―And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord‘s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.‖ 2 Corinthians 8:1–5 (NIV)
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The church is not a country club, a fraternal organization, a service club, or a charity. It is founded by the Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of communicating the everlasting gospel to the world. Our congregation has the responsibility to reach our area. Being a member of the church brings with it this responsibility to be shared with our brothers and sisters. We are stewards of the people who live in and around our church.
“Christ is the fountain; the church is the channel of communication.” Acts of the Apostles page 122
Appeal: Our offering today is for our precious church, its needs and its ministries. Wouldn‘t it be wonderful to have the same thing said about us that Paul said about the Macedonians‘ generosity?