time do you spend praising God in prayer?

The Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) was one of the leading military and political figures of Britain in the 19^th century. He was the one who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. History remembers him as a demanding leader. He rarely showered his subordinates with compliments. Yet, even Wellington realized that his methods left something to be desired. In his old age a young lady asked him what, if anything, he would do differently if he had his life to live over again. Wellington thought for a moment, then replied. “I’d give more praise,” he said. I hope that isn’t your story. I hope you praise the people in your life because people need encouragement. Life is hard. I hope you praise God because that is what He expects. If you don’t believe me, then look at the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s prayer begins with praise. How does the prayer begin?

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Don’t just recite the words. Slow down and think about them. The word OUR reminds us we are not living out the faith alone. The word OUR means we are part of a community. There are 2.4 billion Christians in the world today and you stand with them. The faith was not meant to be lived out in isolation. The faith was meant to be lived out in community. That is why church is so important. The word FATHER in Greek in the prayer is close to the English word for DADDY. God is not a harsh distant father, always correcting. God is an intimate loving father, always encouraging and loving. The words HEAVEN and HALLOWED remind us God is an all-powerful and pure God. There is no way you can compare your imperfect life to our perfect God. With that understanding, look at that verse again. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, it is a praise. The Lord’s Prayer is a model praise. That means Jesus expects you to included praises to God in each one of our prayers. Do your prayers contain praise? Here is a question you must answer. Why is it so important that our prayers contain praise? There are two correct answers. First, God expects us to praise him. Second, our praise to God is beneficial to us.

Debbie McDaniel, along with her husband, have been in the ministry for years. She is a blogger for crosswalk. Many have found them beneficial. She wrote a blog called: What the Power of Praise Can Do. In the blog, she says there are five benefits to praising God. I cannot disagree with any one of them. She hit the nail on the head. Here is her list:

Praise gets the focus off yourself, and back on God. When we praise God, we stop thinking about ourselves. Let me tell you something you already know. Life is not all about you. We know that in our heads, but we all tend to be selfish. God expects us to keep our eyes on Him, because He is our true hope. Psalm 150:2 says, “Praise him for his mighty deeds, praise him for his excellent greatness.”

Praise brings us to a place of humility. When we praise God, we admit our dependency on God. God is in control, not us. Psalm 95:3 says, For the Lord is a great God, a great king above all Gods.”

Praise leaves no time for complaining and negativity. When we praise God, there is no time left for negativity or complaining. Some people believe it is their role in the life of the church to complain. Do you know of anyone who complains all the time? How much time do you spend encouraging? How much time do you spend complaining? Psalm 103:2 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Praise makes room for God’s blessings in our lives. When we praise God, we identify our blessings more easily. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.”

Praise invites God’s presence. When you praise God, you invite him into your presence. Psalm 22:3 says, “He inhabits the praise of His people.”

I would encourage you to write those five things down. You will need them the next time you discover your prayers are void of praise. The first line of the Lord’s Prayer reminds us our prayers must contain praise.

Years ago, I was involved in a pulpit exchange in another community. I arrived early to meet the people and to settle before I preached. A woman holding a purse met me at the door and I identified myself. She didn’t know what to do with me, so she ask if I wanted to go to an adult Sunday school class. To be honest, I didn’t, but it was expected, so I said, “Sure.” I was escorted to a room down the hall and was introduced to a man wearing an old brown suit and tie. He welcomed me and encouraged me to take a seat at the end of the table. When the other six class members showed up, the lesson began. It was a lesson from the Old Testament, but the group seemed more interested in olden times. For about fifty minutes, they reminisced and cursed our modern world. Everything was better when they were young. As the hour came to an end, the man in the old brown suit and tie encouraged the group to bow their heads for prayer. He pulled a piece of paper out of his suit coat pocket and prayed. In his prayer he prayed for the people on his list. His prayer was close to this:

God, we prayer for Mildred who is struggling with shingles. We pray for Ed who is struggling with kidney stones. We pray for Betty who is having hip surgery and Dave who is having knee surgery. We pray for Ernie whose dog ran away and we pray for my granddaughter, Melissa, who wants a date with a guy named Steve. We prayer for Sue’s grandson who is back in rehab.

The pray went on for about five minutes and he closed with an Amen.

It was an odd prayer. As a rule, I am not critical of other people’s prayers and I have no doubt his prayer was sincere. However, his prayer seemed incomplete. His prayer seemed out of balance. He wanted the best for the people in his life, but that didn’t seem like enough. He wasn’t praying to God. He was informing God. Ok, I will say it. To my ears, his prayer seemed selfish. Can I ask you an uncomfortable question? To God, do our prayers sound selfish? There is more to prayer than informing God about our needs and wants. There must be praise. Our praise is important because it forces us to get our attention off ourselves and on God. M.R. DeHaan (1891-1965) was a Christian doctor. However, he was also the co-editor of Our Daily Bread. He wasn’t wrong. He once said, “If we would talk more about the Lord and praise Him, we would have less time to talk about ourselves.”

