GIVING CHEERFULLY FOR THE GROWTH OF THE LOCAL

1. GIVING CHEERFULLY
FOR THE GROWTH OF
THE LOCAL CHURCH
PREACHER IKE ANNO ANSAH – 0244946139
LECTURESHIP
SUNCITY CHURCH OF CHRIST
2ND – 5TH FEBRUARY 2023

2. INTRODUCTION
1. In our everyday living (be you a believer “Christian” or an unbeliever ) to be able
to “live and live well” Giving must be your priority”
i. It is one of the most important element required to help make the world a
better place to live in.
ii. In the “Christendom” it will help not only in supporting the growth of the
church, but also the needy among the brethren as the spirit rightly put it – Eph.
4:28
2. Many are neglecting their own spiritual growth, by failing to give. Others are
infecting the church with many disease because of their giving. The church is
being malnourished with our giving.
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3. 3.More are also growing spiritually and physically because of their giving. The
question is, how many of our brethren are benefiting spiritually and physically
from their giving.
4. Let’s us therefore examine our giving by carefully scrutinizing our topic for the
“three days lectureship on GIVING = TO BE MORE PRECISE’ CHEERFUL
GIVING.” FOR THE GROWTH OF THE LOCAL CONGREGATION.
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4. DISCUSSION
WHAT IS GIVING?
Definition: (transitive verb)
1. To make a present of:// give a doll to a child
2. a. to grant or bestow by formal action, b. To accord or yield to another
3. To put into the possession of one another for his or her use
4. To commit to one another as a trust or responsibility and usually for an expressed
reason
5. To transfer from one’s authority or custody to another
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5. A. SOME STATISTICS ABOUT GIVING FROM OUR BIBLE
1. OLD TESTAMENT.
• The English word “GIVE” (in all it forms) appears 653 times
• Two most frequently Hebrew words:
Nathan – “to give up”
yahab – “to give” or “give” – which in most cases is used as an imperative.
2. NEW TESTAMENT
• The English word “GIVE” (in all its forms) appears 405 times.
• Most common Greek term i.e. “didomi” (strong -1325) Describe it as seed or
plant, yielding, bearing or giving fruit . Matthew 13:8-23
GIVING CHEERFULY FOR THE GROWTH OF THE LOCAL CHURCH 5

6. B. SOME INSTANTS AND EXAMPLES FOUND IN OUR BIBLE.
• As a form of relief or benevolence – Proverbs 28:27, Leviticus 25:25
• Form of support to God’s servant - Numbers 3:48, I Tim. 5:17-18, Gal. 6:6
• Abiding or obedience act – II Corinthians 9:7
• Caring for widows and orphans – James 1:27, I Timothy 5:3-4, Ruth 2:5-12.
C. AS A STANDARD AS PUT FORTH BY JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES
• As taught by Jesus – Luke 6:30,34, 35 & 36, Luke 14:12-14
• Apostle Paul’s own example – Acts 20:33-35, Galatians 2:9-10
• As taught by Apostle Paul – Galatians 6:9-10, Ephesians 4:28,
I Tim. 6:17-18
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7. II. WHAT IS A CHEERFUL GIVING?
A. It is just knowing what God want from you with regards to parting or giving what
He, God has prospered you.
B. What brings about Cheerful Giving.
1. The central point here is:
a. Being obedient to God’s command.
b. ……planning
c. ……Having a budget for your everyday living.
These will surely and ultimately result in:
i. Purposeful giving which is the key Performance indicator – II Cor. 9:7.
ii. And will help prevent us from giving gratingly and sparingly because:
a. One has a have budget for God
b. So therefore, there is NO HASTY OR IMPULSIVE DECISIONS.
c. Helping and demand strict adherence to plan. Thus leading to:
d. Already having what to be giving in store for the purpose designed for.
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8. 8
GIVING CHEERFULY FOR THE GROWTH OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
III. HOW CAN WE KNOW OR IDENTIFY WHAT IS CALLED CHEERFUL GIVING
A. In all matters of the Bible, we read and search from the Bible itself. It will help us to know
what and How the issue came about. Read 2 Corinthians 8
The giving that produced Cheer, love, Joy and left and ‘’INDELIBLE MARK’’ had the
following characteristics.
1. SACRIFICIAL - 2 Corinthians 8:2-3
Reasons:
1) They were in great affliction
2) Poverty was like any good thing around them by then.
3) Yet, the love of God propelled them to give beyond their own ability.
4) No normal human being would expect that in that condition of 2 Corithians 8:12-13
2. IT WAS FREELY DONE
a) There was nothing like being coerced and prodded.
b) They did that voluntarily 2 Corinthians 8:3

