Sermon text: Deuteronomy 8:6-20.
This morning we are going to talk about one of the big 3 discussion no-no’s. Sex, politics, and money. Earlier this year we talked about sex. And you have gotten plenty of politics since we just finished an election season. So that leaves money.
We hate to talk about money. It makes a queasy and uncomfortable. This morning I want to make it worse. I don’t want to manufacture false guilt, but holy unrest.
Let me start off by saying that I realize when God calls us to share our resources that we are talking about more than just our money, but God is talking about our money too. And He talks regularly about our money and what we ought to be doing with it. So no matter how much we want to push biblical language about sharing our resources into just talking about our time or our talents or some other aspect of our lives . . . we cannot ignore God’s very clear mandate to be stewards of our money.
One very clear reason why is that Jesus talks about only one thing more than money and that is the Kingdom of God . . . of all the things Jesus discusses, money is #2. He talked about it a ton! And he offered a lot of warnings.
Listen to just some of what Jesus says. “Woe to you that are rich” (Luke 6:24). “You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13). “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matt 6:19). “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:24). “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness” (Luke 12:15). “Sell your possessions, and give to the poor” (Luke 12:33). “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” (Luke 6:30).
Jesus does not hold back.
Sermon Text: John 14:15-21
We have now spent 4 weeks talking about prayer and whether it makes a difference and we have spent a fair amount of time discussing the mystery of prayer and how it is often difficult for us to understand what is happening in prayer. We have talked about unanswered prayer and healing and lots and lots of aspects of prayer that hopefully make it less confusing. This morning I want to end our series by discussing what I believe to be the simplest and most important aspect of prayer . . . yet the most difficult for us to do.
October 17, 2010 (sundaymorning) Matt and Sandy Waninger Download FilesMP3