The sermon by David Green on 'The Collection of the Saints' explores 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, emphasizing the importance of collective responsibility among believers. It likens individual contributions to threads in a tapestry, where each thread represents a member's contribution to the church's mission, showcasing faith in action. The sermon explains Paul's instructions to the Corinthian church to collect offerings for the impoverished saints in Jerusalem, highlighting the interconnectedness of early Christian churches, despite their differences. The sermon further delves into the historical and theological context of the Jerusalem church's poverty, attributing it to their communal living practices and external persecution. Green challenges modern churches to adopt an outward-focused vision, advocating for intentional and planned giving rather than reactive donations. He stresses that Christian giving should align with resurrection faith, reflecting a belief in eternal matters through practical actions, including financial stewardship. The sermon concludes by urging believers to set aside offerings before attending church, as a deliberate act of faith and commitment.

All right, our text today will be 1 Corinthians chapter 16, new chapter. We'll begin in verse 1 and going down to verse 4, and that'll be our text. The title of the sermon is, The collection of the Saints. This text serves as a serious reminder of the collective responsibility that we have as members of the body of Christ. And so as we before we get into the text, imagine if you will a great tapestry that's been put together where each thread represents an individual's contribution.

By itself, that thread isn't much. When it's put together as a tapestry, it's a lot. When it's woven together, creates something beautiful and strong. Our giving, None of us have much, but when it is put together, it's a vital thread in the church's mission and a testament to our faith in action. First Corinthians chapter 16, beginning of verse 1.

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, So do you also. On the first day of every week, each one of you is to set something aside, saving whatever he has purposed, or rather whatever he has prospered, so that no collections be made when I come. And when I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem. And if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me." This is our text from God's holy word, inspired and fallible as it is. In looking at this text, if you've been with me for very long in 1st Corinthians, You know there's a shift.

There's what may seem like an odd shift, really. A shift as in this abruptness he had been writing, spending a lot of time really on the subject of the resurrection. Christianity's most profound theological claim. In fact, as we mentioned before, he spent more time talking about the resurrection in this epistle than he does on anything else. Gives a great argument for the resurrection and I'm thankful he did.

It's great text. I enjoyed preaching it. So now after such a height, such a lofty height, he shifts to collection for the poor. What's going on with Paul? Did he have some sort of bad case of ADHD or something that he would transition like this?

No, not at all. Not at all. This transition from eternity to economics reveals something about the Christian life. Reveals something about the Christian faith. You see, what you believe about Christ's resurrection, yeah, directly it shapes what you believe about eternity, but it also shapes how you handle your wallets today.

It shapes how you live your life in a practical kind of way. In its context, there's good reason for Paul to be writing to the Church of Corinth about this collection. As you see here, this was for Jerusalem, and he had also directed the churches of Galatia about this as well. I think it's important for us to pick up on this that the churches of the New Testament were independent. They were autonomous bodies, but they were not isolationists.

They networked together even though they had their differences. In fact, here we are talking about a collection for a Jewish church, largely, a Jewish church in Jerusalem, and this collection was being asked for by mostly Gentile churches. That's something, isn't it? That's a big thing. So they had their differences, and in fact we can pick up on those differences as we read the letters that were written to them.

Paul's letter to Church of Corinth tells us that Corinth was much different than Ephesus. That the churches in Galatia were different than Corinth or some of the others. But In spite of their small differences, they were still churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. And there was a need. There was a need that was back in Jerusalem at the Jerusalem church.

And so Paul is calling on these saints and these other churches to make a collection for Jerusalem. I point all this out because some churches in our day are so proud of their independence and their autonomy. They're afraid to do anything like this, to help out another church or to even ask for help when help is needed. But I submit to you that this text and the others like it prove that this does not harm the independence or the autonomy of the church. That sometimes there are churches who do need help and it is good when others are able to help out those who are in need.

