Seed Time and Harvest Time-Sermon Outline 2/4/09

[ReggieG814]

Taught to Our Life Teens at New Light Church, Austin, TX 2/4/09:

Foundational Text: Ecclesiastes 11:4 “He that observes the wind shall not sow (plant seeds, invest, tithe); and he that regards the clouds (trouble) shall not reap (harvest, build wealth)”

Questions for the teens:

1. What do you know about the current economy?

2. Do you see changes in your own lives?

Articles (passed out):

Financial crisis may worsen mental health woes

Impact felt most in middle- and low-income countries, health officials warn

German billionaire kills himself

German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide after his business empire ran into trouble in the global economic slowdown.

In a statement his family said he had been "broken" by the financial crisis, and had taken his own life.

Mr Merckle ran up losses of about 400m Euros (£363m; $535m) last year due to wrong-way bets on Volkswagen shares.

He was ranked as the world's 94th richest person in 2008, and his family controls a number of German companies.

The 74-year-old's body was found on Monday near railway tracks in southern Germany. Officials said there was no evidence that anyone else was to blame.

And, the saddest one:

Murder-Suicide Snuffs Out LA Family Of 7 – this was an African American family

Murder-Suicide Snuffs Out LA Family Of 7

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27, 2009

________________________________________
(

AP) A Los Angeles hospital has confirmed that two of its former employees died in family murder-suicide in the city's Wilmington area.

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center West Los Angeles says in a statement that Ervin Antonio Lupoe and his wife, Ana, were former employees and the hospital is cooperating in the police investigation.

Police say Lupoe shot his wife, 8-year-old daughter, twin 5-year-old daughters and twin 2-year-old boys shortly before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in their home.

The hospital says in its statement, "We are deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of the Lupoe family."

Lupoe, apparently distraught over job problems fatally shot his wife, five young children and himself at their harbor-area home Tuesday.

Shortly before the killings, Lupoe faxed a letter to a TV station claiming that he and his wife had been fired from jobs as medical technicians and she suggested they kill themselves and their children, too.

"Why leave the children to a stranger?" Lupoe wrote, according to KABC-TV.

Luke 12:15 states "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

My next question:

3. How does God want us to behave in this financial crunch? Why?

Genesis 41:15; 18 – 20; 22 – 24 (assign 2 – 3 readers)

Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh: he will have 7 years of wealth SWALLOWED by 7 years of lack. What do we call what Joseph is talking about now? A recession!

Economist study business and commerce, they say economies go through prosperous times and recessive times on a cycle that last about 5 – 7 years. That witness is born out in scripture. There have been 31 recessions since the stock market crash of 1929 and 31 recoveries. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says “there is no new thing under the sun.”

I know in lessons past, we’ve talked about the importance of tithing. We pass the bucket every Wednesday – some of you plant your seed, and some of you don’t. For this lesson, I want to cover:

1. Why do we tithe?

2. What do we tithe?

3. The practical benefits of tithing.

Offering as an act of worship is from the beginning of man’s history on earth. Genesis 4:3 – 4 (reader): now note the phrases “in the process of time,” and “the firstlings.” Numbers 18:17 states “But the firstborn of a cow, the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat you shall not redeem; they [are] holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn their fat [as] an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the LORD.” In the process of time = the leftovers. That’s why Cain’s offering was not acceptable.

So, why do we tithe? It is a worship offering to the Lord.

Abraham gave a tithe offering to Melchizedek (Gen 14:18 – 20) and Christ is mentioned as a Priest after “the order of Melchisedec” (Heb 5:6, 10). “In order to give your 1/10 you must know what the other 9/10 is doing!” Everybody say “budget.” What does that mean? (Poll crowd) During the “fat years” of the nineties, savings was at an all-time low (negative). Is this something Joseph would have advised? No!

What do we tithe? Don’t bring up cows, sheep, goats into Our Life, please! How does that equate to your earnings now? Allowance, paycheck, a quarter you picked up, two pennies rubbed together, etc…

Spreadsheet example of the practical benefits of tithing (passed out). From my teenage years (16) to now, if I had followed this principle, I would have $185,433.92 at my disposal. You count off the tithe on your taxes as a charitable contribution; you also save 10% of your income versus blow it (like I did) and not know where it went!

Assignment to your seed: we don’t plant rose seeds and expect corn!

Habakkuk 2:2 “Write the vision and make it plain upon tables so that the people may run that reads it.” Isaiah 55:11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper [in the thing] for which I sent it.” As ushers, we see people assign their seed. We do NOT read them, but we see people boldly tell God what they want and have faith that He’ll bring it to pass. When you let that bucket pass without a seed: where is YOUR faith? Malachi 3:8 – 10 (all read)

In conclusion: we’ve discussed the economy; we’ve talked about the Egyptian recession recorded in the Bible and the fact that this is not a “new thing under the sun,” turn and tell your neighbor “don’t panic! We’ve seen this before.” I gave you a spreadsheet example of the practicality of tithing. We talked about assigning your seed a purpose. Some ideas: New Light Church, Your Parents, Bishop Hilliard and Lady Bridget; Pastor Reynolds and Sister Vickie: Y-O-U. Heads are bowed, eyes are closed...