January 3, 2016
Epiphany Sunday
The Rev. Kim Gilliland
SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 24
Mark 12:41-44
The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it;
the world and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.
Psalm 24:1-2 (NIV)
BELIEVE - STEWARDSHIP
THE NOISE OF GIVING
The first churches I pastored were two small prairie congregations in the farming
communities of McAuley, Manitoba and Welwyn, Saskatchewan. Each was in a town of
about 150 people. They were self supporting and between the two of them, we had active
Sunday Schools, a Youth Group, choirs in both churches and Meals on Wheels to the
seniors in town. It was a grat place to cut my teeth in ministry and they believed that it
was their God given role to teach new ministers exactly what they needed to know that
they theological colleges didn’t teach them. They did it well because there was much that
I needed to know that wasn’t taught to me at Emmanuel College.
One of the things that I found odd about those congregations, however, was the
way that they raised money. Around here, it primarily comes in on the offering plates on
Sunday morning. I realize that we generally get less in the summer months and more in
December but the money flows in all year round. Not so in the rural prairies. There ninety
percent of the operating budget for the year came in during the fall canvas which was
generally the last two weeks of October and first two weeks of November. That’s because
at that point the crops were all in, most of them had been sold at the local elevators and
the farmers had their income for the year. Since grain farmers got paid once a year, that’s
when they felt it was a good time to give top the church. Then the rest of the year,
everyone put a dollar bill in the offering plate on Sunday morning. It was more of a token
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than anything else.
It made sense I suppose but with my accounting background I still thought it would
be better to spread out the income a little bit over the year to better match our expenses.
They didn’t agree and I made no headway with any of my proposals. As many of you
know, anyone trying to change established farming traditions is much akin to trying to
convince a Scotsman to stop wearing his kilt.
But then came some help from the most unexpected source - the Government of
Canada - for it was later that year that the first loonies appeared and replaced the dollar
bill. How did that help? Well, coincidentally, it wasn’t long after the loonies appeared
that the felt bottoms in the offering plates disappeared. “So what?” you might ask. So
what; because we had brass offering plates and without the felt bottoms, when someone
put a loonie in the offering plate, it resulted in a rather clear sounding ding. You wouldn’t
think that would be a problem except that no one wanted to have their offering ding
because up until that point in history, offerings that dinged were quarters, dimes of
nickels and lose change was not what was required on Sunday morning. It was required
that Sunday offerings be silent. They should make no noise. And so, to avoid any
confusion, it became general agreement that the requisite Sunday offering would be
increased to a two dollar bill. Weekly offering suddenly doubled and both treasurers,
witnessing the virtual bonanza in Sunday offerings ensured that the velvet bottoms of the
offering plates never reappeared.
So how does that relate to stewardship which is the theme of today’s ninth message
in the series called Believe? It relates because it is exactly the opposite of what was going
on in the gospel passage that I read from Mark 12 a few minutes ago.
In that story Jesus was sitting in the temple in Jerusalem with his disciples. They
were watching the people put their offerings into the temple treasury. They didn’t do it as
we do it, mostly on Sunday morning during worship. The people of Jesus’ day gave their
offerings whenever they wanted to. There were thirteen trumpet shaped containers placed
in the temple court. They were made of metal. Back in those days, all of the money was
coins and so when someone put their offering into the treasury everyone could hear the
metal upon metal clang as the coins bounced into the receptacle. What that meant was
that the more offering you gave, the more noise you made.
Rich people loved it because they brought lots of coins. They made lots of nose.
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That’s how Jesus - and everyone else - knew how much they were giving. The amount of
noise they made was a key indicator. But then along came widow with her offering.
When she placed it into the receptacle, it didn’t make lots of noise. All it may was two
little pings. Ping, ping. That was it. I’m sure that there were some grins amount the rich
folk who had made lots of noise or maybe they didn’t even notice. We don’t know. But
we do know that Jesus noticed. He noticed the two little pings and then said something
profound. In Mark 12:43-44 (NIV) he said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put
more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of
her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.”