Before we look at what Paul tells them to do, we need to answer a question that's hanging in the air with a text like this, and that is why in the world did Jerusalem need help at all? You remember Jerusalem, the big church that started it all, the original church that Christ started, why were they in a situation where they were poor and collection needed to be taken by churches all across the Roman Empire. Well, to understand this situation, to understand this instruction from Paul, you have to understand the situation. So let's go back, back to the earlier days of the church and trace how God's people in Jerusalem went from a movement that was on fire, remember thousands of people the day of cost to a congregation in poverty. B.H.

Carroll made the point in his commentary that every Bible student ought to know the history of the series of collections of which this one is a part here in 1st Corinthians. Yet how little attention has been given to a passage like this one in its proper context. Most of the time when this passage is opened up, 1 Corinthians chapter 16, it's read and then the preacher screams until he's red in the face, give your tithe! Your tithe needs to come to the church and all of those things. A week after week in some circles, but never any vision beyond the local church.

Indeed, some churches are sitting on very large bank accounts. Some only spend money inwardly, making sure that they have very beautiful things and stuff, but never spending money beyond the four walls of their building. Even a small church like ours ought to be thinking about what can we do to support others outside of our number to think about what we can do to help others who are in need, who are less fortunate than us. We have in the past supported other brothers and still support some. We haven't lately because money has been extremely tight and indeed we've had, we've been recipients of other churches ourselves and brothers who have freely given to help us out knowing something about our struggles.

And we thank God for that. We thank God for the ability to give when we can give. And we thank God for the others who have been able to help us out during our times of need, including our current struggles. So what was this all about? Well, this was a collection that was taken, as we see in our text.

He says, now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. So this was a collection that was taken Not just at Corinth, not even by churches in one province, but by churches across the known world. I'm talking about churches that were in Europe, churches that were in Asia, churches that were all over the place, in this effort, this effort to financially assist the poor saints in Jerusalem. There was no telephones, there was no postal service like we know it today, there was no Facebook, nothing of that sort, but the needs were being spread. And people were answering to those needs all across a network of Christian churches.

I quote my grandfather from time to time, but he told me before, he said when you have a need, he said David always take it to the Lord, but also take it to the Lord's people. Because how can the Lord's people know your need if you don't tell them? Praise the Lord that in this case we have Paul who is spreading the word about Jerusalem. But how did Jerusalem get to be in such a terrible predicament? That's the question that I want to look at before we get too far here.

And the Bible doesn't spell it out directly. In other words, there's not a Bible verse that says the saints in Jerusalem got poor because they did this. But like good detectives, you and I, we can read the scriptures, we can rightly divide it, and we can find the reason why they were in the predicament that they weren't in. Go with me to Acts chapter 2 if you will. Acts chapter 2 verse 41, so then Those who had received his word were baptized and that day, they were added about 3, 000 souls.

Can you imagine it? 3, 000 souls being added to a church in one day. Thought process might go too well. Our money troubles are over. We got 3, 000 people.

Because a lot of times being small, we think, oh, well, we're small, we've got money troubles because we don't have very many people. But understand something, a church can be poor whether they're small or whether they're large and the church of Jerusalem was a large church but it became poor. So what happened? Well keep reading. In verses 42 through 45.

And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were taking place through the Apostles and all those who had believed were together had all things in common and they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing them up with all as anyone might have need. So in the midst of the great things that were going on in Jerusalem, the people being saved, the baptisms, the folks being added to church, the church continually being devoted to the Word of God. That's what it means by, when it talks about the Apostles' doctrine or teaching, that's what that is, is the Word of God, the Bible. To fellowship, into prayers, all the great things that were happening in the life of the Church of Jerusalem.

But somewhere, somehow, somebody got the idea that, hey, this is great, let's just have everything in common, literally. And so one by one, they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing it up. So here we are in 2026 and we've seen this tried time and time again in different places among different people. Do you know what happens every time socialism is brought into a society? The pitch is that everyone will be equal.

Sometimes they'll say everyone will be equally rich, but the reality is everyone becomes equally poor. This is what happened at Jerusalem, but it didn't happen overnight. At first it looked good. Go with me to Acts chapter 4. Acts chapter 4 verses 32 through 37.

In the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one was saying that any of his possessions was his own. But for them, everything was common. And with great power, the apostles were bearing witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the Apostles, which translated means son of encouragement, and who owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles feet.