We find ourselves today in the second chapter of Luke. The scene is familiar because we visit it annually. Joseph returns home to Bethlehem to be counted in the national census. A census in the Roman Empire was taken for two reasons. The first is to be counted for military service. However, Joseph was excused from military service because he was Jew. The second is everyone had to be counted for tax reasons. Joseph probably wished he could have been excused from taxes, but he wasn’t. Joseph didn’t travel alone. He travels with his betrothed, Mary. She is pregnant and gives birth shortly after they arrive in Bethlehem. She gave birth to a little boy. That baby would change history. There were many questions about the boy’s biological father. Some say it was Joseph. Some say the boy was the very son of God. The answer to that question is found in our reading for today. This scene is equally familiar.

Shepherds are out in the fields in the hillside surrounding Jerusalem. We love the shepherds but that was not the case of their own generation. Their generation looked down on the shepherds because their vocation didn’t permit them to carry out the various washings of their faith. They are basically ignored by their society, but they are not forgotten by God. They are favored by God. They are the first to be told the long-awaited Messiah had been born. The message is delivered by angels. In the Bible, angels are messengers, not protectors. Luke 2:11 quotes the angel, “Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.” Did you hear what the angel said? Our Savior had been born. Later we discover the name of that baby is Jesus. The name Jesus means, “The Lord is salvation.” There is no way to talk about Jesus and not bring up the complex topic of salvation. Can I ask you a personal question?

What do you need to be saved from this Christmas? Does anyone here need to be saved from their family? You promised to help watch the grandchildren occasionally, but now they are over every day. Or, do you need to be saved from your in-laws? You married your spouse out of love, but no one told you the love of your life came as a package deal. You didn’t just get the pretty girl or the handsome young man, you got the entire clan. Does anyone here need to be saved from Christmas cards and presents? The issue is money, but the issue is also time. Does anyone here need to be saved from their own guilt? Your past includes some ugliness and the people in your life won’t forget. Does anyone here feel like they need to be saved from responsibility? Wouldn’t it be nice to be selfish just once? Won’t it be nice if someone in your life did something for you? What is it in your life would you like to discard? What do you need to be saved from this Christmas? However, the Gospel lesson for today is not about the details of our lives.

The Gospel lesson for today is about the major issues of our lives. The Gospel lesson for today is about eternity. It is about your eternity. If we are going to rediscover Christmas, then you must remember some basic Christian theology. I hope, they are not new to you. Jesus came for three important reasons.

First, Jesus came to save you from sin. Back in 1830, George Wilson was convicted of robbing the U.S. Mail and was sentenced to be hanged. The case was complex, so President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) issued a pardon for Wilson. Everyone was shocked when Wilson refused to accept it. The justice system didn’t know what to do. The matter went to Chief Justice John Marshall (1755-1835), who concluded that Wilson would have to be executed. “A pardon is a slip of paper,” wrote Marshall, “the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.”

We live in a world that is rejecting the pardon. Jesus Christ came into this world to free us from our sins. We do not have to die. However, many will die because they have rejected the pardon. One of the things you really need to do today is accept the fact that you are sinner and you can’t earn your salvation. Roman 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” How many people do you know justify their sins by comparing their sins to others? We look good next to murders, child molesters and terrorists. The problem is they are not part of the equation. The only sins that should concern you are your own. How do you compare next to Jesus? We have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus came to save us from our sin. Martin Luther said, “The life of Christianity consists of possessive pronouns. It is one thing to say, “Christ is a Savior”; it is quite another thing to say, “He is my Savior and my Lord.”  Jesus came to save us from sin.

Second, Jesus came to save you by grace. I love the story of Clara Barton (1821-1912) and Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919). During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt came to her. He wanted to buy food for his sick and wounded Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was perplexed. His men needed the help and he was prepared to pay out of his own funds. When he asked someone why he could not buy the supplies, he was told, “Colonel, just ask for it!” A smile broke over Roosevelt’s face. Now he understood–the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simply ask and they would be given freely. I understand why Teddy Roosevelt couldn’t understand. We are raised with the fact that nothing in this world is free.

If I were God, I would give everyone who labors in the church a bonus! If I were God anyone who labored in the kitchen all day so others could eat all the food in a few minutes would get a bonus. If I were God anyone who served on the Board of Trustees and shouldered the responsibility of maintaining our property would get a bonus. If I were God anyone on the Finance Committee would get a bonus. If I were God anyone who tithed or wrote an extra check for denominational financial expectations would get a bonus. If I were God Sunday School teachers would get a bonus. If I were God everyone who showed up for choir practice or contemporary worship rehearsal would get a bonus. If I were God anyone who sacrificed for another would get a bonus. If I were God every preacher would get an extra big bonus. The job is becoming harder. It is harder to find people, and it is harder to keep people. Respect for clergy is at an all-time low. If I were God, I would give everyone who labors in the church a bonus! This is the problem.