GIVING ALL
That brings us to the key question for today which is this: How much does God
want of me? That’s a very important question because the way we answer it shapes the
way that we live our lives. If you were to ask the rich people who made lots of noise in
the temple, they would probably tell you that God wants their tithe. That’s what was
required; ten percent of the first fruits. Out of their abundance, the wealthy gave their ten
percent.
But notice that Jesus did not point to them. Rather, he pointed to the poor widow.
She came with two coins, each worth less than a penny. She put them both in and it was
all that she had. What did she give? She gave everything, all that she had to live on. It’s
important to note that she gave two coins. Why is that significant? It’s significant because
she could have divided it up. She could have put one coin in the temple treasury and kept
the other one for herself. But she didn’t do that. She gave them both. It was all that she
had and she gave it all.
So how much does God want of me? He wants everything. That leads us to today’s
key idea which is: I believe everything I am and everything I own belong to God. Jesus
held up the poor widow as the example. It wasn’t because of the quantity of her offering.
It was because of the quality of what she offered.
That presents us with a significant challenge. How much of what we have do we
really give to God? And note that I’m not just talking about money. I’m talking about
everything. Everything we have belongs to God. What we have belongs to God. What we
do belongs to God. He owns the ground we walk on. He even owns our birth certificates
which means that our very lives belong to him. That makes sense because everything that
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we have came from God in the first place. He made it all. It belongs to him. Psalm 24:1-2
(NIV) says this: “The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it; the world and all who
live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”
What that means is that we don’t own a thing. We might use stuff. we might have a
piece of paper that says that we own our homes or our vehicles but we have to understand
that they really don’t belong to us. All that we have is only on temporary loan. They day
will come when we will leave this life and go on to the next. Guess how much of the stuff
that we find so valuable in this life will go with us? None of it. That’s because it was
never ours in the first place.
On one level you might find that somewhat disturbing. That’s because the house
that you worked so hard to pay for and is now mortgage free really doesn’t belong to you.
That car that you picked out and that you love to drive; you’re only borrowing it. Those
investments in the bank that you’re counting on for your retirement; they’re only yours
on loan. You might get to use them all if you live long enough but then again you might
not.
Do you remember that parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21? In that story, a
rich farmer had a very good harvest. It was so good that he had to build bigger barns to
store it all. He thought that he had lots of good things stored up that would last him many
years. All he had to do from then on was take life easy; eat, drink and be merry. The in
Luke 12:20 (NIV), God says, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from
you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” Do you see the point?
Everything we have is only on loan. It has never really belonged to us and it never will.
That can be disturbing but it can also be very freeing. That’s because it frees us
from worrying about the things of this world that we can’t take with us and enables us to
focus on the things that are really important for eternity. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m
not saying that you should ignore the things of this world. You need to look after your
homes. You need to keep your vehicles in good repair. And it’s good just financial
stewardship to invest so that you have a nest egg for retirement. But those things should
never be your primary focus. Your ultimate focus should be on your God given purpose
in life and how you are going to fulfill it. As Jesus said in Luke 12:34 (NIV): “For where
your treasure is, there you heart will be also.” Make sure you heart is where your heart
needs to be. Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness and everything else will fall
into place.
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APPLICATION
The key idea for today is: I believe everything I am and everything I own belong to
God. What does that look like? I’m going to give you two applications about how to
work that key idea out in your lives this week.
The first application of giving everything to God is that you move from owner to
manager. You realize that your stuff really doesn’t belong to you, never has and never
will because you can’t take it with you. As I said earlier, that can be a very freeing
realization. It means that you don’t have to hold on to your stuff so closely. It means that
a dent in your car is not so important and that dandelion in your lawn is not the end of the
world. If the dog chews your shoe - well it’s just a shoe. And if your hair isn’t quite right
today, that’s okay because there’s always tomorrow.
There’s a word in the Bible that talks about what it means to manage the stuff that
God has given us to use. That word is stewardship. Stewardship means to take care of
what we have been given. That comes right from the Genesis 2:15 (NIV) where it says,
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and to take
care of it.” Adam was put in the Garden of Eden with the task of taking care of it. That
hasn’t changed. We are still called to take care of the place where God has put us.