So at first things were seemingly going good. In fact, the Bible even records it. Luke records it here that there in verse 34, there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of lands or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales." Sounds good, sounds dreamy, Sounds wonderful. No one needy among the people, but as Margaret Thatcher once said, the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money. It doesn't last forever.

It works for a while, but not for long. And slowly we begin to see some things creeping into Jerusalem. And if we're not careful, we miss it. But in Acts chapter 6, we begin to see some of the problems. Acts chapter 6, beginning in verse 1.

Now in those days, while the disciples were multiplying in number, there was grumbling from the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the Twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, It is not pleasing to God for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this need. Well, we will devote ourselves to prayer, to the service of the word." You see there's this daily serving of food. Why is that?

Well, because everybody had everything in common. It's amazing how we kind of miss that and kind of look over it, but this is exactly what was happening at Jerusalem. And now what you've got is some people are feeling left out. Indeed, some of the widows began complaining, grumbling, that they were being left out, overlooked in the daily serving of food. Don't get me wrong, widows are to be taken care of in the church and in all churches everywhere, but what I'm trying to point out here is that the issue was magnified in a socialist setting.

If everybody sold their lands, their houses, and had everything in common, now it's just one big food line. Turns into lines at the supermarket, and those sorts of things. You know, there's a big difference between our country and the Soviet Union, for instance. We had One of the Soviet leaders came here and visited our country, and he was amazed. The great amount of bread that was just there on the shelves.

He'd never seen anything like that, because in his country, they didn't have a lot of bread. What they did have were long lines of people who were waiting for a piece of bread for the day. Then they have to come back and do it again, waiting for handouts. Everything in common, all poor, depending on somebody else. That wasn't the only problem that was going on in Jerusalem.

There was another problem and that is the great persecution of the church. The church was being persecuted. Many were scattered from out of the area. And so as people began to move away and all those sorts of things, all these issues compounded on the saints at Jerusalem. The church grew poorer and poorer.

And so Paul, he knew about this. He's heading up this collection with the churches that he knew of and worked with. In fact, a lot of this goes back to his time at the Jerusalem council, but rather than going to Acts 15 and looking at it, let's go to Galatians chapter 2, where he recounts what happened there at Jerusalem. In Galatians chapter 2, beginning verse 1, then after 14 years, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas taking Titus along also, and went out because of a revelation, and I laid out to them the gospel which I preached among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, lest somehow I might be running or had run in vain. But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

But this was because of the false brothers secretly brought in who had sneaked in to spy out our freedom, which we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. We do not yield in subjection to them even for a moment so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. From those who were of high reputation, What they were makes no difference to me. God shows no partiality. Well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.

But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For he who worked in Peter unto his apostleship to the circumcised worked in me also unto the Gentiles. And recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship so we might go to the Gentiles, they to the circumcised, only they asked us, which is to remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do. And so Paul became aware of this or was reminded of it or was asked by the brothers there in Jerusalem to remember the poor. This was specifically about the poor in Jerusalem.

They had a problem, they presented it. They presented it to Paul and Paul took it and spread it out to the churches that he was working with out there in Gentile regions. So now you have the background. I hope this text makes more sense as we think about that. Jerusalem is struggling.

Paul has made a commitment, and so he writes to Corinth. In the midst of all their troubles, and in the midst of correcting all their problems he remembers the poor in Jerusalem. Now I know some men and I know some churches who say we won't take support, especially missionaries. They say we won't take support from anybody unless we agree with them 100%. Not only was Paul willing to work with the church at Corinth, but he was also willing to get them involved in supporting the church of Jerusalem.

So I say this to point this out because sometimes we need to swallow our pride. We don't know who God may use and how God may use it. Oh, that church at Corinth, blah, blah, blah. All the things that people might say about it, but here they've sent an offering to help out. What do we do with it?

Send it back and tell them we don't want their money because we've heard of all the bad things they're doing or we take it as a blessing from God. I say we take it as a blessing from God and use it for His glory. He writes to Corinth with three things he wanted, and by extension the Holy Spirit has given this to us. Three things I want you to see in this text as we dive right in. First of all, the call to give in verse one.