I am not God. I am like you, a sinner. There is no way to earn your salvation. We are saved by grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”  In other words, it is a gift. There is nothing you can do to earn your salvation. I love that divine truth, but it is hard to swallow. Jesus came to save you by grace.

Third, Jesus came to save you for a purpose. Two of the greatest names in baseball history are Yogi Berra (1925-2015) and Hank Aaron (born 1934). Berra was a catcher for the New York Yankees. Aaron was a power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. In 1957, the Yankees and Braves played in the World Series. Berra was famous for his endless chatter. As Aaron approached the plate, Berra said to him, “Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark.” Aaron didn’t say anything, but he hit the next pitch into the left field bleachers for a homerun. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, “I didn’t come up here to read.” That sets up an interesting question.

What is your purpose? God did not put us in this world to be consumed by our own needs. God put us in the world to be consumed by the needs of others. Our blessings were not be hoarded; they are to be used. Salvation is not just fire insurance to keep you out of hell. You are saved for a purpose. Ephesians 1:11-12 says, “In him we were also chosen,having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” Jesus came to save you for a purpose.

One of the great names in history is Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). His soldiers raised him to super-hero status. Folklore tells us one of his marshals was mortally wounded in battle. As the last struggle drew near and he lay dying in his tent, he sent for his chief. Napoleon came. As Napoleon stood there the man yelled out his name and said, “Save Me!” Napoleon didn’t have the power to save the man and sadly walked away.

There is only one name that will save you. That name is not Napoleon. The name is not Donald or Nancy. The name is not Ben or Baker. The only name that will save you is Jesus. He came to save you from your sins. He came to save you with his grace. He came to save you for a purpose. The great evangelist Billy Graham (1918-2018) once said, “Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow him every day. Don’t be swayed by the false values and goals of this world but put Christ and his will first in everything you do.”  

Blog 120819

God’s Love Is…

We find ourselves today in the third chapter of John. The scene is shared by two men. One is Jesus and the other is Nicodemus. You know Jesus. He was the son of God, the very incarnation of God, the Savior of the world. You may not be as familiar with Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. That means he was respected by his society for his religious views. Daily, he must have answered people’s spiritual questions, but in our reading for today, Nicodemus has a question for Jesus. Through the years, much has been made about the timing of his visit. It was night. Some say, he went at night to protect his identity. How would it look for a respected Pharisee to go to an itinerant preacher with questions? Some say, he went to Jesus at night because the day was complete and there would be time for the two to talk. No one really knows why Nicodemus went to Jesus at night, but we do know the question Nicodemus asked Jesus? The respected Pharisee was concerned about his own salvation. In verse 3, Jesus says, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” That verse triggers a long discussion between the two men. Jesus tells Nicodemus there is a great difference between the ways of this world and the ways of God. Jesus wasn’t wrong. Nicodemus was confused and Jesus tries to simplify the matter in verse sixteen.

You know verse sixteen, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not parish but have eternal life.”  Many consider that verse to be the greatest verse in the Bible because it summarizes the Bible in one verse. Today, I want to dissect John 3:16. For in this single verse we discover three aspects of God’s love. These points are not original. They came from James W. Moore (1938-2019).

First, John 3:16 tells us God’s love is wide. One of the great personalities of church history was Martin Luther (1483-1546). The great German theologian and reformer will always be remembered as a man of God. He changed Western Civilization. It is easy to lift him to sainthood, but don’t do it. Luther never considered himself a saint. He considered himself a normal man with limitations and human tendencies. Those closest to Luther knew the truth. He wasn’t a patient man. He would often grow frustrated with the people around him. He once grew so frustrated that he said, “If I were God and these vile people were as disobedient as they are now, I would knock the world into pieces!” (How many ugly things have you said in a fit of rage?) The good news for his generation was Martin Luther wasn’t God! Martin Luther was a human being, like you and me. He had limitations. This is part of the Good News for today. God does not have limitations.

John 3:16 begins, For God so loved the world. In other words, it talks about the width of God’s love. Just think about that phrase for a moment. God loves the world! God’s love is not selective. God loves everyone. He loves all nations. He loves people regardless of their language. He loves the rich and the poor. He loves people, regardless of their salvation systems and philosophies. He loves the attractive and the not so attractive. He loves the politically conservative and liberal. He loves everyone, regardless of their sexual tendencies. For God so loved the world! God loves everyone! That means God even loves you! Never question the width of God’s love.

