Why Support Missions?
Daniel Rodgers
Philippians 4:11-23
HUMOR: I know, here we go talking about money again. Well, have you ever heard a Baptist preacher who didn't talk about money? If he didn't' he probably wasn't saved.
The story is told about a man who had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. He was not allowed to have many visitors, fearing that the excitement might not be good for him.
While he was in the hospital a rich uncle died and left him a million dollars. His family wondered how to break the news to him with the least amount of excitement. It was decided to ask the preacher if he would go and break the news quietly to the man.
The preacher went, and gradually led up to the question. The preacher asked the patient what he would do if he inherited a million dollars. He said, ''I think I would give half of it to the church.'' The preacher dropped dead.1
INTRODUCTION: Here, in chapter 4, of the book of Philippians, Paul commends the Philippian believers for their faithfulness in supporting his mission work. He praises them for their consistency and their willingness to sacrifice: (vs. 16), ''For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.'' However, not all churches could be praised--not all churches had been faithful; as a matter of fact, in (vs.15), he points out that no one except the Philippians had given him anything: ''Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.''
Would you believe it if I told you that many churches today have no missions program at all? It's not that they have no programs, oh, no, they have plenty of programs--programs for young people, programs for the family, marriage enrichment seminars, singles programs, recovery programs--you name it, they have it...except they don't have a missions program.
ILLUS: According to those who do the statistics ...
Daniel Rodgers
Philippians 4:11-23
HUMOR: I know, here we go talking about money again. Well, have you ever heard a Baptist preacher who didn't talk about money? If he didn't' he probably wasn't saved.
The story is told about a man who had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. He was not allowed to have many visitors, fearing that the excitement might not be good for him.
While he was in the hospital a rich uncle died and left him a million dollars. His family wondered how to break the news to him with the least amount of excitement. It was decided to ask the preacher if he would go and break the news quietly to the man.
The preacher went, and gradually led up to the question. The preacher asked the patient what he would do if he inherited a million dollars. He said, ''I think I would give half of it to the church.'' The preacher dropped dead.1
INTRODUCTION: Here, in chapter 4, of the book of Philippians, Paul commends the Philippian believers for their faithfulness in supporting his mission work. He praises them for their consistency and their willingness to sacrifice: (vs. 16), ''For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.'' However, not all churches could be praised--not all churches had been faithful; as a matter of fact, in (vs.15), he points out that no one except the Philippians had given him anything: ''Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.''
Would you believe it if I told you that many churches today have no missions program at all? It's not that they have no programs, oh, no, they have plenty of programs--programs for young people, programs for the family, marriage enrichment seminars, singles programs, recovery programs--you name it, they have it...except they don't have a missions program.
ILLUS: According to those who do the statistics ...
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