The document is a sermon about being motivated to give based on 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. It discusses that we work hard to persuade others as God's ambassadors because of our responsibility to God. It also talks about how Christ's love controls us and that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The sermon encourages consistent financial giving to support the church budget and its evangelism and mission efforts.

1. MOTIVATED TO GIVE II Corinthians 5:11-21

2. We Are God’s Ambassadors 11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (New Living Translation)

3. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (New Living Translation)

4. 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (New Living Translation)

5. TAKE HOME Financial stewardship…giving…undergirds our combined efforts in Evangelism and Missions. Giving is the ‘second half’ of our vote…I approve the budget and I’ll do my part to support it. So often our inconsistency is simply a matter of not being focused and deliberate. A faithful and focused church deserves consistent and faithful support.

6. Opening Prayer

7. Announcements

8. Worship

9. The Nuts And Bolts Of The Matter Churches with no vision can mainly focus on the electric bill and survival. Seeking God’s leading, our congregation has a plan for touching the world. Our Budget reflects that plan. The plan works when we give faithfully and consistently.

10. We Are A Family… This Is Family Business We hold certain values in common …making a difference in our area and in our world is what we are about. We give $_______________ to mission groups around the world every month. We hire a pastor to lead us in impacting our community.

11. We Are A Family… This Is Family Business Gaining access to the lives and hearts of our neighbors is a high priority. Much of what we do costs money. So our Family has a budget…like all wise families.

12. What Motivates You To Be Faithful In Financial Stewardship? Commitment to tithing? Gratitude to God for changing your life? Commitment to church budget? None of the above. I give some here and there, depending on what I can afford that particular Sunday. Other

13. What Motivates You To Be Faithful In Financial Stewardship? Commitment to tithing? Gratitude to God for changing your life? Commitment to church budget? None of the above. I give some here and there, depending on what I can afford that particular Sunday. Other

14. Guiding Principles --II Corinthians 9 Whoever plants sparingly will also reap sparingly. V6 Give from the heart. V7 God will increase your store of seed. V10 God will cause you to have more to give. V11

15. Guiding Principles --II Corinthians 9 Such giving is a form of Thanksgiving to God. V12 Giving ‘proves’ our confession that Jesus is Lord. V13 Faithful and generous giving springs from God’s grace in our lives. V14

16. Faithfulness In Stewardship Is More Than A Money Matter… It Is A Spiritual Matter “ Fearing the Lord, we persuade men”. --II Cor 5:11 “ Christ’s love compels us!” --II Cor 5:14 Together we accept the commission to be ‘Ambassadors for Christ’ --II Cor 5:20

17. Faithfulness In Stewardship Is More Than A Money Matter… It Is A Spiritual Matter Together we accept the commission to be ‘Ambassadors for Christ’ --II Cor 5:20 The church declaring the gospel is God’s only plan for reaching world. This is our plan too. A plan that deserves our best.

18. I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. I trust him as my Lord and Savior. Confession

19. Worship

20. Offering

21. Worship

22. TAKE HOME Financial stewardship…giving…undergirds our combined efforts in Evangelism and Missions. Giving is the ‘second half’ of our vote…I approve the budget and I’ll do my part to support it. So often our inconsistency is simply a matter of not being focused and deliberate. A faithful and focused church deserves consistent and faithful support.

23. Prayer

24. GO MOTIVATED TO GIVE II Corinthians 5:11-21