Second, John 3:16 tells us God’s love is deep. There is an old preaching story about a medieval monk, who announced he would be preaching the next Sunday evening on “The Love of God.” When that evening came the congregation gathered as shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lit a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First, he illumined the crown of thorns on his head, Next, the wounds in the crucifix’s heads where the spikes were driven. Finally, she showed the congregation the scar where the spear was placed. A hush fell over the congregation. The monk blew out the candle and walked out without saying a word. There was nothing else to say. When you actually stop and consider the pain of the cross how can you question God’s love? Never forget! God loves you!

John 3:16 continues, he gave his one and only son. In other words, it talks about the depth of God’s love. God loves us but he didn’t show up in a with a fist full of flowers, a box of candy, wearing boxer shorts. He wasn’t interested in a one-night stand. God demonstrated his love for us by entering this world to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is what makes Good Friday so bad. Jesus, the incarnation of God, died on the cross to atone for your sins. That is a heavy thought. Jesus’ death made eternal life possible for you and me!

Third, John 3:16 tells us God’s love is powerful. In the book Becoming a Whole Person in a Broken World Ron Lee Davis tells the story of Marie. She was a little girl with a horrible life. Marie was raised in an abusive home. When she was twelve years old, her parents were drunk, and they began to fight. They began to struggle over a gun. In the struggle, the gun went off. Marie saw her father shot to death. In every way Marie shattered and ended up in a European mental hospital. She lived in a padded cell and acted out in violent ways. The doctors decided to treat her by using something called catharsis. In other words, they were going to let her vent her rage on someone else. The nurse who volunteered to be the victim was a woman by the name of Hilda. Daily, Hilda walked into Marie’s padded cell and was attacked. Marie would kick her. Marie would scream at her. Marie would hit her. Marie spit on her and scratched her. The scene was ugly. However, after an hour Marie was exhausted and would sit in the corners of her ceil and cried. It was at that moment Hilda completed the treatment. She would go over to Marie and hold her. She would whisper in her ears those little life changing words, “I love you.” Little by little, the message got through. In time, Marie got better. She became a whole person. It maybe Marie’s story, but it is the story of all mankind. Someone suffered so someone else could live.

John 3:16 ends, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God’s love is powerful. Do you know of anyone who doesn’t want to go to heaven? If you do, then there is only one option, you must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You must believe in Jesus and your hope of salvation will become a reality. It is the greatest gift you will ever receive. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. Good works has nothing to do with salvation. It is too good to be true, but it is true. You can live the rest of your life not worrying about death. It is so liberating. However, it will change you. You will spend the rest of your life trying to find a way to thank God for saving your soul. The love of God is powerful.

Listen to John 3:16 one more time. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not parish but have eternal life.” Did you hear the vastness of God’s love? God’s love is wide. God’s love is deep. God’s love is powerful.

What are you most afraid of? That was the question a panel was asked during the early 1960’s radio show, Conversation. The panel was made up of various famous personalities of the day. Each one was an expert in a different field. They were to debate the question of the evening and come up with one single answer. The question for that evening was what are you most afraid of?  After much heated debate, the answer was nuclear annihilation. Everyone agreed but one panelist remained silent. His name was Bennett Cerf (1898-1971). Do you remember Bennett Cerf? He was a Christian writer who was known for both his quick intellect and humor. He was one of the founders of Random House. He sat quietly and never tried to persuade the others. Later the master of ceremonies inquired about his nonparticipation. Cerf said, “My answer to the question, what are you most afraid of, seemed silly next to the rest.” He finished by saying, “What I am most afraid of is not being loved.” Can you imagine not being loved? The answer is no.

That may have been Bennett Cerf’s great fear, but it is not your fear. The reason is obvious. There has never been a moment in your life when you weren’t love. God has always love you and God always will. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not parish but have eternal life.” Rick Warren is the founder and Pastor of the Saddleback Church in California. He once said, “God’s love is like an ocean. You can see the beginning, but not the end.”

We find ourselves in the third chapter of Luke. The main character is the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist. According to the text the word of God came to him, while he was living in the desert. He began preaching a message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. His entire life revolved around that message. Matthew tells us, John wore camel’s hair and ate locust, both a sign of repentance. Luke aligns John with the prophet Isaiah. He quotes Isaiah 40:35. It says:

          3 A voice of one calling:
          “In the desert prepare
          the way for the LORD;
          make straight in the wilderness
          a highway for our God.

          4 Every valley shall be raised up,
          every mountain and hill made low;
          the rough ground shall become level,
          the rugged places a plain.

          5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
          and all mankind together will see it.
          For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Those words sound strange to us but to John’s generation the message was clear. In those days when conquering armies attacked, the land was prepared for their attack. The number of attacking soldiers was massive. The sheer numbers made it necessary to straighten the roads and level the ground. The work of the engineers was as important as the work of the solders. Without the engineers there would be no battle.