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2. IT WAS FREELY DONE
b). They did that voluntarily – 2 Cor. 8:3
i. This is what the Lord expect from us today. Not to do anything against our
wish or will
ii. It is all about knowing what the church need.
iii.What others outside need
iv.Your readiness to help sustain these activities (INTERNAL & EXTERNAL)
v. All must come from a mind that wills
vi.Faith that knows Psalms 24:1-2, Duet 10:14, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 10:23

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3. IT WAS DONE WITHOUT HAVING CERTAIN VOCABULARIES IN THEIR
MIND & HEART DICTIONARIES
A – Not knowing stopping
B – Not knowing enough
C – Not knowing I am getting tired
D – Not checking to see whether there is enough in the wallet.
HEBREWS 6:10 and with their desire to fulfill Hebrews 6:11
Brethren let us examine our attitude towards…….
ALL BECAUSE OF:
1. The needs of the church
a.Rescuing the millions in bondage
b.Rescue the world from the many evil acts.
c. Retards the free fall of molarity
d.Help support those in need both internal and external

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4. OFFERING SELF
1. The faith of offering self in giving was key 2 Corinthians 8:5
2. An act that clearly, indicate trust in the one who they are serving
3. An indicator of ‘’Assurance At All Cost’’ Matthew 6:25-34
4. A sign of or mark of ‘’Honest, Sincere and True follower, John 13:34-35
5…… With ‘’Love as its foundation 1 John 4:20-21
5. LEADING TO CONTINUAL CHEERFUL OR JOYFUL GIVING
Read 2 Corinthians 8:2
A. They have studied it is more blessed to give …….. Acts 20:35
B. They also come to realization of the kind of giving God always cherish 2 Cor 9:7

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6. WHAT CHRISTIAN HISTORY HAS TO SAY ABOUT CHEERFUL GIVING
*ARISTIDES, APOLOGYSIS 15
He wrote about how slaves (Christians) were able to give cheerfully and bountifully.
‘’And if there is any that is a slave or poor man, they fast two or three days and
what they were going to get, they send them (Christians in prison) considering
themselves to give cheer even as they were called to give of good cheer.
SO THEREFORE, WE NEED TO PLAN OUR GIVING ‘’IF’’ WE REALLY WANT TO GIVE
CHEERFULLY.

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IV. HE BENEFIT OF GIVING CHEERFULLY
A. IT HELPS US TO GROW
i. Our fellowship with God becomes deep to the extend that “WE PARTAKE OF THE
DIVINE NATURE” by being generous and giving.
ii. It helps maintain and conform to stewardship standard and provides basis for
stepping on the second step of our growth – II Pet, 1:5-8 Virtue
iii. It also enable us to maintain the pattern of “GROWING AND GIVING” which
cannot be separated – “The more you give the more you grow”.
iv. The only solution to avoidance of covetousness resides in GIVING.
B. GIVING IS THE GATEAY TO SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL BLESSING.
i. Christians “DO NOT AND MUST NOT “ CONSIDER HIS/HER GIVING US BARGAIN
ALL WE KNOW AS CHRISTIANS IS:
a. That God blesses a cheerful giver
b. Some say “Giving hurts” and thus the statements Give ‘till it hurts” –
Remember if giving hurts ‘God own word may be contradicted Malachi 3:10,
Acts 20:35.

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C. IT SUPPLIES ALL GRACE FOR OUR SUSTAINANCE
II Corinthians 9:8
………. All grace abound toward us, always having all sufficiency in all things may
abound to every good work.
a. It takes God to supply all things needed and in abundance for every good work.
b. Pray to God (for above) to help increase the fruits of our righteousness.
c. This will finally result in producing more liberality, leading to thanksgiving.
D. RESULT
1. All our needs are supplied. Verse 12b
2. Cause continual thanksgiving. Verse 12b
3. Lead people to glorify God. Verse 13
ARE WE READY?
May the good lord, richly bless you and us all in Jesus mighty name:
Amen and Amen