THE PROMISE OF RECIPROCITY (10 OF 12)
The Promise of Reciprocity
Promises Series
David Cawston
Luke 6:38
Introduction:
In these words, Jesus has given us a summary of God's total life plan of release.
This is a principal of all of life!
We are so insecure and stingy!
The crumbling, old church building needed remodeling, so the preacher made an impassioned appeal, looking directly at the richest man in town. At the end of the message, the rich man stood up and announced, "Pastor, I will contribute one thousand dollars." Just then, plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the rich man on the shoulder. He promptly stood again and shouted, "Pastor, I will increase my donation to five thousand dollars." Before he could sit back down, plaster fell on him again, and again he virtually screamed, "Pastor, I will double my last pledge." He sat down, and a larger chunk of plaster fell, hitting him on the head. He stood once more and hollered, "Pastor, I will give twenty thousand dollars!" This prompted a deacon to shout, "Hit him again, Lord! Hit him again!" jul98
Generosity is so unexpected in our society and yet we are the most blessed.
A man inherited ten million dollars. He had a bad heart so the family decided to let his minister gently break the good news to him so that he wouldn't have a heart attack. So the minister, rather non-chalantly said, "What would you do if you were to inherit ten million dollars?" Without batting an eye, the man said, "Why, I'd give half of it to the church." And the minister dropped dead of a heart attack!
Giving averages...
Survey data on giving show the same widening gap that national income does. Nearly 69 percent of households reported making charitable donations in 1995
The people who give are contributing at a rising rate. But 5 percent fewer households gave than in 1993--probably reflecting the portion whose real incomes have fallen behind.
On average, donors gave $1,017, or 2.2 percent of their household incomes. Those earning $100,0 ...
Promises Series
David Cawston
Luke 6:38
Introduction:
In these words, Jesus has given us a summary of God's total life plan of release.
This is a principal of all of life!
We are so insecure and stingy!
The crumbling, old church building needed remodeling, so the preacher made an impassioned appeal, looking directly at the richest man in town. At the end of the message, the rich man stood up and announced, "Pastor, I will contribute one thousand dollars." Just then, plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the rich man on the shoulder. He promptly stood again and shouted, "Pastor, I will increase my donation to five thousand dollars." Before he could sit back down, plaster fell on him again, and again he virtually screamed, "Pastor, I will double my last pledge." He sat down, and a larger chunk of plaster fell, hitting him on the head. He stood once more and hollered, "Pastor, I will give twenty thousand dollars!" This prompted a deacon to shout, "Hit him again, Lord! Hit him again!" jul98
Generosity is so unexpected in our society and yet we are the most blessed.
A man inherited ten million dollars. He had a bad heart so the family decided to let his minister gently break the good news to him so that he wouldn't have a heart attack. So the minister, rather non-chalantly said, "What would you do if you were to inherit ten million dollars?" Without batting an eye, the man said, "Why, I'd give half of it to the church." And the minister dropped dead of a heart attack!
Giving averages...
Survey data on giving show the same widening gap that national income does. Nearly 69 percent of households reported making charitable donations in 1995
The people who give are contributing at a rising rate. But 5 percent fewer households gave than in 1993--probably reflecting the portion whose real incomes have fallen behind.
On average, donors gave $1,017, or 2.2 percent of their household incomes. Those earning $100,0 ...
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