That is what John says we must do before Jesus arrives, prepare for Jesus’ attack. Let me say this clearly.

This is not the only place in the Bible where the Second Coming of Christ is mentioned. Did you know there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence? Did you know there are 260 chapters in the New Testament, where there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ? Did you know twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event? Did you know one out of every out 30 verses in the New Testament deals with Christ ‘s return?  For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second coming! It is impossible to read the Bible and ignore the Second Coming of Jesus. Yet, there is one more thing about the Second Coming you can’t ignore.

The actual date of his return is a great mystery. It is one of the great mysteries in the Bible. Luke 12:40 says, “You must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you least expect him.” That fact reveals the genius of God. That means we must always be prepared. Like taking a pop quiz in school, you must always be prepared. According to the Pew Research group, 41% of all Americans believe Christ will return before the year 2050. Do you believe Jesus will return? This is a better question. Are you prepared for the second coming of Christ? Today, I want to give you three pieces of pastoral advice, so you will be prepared for his return.

First, make God your top priority. In a Berlin art gallery, there is a painting by German painter Adolf Menzel (1815-1905). It is only partially finished. It was intended to show Fredrick the Great speaking with some of his generals. Menzel painted the generals and the background. However, he only outlined of Fredrick in charcoal. He intended to paint in Frederick later, but he died before the portrait’s completion. That is the story of countless lives. How many people do you know focus in on the minor issues and characters and forget the most important thing in life, God! You must answer the next question. Does God play a major role in your life or have the minor characters in your life taken over? This is the point. First, if you want to be prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus, then you must make God your top priority.What is your top priority? Someday Jesus will return!

Second, purify your witness. According to the book, Life of Francis d’ Assisi, Francis once invited a young monk to join him on a trip to town to preach. Honored to be given the invitation, the monk readily accepted. All day long he and Francis walked through the streets, byways, and alleys, and even into the suburbs. They rubbed shoulders with hundreds of people. At day’s end, the two headed back home. Not even once had Francis addressed a crowd, nor had he talked to anyone about the gospel. Greatly disappointed, his young companion said, “I thought we were going into town to preach.” Francis responded, “My son, we have preached. We were preaching while we were walking. We were seen by many and our behavior was closely watched. It is of no use to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere as we walk!” What was Saint Francis trying to say? He was saying that our lives are our greatest witnesses. Second, if you want to be prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus, then you must purify your witness.What non-Christian behavior in your life do you need to eliminate?  Someday Jesus will return!

Third, perceive your Savor. It was one of the greatest moments in my ministry. In 2008, We hosted Mill Creek Workcamp. We teamed up with a group from Loveland, Colorado and welcomed over four hundred young people from seven different states come to Youngstown to work on forty-nine homes. Every night at worship they would report on seeing God in numerous ways in our community. They call those events “God Sightings.” One night, a work crew reported seeing God in the neighbor of their resident. God was well disguised. On Monday morning, when the crew arrived at their work site, the neighbor opened his door and welcomed the workers with some ugly language. (He may have mentioned our Savior’s name.) However, on Thursday morning the same neighbor opened his door and told the workers that he had tools. They could use them, if they wished. The neighbor’s transformation was shocking. It had to be God. Those “God Sightings” are important because they remind us that God is active in our world. Those “God Sightings” are important because they remind us that God is active in our community. Third, if you want to be prepared for Jesus’s Second Coming then you must be able to perceive our Savior.When was the last time you saw God active in your life? Someday Jesus will return!

William Miller (1782-1849) was a Baptist preacher in the nineteenth century. He was preoccupied with the second coming of Christ. After fourteen years of Bible study, he was convinced that Jesus would return on April 3, 1843. His followers, the Millerites, believed him. Some of his disciples went to mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven. Others went to graveyards, planning to ascend with their departed loved ones. It was even reported, Philadelphia society ladies clustered together outside town to avoid entering God’s kingdom amid the common herd. There was great excitement as the date approached. The Millerites were disappointed. April 3 came and went, but Jesus didn’t return. William Miller may have been disillusioned, but he did not give up. He went back to the Bible and recalculated his figures. He admitted the April 3 date was wrong and announced that the real date for Christ’s return would be March 22, 1844. The problem was March 22, 1844 came and went without the appearance of Jesus. Once again, William Miller was disillusioned. There was more Bible study and calculations. Then, he announced a third date, October 22, 1844. That date came and went without Jesus. Do you sense a pattern?

I don’t want to sound critical of William Miller. I am convinced he was sincere. However, after all that Bible study is missed Luke 12:40. The Second Coming of Christ is a mystery. Not even Jesus knew that date he would return. That means we must always be prepared and lived everyday like it is our last one. The great evangelist Billy Graham (1918-2018) once said, “The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on the planet. Man will live as it was originally intended.”