Then we'll see the pattern for giving in verse 2, and finally the accountability built in around that giving in verses 3 and 4. Let's look at each one. Verse 1 of 1st Corinthians chapter 16. Now concerning the collection of the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. Paul makes this transition, again, I can't point this out enough, this transition from eternity to the economics.

The work of God must be rooted in eternal matters. Eternity must come first. We've got to think about, set your mind on heavenly things, things above. But realize we do live in the here and now. Our focus as the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is eternal matters.

But as one of my missionary friends told me one time, it does take money to do the Lord's work. It does take money to operate a church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even here, thinking about our situation, us, small as we are, We don't have a great big gigantic budget, but we do have things that need to be taken care of. And without the support of God's people, we wouldn't have that. We don't go out and do bake sales or yard sales to get money.

We don't get money from the government. There's no convention somewhere that we're part of that we get money from. No, none of those things. There's money that's given to support your pastor, and I'm thankful for that. There's things like taking care of electricity and supplies for the church.

Depending on the plan and purpose of Almighty God, we'll either get our building back or we'll have another building, but that costs money to either operate an older building or to get another one. One of the two is going to happen. Besides these, we have an outward look, don't we? We have sermon audio, and that costs. We have literature.

Those things cost. It's not free. Most of this stuff isn't free that is down here. There's a cost to support the brethren, the missionaries. It costs to help widows and the needy and orphans.

When you give, the money you give helps with those things so the church can run more smoothly. I tell you right now, the money that the church gives me helps me out considerably. As I sit back and think about what my life would be without it, I could find another job, I suppose. But what would that do for time for sermon prep, for visiting with others, That sort of thing. So thank you.

But here's the application for this, this text. Look around you and consider, is there a church you know of that's struggling worse than we are, a missionary who needs support? The early churches didn't wait to be asked. They organized around the need. They organized around the need.

What would it look like for us to have that same kind of outward vision, not just having, maintaining what we have, And I thank God for what we have. We may not have much sometimes it seems, but thank God for what we have because when you consider like the brothers in Nigeria, other places in this world, we've got it made. Why if one of them were to come here and visit us, they'd think this is a wonderful place to meet compared to what they have. Just being able to meet without fear of persecution, That'd be a relief, wouldn't it? We take things for granted sometimes.

We really do. Let us actively look where we can be part of what God is doing. So verse 1 gives the call. Give. Give with churches in mind.

Not just me, myself, and I. Not just here at my church. And I'm not going to worry about what's going on in Jerusalem. I'm not going to be concerned about what's happening elsewhere, but giving with an outward look, a vision that goes beyond where we're at now. You see, that's what I'm trying to say.

Faith. That things aren't going to always be like they are right now. That God's gonna do something great with the amount of money that I give, even though it may seem like a little bit, but like the illustration of the thread in the tapestry, when we all give a little, it becomes something very, very beautiful. I know when I was doing missionary work in New Mexico, I had churches that gave me $25 a month. I had other churches that gave like two or $300 a month.

Some of those churches who just gave a little were some of my best supporters. They took time to pray, They took time to call, they took time to check in on the work. They were really concerned. Some of the bigger ones did too, but I'm just saying that it was all a blessing. A blessing.

So verse 1 gives the call, give and give with an outward focus. But secondly, Paul doesn't stop here, He gets very practical. He tells them when to give and how to give. So look at verse 2. On the first day of every week, Each one of you is to set something aside, saving whatever he has prospered, so that no collections be made when I come." The Bible is clear.

Excuse me. The church is to meet on the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, and this is when the collection is to be made. Some churches pass a plate, others have a box or a place to collect the money, and there's no right or wrong way in this. The pattern is given, that it's done on the Lord's Day. Under the law, in the Old Testament, you're required to give 10%.

Some argue that that principle continues even into the New Testament. What I find in reading the New Testament is this, that the principle is not a mathematical equation. The principle is that giving is to be free and discretionary. It's not so much about the mathematics of it all, but it's about the heart. Don't get me wrong.

