Speaker: Pastor Mike Mannes
The Sermon on the Mount
“Some of the most expensive houses in the world stand there on the shore of the Pacific Ocean… and what are they built on? Well, they’re built on the sand.
So they put it there in the sand and then they dig deep, until they get to a firm foundation.
And then they build that house on the
.
How Do We Dig Deeper?
We reject the superficial and we dig deeper - Spiritual Practices:
Fasting
you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done
in secret, will you.
Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting is rejecting the superficial and saying to your body:
“You’re not the of me.”
Fasting rejects the notion that food can
me.
Frugality
A cheapskate is somebody who lives a closed-fisted life, and says no to
else around them.
A frugal person is someone who, from time to time, is willing to say no to
.
(when thinking about making a purchase that will meet my desire for luxury, status or purpose.)
Frugality rejects the superficial and
rejects the notion that
can truly satisfy me.
“Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
Luke 12:15
Sacrifice
Sacrifice is saying to God, when God asks me to step out in generosity.
“The truth is that this poor widow gave
to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—
she gave her .”
Mark 12
Sacrifice rejects the superficial notion
that money me (God made me!)
The Tithe
The tithe says you understand that everything you get comes from God,
and you bring back the first
of what He’s given you, to the church.
A Tenth:
If you get $100, you bring back
$. A sacrificial level of trust… because we actually believe that the local church is the hope of the world.
“If I had a little bit more, then I’d give.”
Statistically speaking in Canada,
the you make, the
you give.
“The Tithe is an Old Testament thing, not a New Testament thing.”
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus raises the bar in every area of our life.
He said “You’re more when you give than when you receive…” so why in the world would He say but I don’t want THIS culture to be blessed.
What does it mean for you to be sacrificial in your giving this week?
Start this week and give for the first time?
Turn your giving into 10% tithing?
Make the tithe your baseline and try giving over and above?
Why would we wait? He’s faithful.
Text Give to 604-670-3040 or visit the giving desk after the service.