Let me begin with some numbers.Did you know, according to Fortune, the average American will spend $186.05 on Thanksgiving this year? In 2018, the average Americans spent approximately $176 on Thanksgiving. In 2017, the average Americans spent approximately $165. Thanksgiving expenses can be broken down into two categories. The first category is travel. The average American will spend $33.49 to be with family and friends. That is 18% of the total. The second category is the meal, itself. The average American will spend $152.56 on the feast. That is 82% of the total. According to the National Turkey Federation, 88% of all Americans serve turkey on Thanksgiving. That means, 46 million turkeys will be consumed at an average of $1.36 per pound. However, as disciples of Jesus Christ, we understand Thanksgiving is not just about a meal. It is an attitude. Thanksgiving is not just a day. It is a lifestyle.

We find ourselves today in the seventeenth chapter of Luke. According to the text, Jesus is traveling between the border of Samaria and Galilee. As he travels, he encounters various people. Many of those encounters are long forgotten One of those encounters is remembered annually, the ten lepers. You may know their story. Leprosy was a highly contagious skin disease caused by a certain bacterium. The disease still exists in our world today. In the United States approximately 100 cases are reported annually. However, today it is treatable. In the days of Jesus, it was not. In Jesus’ day victims of leprosy were forced to live in isolation, away from family and friends, in leper colonies. This is the story of the ten men in the scripture lesson. They are living with leprosy without any hope of a cure. Death would have been a welcomed relief. Then, they hear the news that gives them hope, Jesus is coming! They have heard of his healing power and they run toward Jesus. However, they can’t invade his personal space because of their disease. They are mandated by law to keep their distance. The best they can do is yell at Jesus as he passes. This is the good news: Jesus not only heard their desperate voices, but he healed them. As was required by their law, Jesus instructs them to go to a priest for inspection. The priests had the authority to grant them permission to re-enter society. On that day ten men were healed. However, this is the sad truth: only one man returned to Jesus to say, “Thank you.” The other nine never returned; the other nine just resumed their lives. Jesus, who seemed to know everything, was shocked by their ingratitude. In verse 17 of our reading, Jesus asked, “Where are the other nine?” It is a good question.

There are many things we don’t understand about God, but there two things we do know. First, God is a jealous God. The Almighty must be the top priority in your life. Don’t just run past that statement. Think about it. If God is your top priority, then family and country aren’t your top priority. That is hard for some to accept. God is a jealous God. Second, God likes being worshipped and praised. The Bible is filled with verses that underscore this point. Let me give you just one example. Psalm 100 is about worshipping and praising God. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” God likes being worshipped and praised. In other words, just like in the Bible story, God wants us to say, “Thank you.”

When I was young, we used to spend Thanksgiving morning in church. It wasn’t just my church. We would combine with the three congregations that shared a common corner in Warren, Ohio. There was my home church, Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). There was Saint Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church and the synagogue, Beth Israel Temple. For one day, Thanksgiving, we put our theological differences and thanked God for our blessings. The priest, the rabbi and the minister sat side by side, by side. It was a nice picture. I have warm memories of that service, but now it is part of history. My home church is not having a Thanksgiving service this year.

When I came here, we had a Thanksgiving service. At first, it was ecumenical. Every year, we gathered at a different church and heard a preacher. I took my turn. Every year, there was a community choir and the offering went to a local cause. Those services were held on Thanksgiving Eve. One year those services ended because no one came. Next, we gathered with other United Methodist congregations in the area. The format was the same, but we met on the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving. We hoped to pick up a few people because we didn’t want to compete with meal preparation. When those services died, because no one came, we joined with the Canfield churches. We hosted the last one. On that night, the choir was bigger than the rest of the congregation. It was embarrassing. This year there is no community Thanksgiving service, and no one seems to care. Do you see the direction I am going? Do you see the direction our society is going? Did you know Thanksgiving Eve is now one of the big party nights of the year? Our society has changed but God is still a jealous God, who loves to be worshipped and praised. Could it be we are guilty of the sin of ingratitude? This is one of my favorite Thanksgiving stories.

Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) is one of the great names in American history. He made a fortune in the steel industry. However, he was also one of the great philanthropists of the late 19^th century. During the last eighteen years of his life, he gave away approximately 90% of his wealth, a total of $350 million. Conservatively, that equals $65 billion today. It was a good thing to be in the Carnegie family too. He once gave a distinct relation, who he had never met, $1 million dollars as a birthday gift. That equals $17 million today. You would have thought, the family would have been thankful, but no. He complained he should have gotten more. Do you know of anyone who resembles that distant Carnegie relative? Do you know of anyone who isn’t thankful?

