Message Outline

Sunday, January 25, 2004

“Wealthy Servants”

Acts 3:1-10

Question:  How do we know that the transformational faith we experience in the “safety of the sanctuary” will hold up to the scrutiny of the “challenges and needs of everyday life?”

—  Peter and John were “interrupted” by a disabled man seeking   temporary   respite from his despair and poverty. 

—  How would Peter’s response demonstrate the true wealth that every  believer has to offer to people in need?

In this biblical narrative we see three facets to the spiritual wealth we, who are servants of Christ, have to offer to people in need:

I.  We can share our material wealth

A.  If Peter and John had possessed silver and gold, would they have given it?  Giving must be accompanied by:

1.  Wisdom

2.  Compassion

3.  Elevation

“Give a man a fish and you’ve fed him for a day, Teach him to fish, and you’ve fed him for a lifetime.”

B.  A long neglected spiritual gift:  the gift of generosity.

1.  See Romans 12:4-8

2.  “Gold and silver” has a vital role to play in Christian missions

II.  We can share our time and attention

 A.  Missions means a willingness to be interrupted from our agenda in order to introduce people to God’s agenda

 B.  Missions means it is incumbent on all of us to analyze the such as I have part of our lives

III.  We are each called and gifted for missions

 A.  Missions is not the prerogative of the select few, but the privilege of the gifted majority

 B.  Right now, you are carrying around something that is of enormous wealth and value for people in need.

 C.  Inner spirituality and ministry to one another is incomplete without the power of transforming missional service to others

Conclusion:  Look inside yourself and look around you.  How are we going to balance the necessity of prayer and the consistency of ministry with the transformational power of outreaching mission endeavor?