Gift Day 2021

This Sunday, Rob Lea and Kat Morling bring us the talk in the latest of our EBC Online services. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

The talk will be available on our You Tube channel from 10am on Sunday ^14th November.


Readings:

Mark chapter 12 verses 41 to 44 (New International Version)

The Widow's Offering
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few pennies.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”


2 Corinthians chapter 8 verses 1 to 15 (New International Version)

The Collection for the Lord's People
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”


Acts chapter 20 verse 35

Giving verses Getting
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”



Prayer and Reflection
Lord God, once again we are thanking you for your amazing grace which was so clearly demonstrated by Jesus when he gave his life on the cross so that we could have the riches that flow from the forgiveness of our sins and from the promise of eternal life.

Holy Spirit, would you fill us with the desire to give sacrificially, so that we can excel in the grace of giving. We are truly grateful for how you have blessed us in so many ways. It is a privilege to share what you have given each one of us, and we pray that your wisdom will guide us as we use the money raised today to further your kingdom in Bracknell and Sierra Leone.

We ask this in the precious name of Jesus.  
AMEN