Mental health professionals tell us ingratitude is rooted in three things. These three things are contrary to God’s ways.

1. Envy       It is called the green-eyed monster or simple jealousy? Do you know of anyone who walks around obsessed with other people’s advantages and possessions? They are so worried about others, they become blind to their own blessings. Proverbs 14:30 says, “a sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bone.” How big of a part does envy play in your life?  

• Entitlement     Do you know of anyone who feels like they deserve certain privileges or benefits just for being themselves. They are a cut above and handle their relationships based on what they can get. When they don’t get what they think they deserve, they become angry? 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “If anyone is unwilling to work, then he shall not eat.” Do you feel entitled?

• Expectations   Some expectations are normal. You can expect me to show up on Sunday morning prepared for worship. I expect to get paid every two weeks. Some expectations are unrealistic or unreasonable. You expect people to cater to your needs. You expect God to answer all your prayers with a yes! It is an important question. What do you expect? Ingratitude comes when we expect too much. Proverbs 10:28 says, “The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.” What do you expect?

Several weeks ago, my wife, Kathryn, came home from her weekly Bible study. The group is not just made up of her church members. They have joined forces with another small membership church in that community. She and the other pastor share the leadership. On that night, the other pastor was leading the discussion and made two big mistakes. First, he opened the door and let politics be discussed. No one comes to church to hear political opinions. People come to church to hear about Jesus. Second, he exposed his political opinions. In a moment filled with emotions, in a room filled with patriotic Americans, he called America “a crappy country.” According to my wife, the room grow silent and his credibility was lost. She wondered how many wouldn’t return the next week. Someone said later, “I don’t know what he is, but he isn’t a pastor. If America is so bad, he needs to get out” That pastor is not alone. There are many who are blind to their blessings. Did you know 48% of all Americans fail to express their gratitude daily? Don’t be one of them. Be one of the 52% of Americans who express their gratitude daily. Alice Walker (born 1944) is an American author, short story writer, poet and social activist. She once said, “’Thank you’ is the best prayer anyone can say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.”

Alexander the Great (356 BC–323 BC) is one of the great names in Western Civilization. One day, a beggar laid on the side of the road as Alexander the Great passed. The beggar asked the Emperor for money. He gave the man several gold coins. A courtier was astonished at his generosity and commented, “Sir, copper coins would adequately meet the beggar’s need. Why give him gold?” Alexander responded in royal fashion, “Cooper coins would suit the beggar’s need, but gold coins suit Alexander’s giving.” That is a story about generosity. That leads us to the question of the day. How generous are you?

We find ourselves today in the twenty-first chapter of Luke. It is important that you know it is late in Jesus’s earthly ministry. By this chapter, Jesus has already entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and cleansed the temple. It is Holy Wednesday. The events of Thursday and Friday are hours away. In other words, Jesus’s time is running out. Every word counts. Of all the things Jesus could have mentioned, he mentions money. Did you know Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic, including love, forgiveness and heaven? Did you know the topic of money is brought up 2,350 times in the Bible? That means money is important.

The story is a familiar one. Jesus is standing near the temple, as people gave their offering. In our time the offering plate is passed, and the offering is hidden in a white envelope. To ensure privacy, most envelopes are turned upside-down. In Jesus’s day, the offering was more public. There were thirteen large cone-shaped boxes in which to place your donation. Each box went to a different line item in the budget, one for the poor, one for temple maintenance, etc. There were no secrets. Everyone knew how much was given. In other places in the world and in another time in America, supporting the church was a public matter. That is not tolerated today. Our giving is a private matter. However, somethings don’t change. Every generation assumes, the rich give the largest amounts, the poorest give the smallest. That assumption is often wrong. Sometimes the rich are rich because they spend or give reluctantly. Through human eyes, the biggest givers give the most money. Through the eyes of God, the biggest givers are those who sacrifice the most. There is a world of difference between the two. That is the case of the woman in the text. Through the eyes of mankind, she gave next to nothing, two copper coins. It is a smaller amount than two pennies; it is more like two Russian rubles. Do you know what two Russian rubles are worth? It comes out to be three-tenths of a single cent. How many bills can you pay with three-tenths of a cent? The answer is, none. Through human eyes, she gave nothing. However, through the eyes of God, she gave the most because she gave all she had. In verse four, Jesus said she gave all she had. No one can question her devotion. This is the truth. That line fills me with shame; I always keep some for myself. How does this nameless woman make you feel?

There are three things you need to notice in this story. Each one makes us a little uncomfortable.

