ADDLED BY HAWKERS: GRUDGING GIVING

•    a tip to the persistent
•    guarded against giving to those who ask (Mt 5:42)
•    do we treat God differently from a waiter?

GOD GETTING OUR ATTENTION

•    early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching: much grace through testifying
•    grace centres on God’s merciful lovingkindness at the cross of Christ
•    key verse 2Cor.8:9 the grace of our Lord Jesus - through His poverty we become rich

THE CROSS MESSES WITH OUR AUTONOMY

•    Holy Spirit through repentance helps us crucify our selfie-focus
•    early believers together, goods in common, shared everything (2:44; 4:32)
•    Jesus’ self-emptying: we’re not our own, but bought at a price (Php 2; 1Cor 6:19f)

ATTACHMENTS SEVERED FOR OTHERS’ BENEFIT

•    hard to ignore sentimental connection to family heirlooms / nicknacks
•    early church freed to sell possessions and give to those in need

EXAMPLES OF ATTAINERS

•    Barnabas gave land to church, 2nd chance to John Mark (4:36f, 15:37ff)
•    Tabitha always doing good & helping the poor (9:36)
•    Cornelius gave generously to those in need (10:2)
•    negatives: Ananias / Simon the Sorcerer - heart not right before God

ALL-STARS IN THE GRACE OF GIVING

•    Macedonian churches struggling through severe trial, extreme poverty
•    surprisingly – overflowing joy welled up in rich generosity
•    secret: gave selves 1st to the Lord (2Cor 8:5)
•    truly an ‘act of grace’ / ‘grace of giving’ (8:6f)
•    togetherness: not about imbalance, but equality (8:13ff)

SEEING IT IS YOU

•    Whom is motivating our giving – really?