You should give, but you ought to give with a heart that wants to give. It's not about the law of Moses, but about being in Christ. It's about giving because we know that there's more to life than just the here and now. Acts chapter 20, verse 35. In everything I showed you, that by laboring in this manner, you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that He Himself said it is more blessed to give than to receive.

You see, give and here's the thing about it, you make giving to the Lord, giving a priority on the first day of the week. You can't out give God. And you'll be blessed as a result of it. It is more blessed to give than to receive, Jesus said. This is what the wallet looks like in the New Covenant.

Much different than the world teaches. The world says, Give me, give me. Just look at how things are in our world today. The job market goes bad. Folks are not standing in the unemployment line and run to the welfare line.

You see. People coming across this border and people talk about we have an open border problem, no we don't, we have a welfare problem. People just want, give me, give me, give me. Jesus said it's more blessed to give than to receive. The application here is simple but convicting.

Is your giving planned or reactive? Paul wanted no collections when he came. The way I read this is that he didn't want it done in the moment of pressure oh the missionaries here let's give oh the missionaries here to present a need let's give He said on the first day of the week, each one of you is to set something aside, saving whatever he has prospered so that no collections be made when I come. He wanted this to be a settled habit that was happening weekly. That as they were receiving their income, however way they were getting it, that they were giving to the church for the Lord's work to carry on.

So that when Paul arrived, the church could then say, here, here is some funds that we've collected for you to take to Jerusalem. No need to take up a special offering today. This church here is a giving church. Our account is full. We were ready for this.

Here's the money we need. Here's the money you need. Here's the money they need. He wanted it to be that way, and that's the way it should be. But if your giving right now is mostly spontaneous, Whenever you come to church and you happen to think about it you see if you've got anything in your pocket, you say, oh well I've got I've got some spare change I guess I'll give that Or I've got a five dollar bill, I'll give that.

It's spontaneous, not planned. Not. Or worse yet, you don't give it all. This verse is calling you to something more intentional. Even if we didn't know another church in the world, even if we didn't know that there were problems beyond us, We all in this room know this church's needs.

Will you sit idly by week after week and not give a dime to the church, making money for toys and trinkets. Recorded the words of our God in Haggai. In Haggai chapter 1, verses 3-6, then the word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying, is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses while this house lies waste? So now thus says Yahweh of hosts, Set your heart to consider your ways. You have so much, but bring in little.

You eat, there is not enough to be satisfied. You drink, there is not enough to become drunk. You put on clothing, but no one is warm enough. He who earns, earns wages to put into a bag with holes. It's the God of the New Testament changed so much that we don't hear him through the pages of scriptures.

As he says, consider your ways. Consider your your ways. Consider your ways. Christianity is not a spectator sport. Church membership is not a spectator sport.

There are lots of bench warmers all around this world. Churches all over the country. That's all they do. They come to church, sit down, and leave. And they do nothing else.

Nothing else for the furtherance of the gospel. Nothing else for the furtherance of the churches. Where are the saints who will give for the Lord in his work. Where are they? This was the call that Paul gave out to Corinth, to Galatia, and all across the Roman Empire for the poor who were in Jerusalem.

Do we hide behind God's sovereignty and say, He'll sort it out? No. There was action that needed to happen. The people needed to give. And there was a call for it.

It's not only about money. Giving financially is important, yes, but there are things you can do that don't cost a dime on top of giving financially and along with giving. Things that though they're not Costly, they do help out with us being good stewards of what we've spent, and also with the furtherance of the gospel. So let me just illustrate a couple of things. I mentioned sermon audio.

We pay for it every month. $59.95. It's a good price for what we get for it. But is it meant to just be on the internet so that when somebody happens to find our website they can find our sermon? Has that been good stewards of it?

No. We need to take that, that blessing that it is, and share the sermons, the clips, the things that are there to others. What to others. What about the literature? The literature costs, but is it meant to sit in our midst Week after week, month after month, year after year, until eventually it turns so yellow we can't do anything with it, and we have to throw it away.

I've had to do that with stuff before. Give it out. Share it with people. If somebody comes in and they don't have a Bible, Let them use the Bible. We've got plenty up here.