That starts with our homes. Here’s something that we can all do to recognize that
while our homes do not really belong to us, we are still called to care for them and use
them for God’s glory. I want you to take out the Message Outline insert in your bulletin.
On the back of that insert you will find a pledge. It’s a Stewardship Agreement between
you and God and it says this:
We do hereby deed over the ownership of this house and all of the
possessions in it to our God to be utilized to accomplish his purposes. We
assume the role of responsible and hospitable managers to ensure that his
wishes are carried out. This agreement is effective on this day and is binding
as long as God calls us to reside here.
Below that agreement is a place to date the document and then have every member
of your family sign it. When you have dated and signed it, you can post it in a visible
place in your house so that it can be a daily reminder that you are called to be good
stewards of the gifts that God has given you.
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That’s the first application, to humbly move from owner to manager of the things
of this world. The second application is that you approach every day as a living sacrifice
to God. Romans 12:1 (NIV) says this: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s
mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - which is your
spiritual worship.”
I realize that the phrase “living sacrifice” sounds like an oxymoron. How can
something be sacrificed and yet still live? The good news is that it is possible and here is
how it’s done. Each of us has to decide to live our lives on the altar. The altar is where
the sacrifice takes place. It is the place of sacrifice. To live on the altar is to live in a
perpetual state of sacrifice, not once but all of the time, every day. It is to offer ourselves
24/7 to the God who gave all he had for us.
One of the problems for us in our culture, however, is that this notion is quite
counter cultural. The world tells us that we need to be in control of our own lives. We
should do what we want to do, what is best for us, what makes us feel good and gets us
the most stuff. It calls us to be rulers of our lives, to sit on the thrones of our hearts and
rule with a firm hand.
Jesus tells us to leave the throne and instead live on the altar. There’s a real irony
to that because, in our faith, Jesus also went to the altar. He sacrificed himself for us on
the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and we could be reconciled with God for
eternity through faith in him and the shedding of his blood.
What I want you to think about now is this. Jesus wants us to get off of the thrones
of our hearts and live on the altar as living sacrifices. Then he wants us to invite him who
sacrificed himself for us on the cross to sit on the throne of our hearts and rule in our
lives. In effect, Jesus wants us to trade places with him. He wants us to go to the altar so
that he can sit on the throne. That’s what Jesus tells us that it means to be faithful.
When you do that, you will discover something very interesting. You will discover
that you are far more stingy than God. If you let Jesus live on the throne of your heart,
you will be far more willing to give of your time, your talents and your money to further
the kingdom of God. It’s easier to give when you understand that it was never yours in
the first place.
You also realize that God is far more generous than we could ever be. It’s easy for
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God because his resources are infinite. He knows what’s ahead. He knows what we need
and he has promised to look out for those who put their faith and their hope in him. If I
have learned one lesson in life it is this: I can never out give God.
So, the final question you have to ask yourself is this: have you given everything to
God, everything you are and everything you have? If you have, good for you. If you
haven’t, maybe it’s time you should think about doing it. Live as living sacrifices and
trust God to use you for his will according to his good purpose in Jesus Christ.
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Holy God, our Friend and Father, we thank you for all of the good things that you
have given. We are so blessed that we often fail to recognize your great generousity. We
can take for granted those things that seem ordinary but you are in the simple things of
life. As we consider all of your blessings, help us never to become conceited or arrogant
at our good fortune. Enable us to embrace humility in our hearts, knowing as we humble
ourselves and seek you and your way of doing things, you will bring light into our lives at
the proper time in the proper way.
We thank you for the year that is past. The seasons have lived through their cycle
once again. We have moved from the white of winter to the colours of spring, through the
warmth of summer and the crispness of autumn. We come to another new year, grateful
for all that has happened and ready to face all that this year will bring.
As the new year dawns, give us the courage to launch out into the deep waters of
life and faith. We need to trust in you for all things. Help us to always have the kind of
courage, trust, and faith, that will enable us to immediately obey your will without
hesitation or reservation, knowing that you are with us at all times and in all places.