1. Jesus watches what we do. The gospel of Mark tells the same story. It is found in Mark 12:41-44. Verse 41 says, “Jesus…watched the crowd.” The Greek word Mark uses for watch means to look with a discerning eye. God sees what you do. It is not just true of our personal finances. It is true of every activity in our lives. I have said it a million times. There has never been a moment in your life when you were ever orphaned. God has always been with you and He always be. It is impossible to hide some part of your life from God. Number one is Jesus watches what we do.

• Jesus knows what we give. In the story, it is a public offering. Some gave more than other. Some gave less. The widow gave next to nothing. It isn’t just true of the Bible story. It is also true for us. God knows what you give too. Is Jesus disappointed by the amount you give to the church, or is Jesus proud of the amount you give to the church? Number two is Jesus knows what we give.

• Jesus knows why we give. Some in the Bible story gave large amounts to impress their peers. Many still financially support the church for wrong reasons. Your financial support of the church should not be your way of expressing your approval or disapproval. Your financial support is your way of drawing near to God. It is your way of expressing your love for God. Number three is Jesus knows why we give.

Can I make a confession? I have never been comfortable handling my personal finances. It started at the very beginning. I was raised by a depression mentality person. That means I am not comfortable with debt and would like to pay for everything in cash. Even now, I often pay a bill off before it arrives. When I got out of school money was a challenge, because I owed so much in student loans. My total indebtedness doesn’t sound like much today, but it was in those days. My monthly payment sounds small today, but so was my income. It would be impossible to survive on that amount today. In addition, there were no government programs to help my generation. When Kathryn and I got married, I owned nothing. We never dreamed we would own our own home, so we bought a cottage in Lakeside. It seemed like a responsible thing to do at the time. We wanted to build equity in something. Then, life threw us a wonderful curve ball. We got to buy our own home here, so I paid two mortgages on a preacher’s salary for years. That was difficult. We kept the cottage for one reason. Someone in my family, not naming names, loved the cottage and Lakeside. I never caught the magic. As my children grew there was always a demand for more money. I paid a fortune in dance lessons. I paid a fortune in music lessons. I paid for braces. I bought a variety of homecoming dresses and prom dresses which were only worn once. For years, they hung proudly in my attic. Then came college tuition. Now, I am preparing to pay for a wedding. Did I mention all those mission trips to Eastern Europe? To be completely honest with you, I can’t tell you how I paid for all those things, but I paid for all those things. For years, I shouldered that responsibility alone. Then, I made a great discovery. It wasn’t me it was God. God has been taking care of me the whole time. Something always seemed to happen financially that kept me afloat. I know God has always taken care of us and I am confident He always will.

As I prepared for this message, I came across a sermon I wish I would have read years ago. It was written by a man named Rick Ezill (born 1963). He is he Senior Pastor of the Naperville Baptist Church in Naperville, Illinois.  Like this message, his message was based on the story of the widow’s mite. He called his sermon The Heart of Generosity. In that message he challenges us to handle our money in a Godly way. He challenges us to remember three things as we handle our personal finances. The three spoke to me.

1.          Many are worried about leaving an inheritance. The reason people want to leave an inheritance is because they want to be remembered. Stop worrying about your inheritance and start worrying about your legacy. Why wait until you die? The woman in the Bible story left behind a legacy of generosity. How will you be remembered? Leave a legacy!

• Be a giver!       From the beginning of time people have wanted something from God: His guidance, His grace, His peace, His mercy, His forgiveness. What do you want to from God? Why not give something to God? The woman in the story could have easily been a taker. He could have shown up at the temple looking for money. She could have gone to the temple looking for food. She could have gone to the temple looking for clothes. She could have done those things, but she didn’t. She showed up at the temple to give. She was a giver. Be a giver!

• Make a difference!    People make a living by what they earn. People make a difference by what they give. The woman in the Bible story made a difference by giving those two copper coins. She modeled for generations to come the importance of sacrificial giver. Are you just making a living or are you making a difference? Make a difference!

Let me end with a simple question. Who is the most generous person in the world? According to Forbes, the two names who head the list are Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. In his lifetime, Bill Gates has given away $27 billion. In his lifetime, Warren Buffet has given away $21.5 billion. I am not being critical. You can’t question their generosity. However, Bill Gates may have given away $27 billion, but his next worth is $84 billion. That means Bill Gates saved $57 billion for himself. Warren Buffet kept $39.5 billion. Could you survive on $57 billion? Could you survive on $39.5 billion? Just like the rich at the temple on that day, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet’s giving is impressive, but there isn’t much sacrificial giving.

Who is the most generous person in the world? Jesus would have pointed to the poor widow at that the temple.  She didn’t give out of her surplus. She gave sacrificially. Do you give out of your surplus, or do you give sacrificially? That leads us back to our question of the day. How generous are you?  Andy Stanley (born 1958) is the Senior Pastor of the North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. He once said, “Greed is not a financial issue. It’s an issue of the heart.”  He couldn’t be more correct.