If they're really interested, send it. Send it on home with them. I didn't buy these to just look good up here. You see? Let's think about these things and consider it.

As God says in the text, consider your ways there in Haggai. And as we look at 1st Corinthians chapter 16, we see this call that's been given to the church of Corinth on the first day of every week, not just some, but every week. If you made money that week, give something to the glory of God, the furtherance of the gospel, and the help of the church. Verses 3 and 4, 1 Corinthians chapter 16. He says, And when I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.

If it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me. Now Paul has told them the call, the need, the pattern, It's all been laid out. But there's one more thing. This is something that that we can't overlook here and that is accountability. When I arrive, whoever you approve, I'll send them with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.

Again, there's no postal service. I couldn't send a check by mail in those days. There's no cash app or PayPal, nothing of that sort. Couldn't wire the funds. Someone had to carry it.

And so there's accountability, but not just within the, not just just in the, well let me back up for a minute. He says, whoever you approve, I'll send them with letters. You see, there's church authority in this. We see that he's leaving it up to them to approve whoever they will to take the money onto Jerusalem. But Paul says, if it's fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.

Paul volunteers himself to go with whoever the church at Corinth authorizes. Paul was a busy man. I mean he was an apostle, he was a missionary, he was a church planter, he was a writer of the New Testament, much of it. Busy, busy man. He had a lot going on, but this work was important enough that he was willing to carry the money to Jerusalem himself if needed.

Jerusalem himself if needed. What's this all about? Was this a break from doing the Lord's work so he could go and carry this money? No. Carrying the money is as much the Lord's work as everything else he did.

Let us not be forgetful that the treasurer is as much involved in doing God's work as the preacher. You've probably never thought of it that way, but it's true. And so the application here touches everyone in this room, everyone in this church. Not just those who give, but those who serve in any capacity. Paul was willingly Offering Himself to carry the funds to Jerusalem if needed.

What will you do? What can you do? The treasure, the deacon, the one who counts the offering, that work is as much... The Lord's work is the pastor. And if you're serving in any of those roles, do it knowing that God sees it.

Give knowing that God sees it. And if you've never thought of Financial stewardship as a spiritual calling, Paul is telling you today by the authority of the Holy Spirit that it is. We have a great example in giving unselfishly. That is Jesus Christ, who gave Himself on the cross to save sinners, a people who had absolutely nothing but had a great need and no way to pay back. Jesus paid our debt that we owed by becoming the debt paid on the cross.

Understand, beloved, that we are to be a giving people and we must be a giving church. Like that tapestry in the example in the beginning, it can only happen when all the threads are tightly woven together. And in all of this, this is where we come full circle. Paul started chapter 15 talking about the resurrection. And now we're talking about money.

That's no accident. That is the Christian life. What we believe about eternity will indeed show up. It will always show up in how we handle what God has put in our hands. That's true of money, houses, lands, whatever it is.

The saints in Jerusalem were poor. They had a great need. Churches across the Roman world. Churches that had never met them. Churches that were separated by seeing and language and culture.

They gave and they gave anyway. Why? Because they saw something that so many people refused to see, and that is something bigger than themselves. Resurrection faith. Mark it down, understand it.

Resurrection faith produces resurrection generosity. It will show forth in your giving, it will show forth in your hospitality, it will show forth everywhere in your life. Jesus gave everything on the cross to people who had nothing to offer him. Nothing to give back, no way to repay the debt. That's the model, that's the motive.

Not obligation, not pressure, not the law, not a preacher thundering you from a pulpit, but a Savior who gave himself and now calls us to live like it. Will you? So I'll close with this. Paul told the Corinthians to set something aside before he arrived. Not in the moment of pressure, not out of guilt, but as a settled habit of the heart.

I'm asking the same. I'm asking the same. By the authority of the Scriptures, The power of the Holy Spirit, this is our calling. And so the challenge is, before Sunday comes again, Say something aside. Be purposeful of your giving.

Come prepared to give, not a reaction to a need, but make it a decision of faith. This is what it looks like to believe in the resurrection with your actions, including what you do with your wall.