Thank you for being absolutely faithful. Thank you that your promises never fail.
We pray for those who are sick at home or in hospital, especially Sharon Chalmers,
Millicent Warmold and Doug Montgomery. May your healing come to them and all who
need your special touch this season.
We look once again toour military personnel in various places around the world.
Continue, O God, to give us the resolve to do what is right and just in your sight. We
would be bold to pray that 2016 would bring peace to troubled parts of the world. And
protect our soldiers with your angels as they put themselves in harm’s way in the hopes
of gaining a better world.
Loving God, we come to a new year. As we contemplate 2016, evaluate goals,
make plans, and reflect on decisions to be made, help us to remember that you are always
near. There is no limit to your great mercy, patience, and care. Thank you for the
assurance of your faithful love, freely given without condition or limit. May we share that
love in this new year as it is given to us. We pray these our prayers in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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WORSHIP RESOURCE PAGE
January 3, 2016 / Epiphany Sunday
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Matthew 2:1-12; Ephesians 3:1-12
CALL TO WORSHIP
ONE: Arise and shine for your light has come!
ALL: The glory of the Lord shines upon us!
ONE: Arise and shine for your light has come!
ALL: The love of Jesus is within us!
ONE: Arise and shine for your light has come!
ALL: The light of God shines through us!
ONE: Come, let us worship!
PRAYER OF APPROACH
We gather together in worship, in complete awe of you, the glorious Maker of the whole universe. You
are as close as a whisper, as playful as a baby’s laughter, as loving as a parent's cuddle. Come to us in
our worship. Hold us close and nurture our spirits. Feed our faith with your indwelling presence. Inspire
our actions by the power of the Gospel. Meet with us in this place, O God of all Creation. Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, we seek to be discerning and wise in choosing the path that you would have us take in life.
Yet we are aware that it takes only a little error or indiscretion to distract us away from a healthy
relationship with you. Help us to be diligent and alert, keeping our hearts and minds fixed on you and
the truth of your Word. Keep us from the error of sin and expose any wrongdoing that we have done
either to you or our neighbour. Bring us to a place of repentance and forgiveness as only you can do.
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Jesus understands. Jesus forgives. Jesus gives us as many new chances as we need. Let us live with
assurance and let the light of God shine in our faces, in our hearts, in our lives.
DEDICATION OF OFFERING
As Magi offered gifts most rare, we offer our gifts to you. In awe and humility we come to bring you
what you deserve from the fruit of our labour. Accept us and our gifts. Amen.
COMMISSIONING
Let us arise from this place and leave in God’s light. Let us shine the love of Jesus on everyone and
everything. And may God's richest blessings fill our lives.
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MESSAGE OUTLINE
The Rev. Kim Gilliland
January 3, 2016
BELIEVE - STEWARDSHIP
Jesus used the example of the poor widow’s offering as an example for the rest of us.
I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all
gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.
Mark 12:43-44 (NIV)
GIVING ALL
Key Question: How much does God want of me?
Key Idea: I believe everything I am and everything I own belong to God.
And why not? Everything came from God in the first place.
The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it; the world and all who live in it; for he founded it
upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Psalm 24:1-2 (NIV)
We don’t really own anything. Everything is borrowed.
We can’t take any of it with us.
[God said], “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get
what you have prepared for yourself?”
Luke 12:20 (NIV)
It can be very freeing to recognize that it all belongs to God.
Then we can focus on our ultimate goal of fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives.
For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.
Luke 12:34 (NIV)
APPLICATION
1. You move from owner to manager.
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and to take care of it.
Genesis 2:15 (NIV)
2. Approach every day as a living sacrifice to God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God - which is your spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1 (NIV)
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STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT
We do hereby deed over the ownership of this house and all of the
possessions in it to our God to be utilized to accomplish his purposes. We
assume the role of responsible and hospitable managers to ensure that his
wishes are carried out. This agreement is effective on this day and is binding
as long as God calls us to reside here.
Date:
____________________________
Signatures:
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
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