Description

Guided Question

Does the way you use your time, talents, and money reflect an eternal perspective, or are you still living as though this life is all there is?

In this concluding message from 1 Corinthians, Dr. Robert Lewis examines the Corinthian church and finds a striking resemblance to the modern church. The Corinthians were athletic-minded, pleasure-loving, self-focused, biblically immature, and often struggled to bring their faith into everyday life. Their greatest problem was not a lack of teaching but a failure to allow biblical truth to shape how they actually lived.

Turning to 1 Corinthians 16:1–4, Lewis addresses Paul's instructions concerning the collection for struggling believers in Jerusalem. He uses this passage to show that money and faith are intimately connected: how we handle our resources can reveal the practical reality of our faith. The resurrection in chapter 15 provides the foundation. Because this life is not all there is, Christians should invest their time, energy, and resources in things that have eternal significance—especially people.
Lewis identifies five principles of Christian giving. Giving should flow from a conviction about the resurrection, be practiced personally by every Christian, be planned rather than pressured, be proportionate to what God has provided, and be handled with accountability and integrity.
Ultimately, the message challenges believers not to give out of guilt, manipulation, or emotional pressure, but out of a genuine relationship with God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. A living church will cost its people something—time, talents, spiritual gifts, and earthly resources—but those sacrifices become meaningful when they are made with an eternal perspective.

1. The Corinthian Church: A Mirror for Today
   • Worldly, self-focused, spiritually immature, and disconnected from practical faith.
2. The Jerusalem Church in Need
   • Persecution, loss of property and employment, and famine created severe hardship.
3. The Resurrection and Giving
   • The resurrection changes our perspective on life, possessions, and eternal priorities.
4. Five Principles of Christian Giving
   • Giving flows from the resurrection.
   • Giving is the personal practice of every Christian.
   • Giving should be planned, not pressured.
   • Giving should be proportionate to what God provides.
   • Giving should include accountability and integrity.
5. Faith and Money in the Real World
   • Christian giving should flow from the Holy Spirit rather than guilt, manipulation, or emotional pressure.
6. The Cost of a Living Church
   • A healthy, effective church requires the investment of its people's time, talents, spiritual gifts, and resources.
7. An Invitation to New Life in Christ
   • Salvation begins with receiving what God has given through Jesus Christ, followed by a commitment to grow in faith.

• The Corinthian Church Is a Mirror for Today
  Spiritual immaturity can exist even where excellent biblical teaching is available. Faith must move from knowledge into everyday life.
• The Resurrection Changes How We Live
  Because this life is not all there is, believers should invest their resources in what has eternal value rather than living only for present pleasures.
• Giving Is an Expression of Faith
  Our use of money can reveal whether our faith is genuinely influencing our practical lives.
• Giving Is for Every Christian
  Paul says, "each one of you," making giving a personal responsibility rather than something reserved for a particular group.
• Giving Should Be Planned, Not Pressured
  Biblical giving is intended to become a deliberate, consistent practice rather than a response to emotional manipulation or guilt.
• Giving Should Be Proportionate
  Christians are called to give according to how God has provided, with the Holy Spirit guiding their decisions rather than relying merely on an external percentage.
• Giving Requires Accountability
  Paul establishes safeguards for the Jerusalem offering, demonstrating that Christian stewardship should be transparent and above reproach.
• A Living Church Will Cost Something
  If the church is going to be effective in the real world, its people must be willing to invest their time, talents, spiritual gifts, and resources.

• 1 Corinthians 15:32, 58 — The resurrection gives life an eternal perspective.
• 1 Corinthians 16:1–4 — Giving for believers in need should be personal, planned, proportionate, and accountable.
• Acts 2 — The Jerusalem church experienced remarkable growth after Pentecost.
• Hebrews — Persecuted believers were encouraged to remain faithful despite loss and hardship.
• 2 Corinthians 9 — The Corinthians' commitment to help Jerusalem required continued follow-through.
• John 16:13 — The Holy Spirit guides believers into truth.
• Ephesians 1:3 — God has blessed believers with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Recorded 11.28.82