The Collection

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-12-2026

1 Corinthians 16:1-4

 

Introduction:

 

1 Corinthians 16:1-4  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  (2)  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.  (3)  And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.  (4)  And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

 

A.  Chapter 16 begins in a definitive change from the previous 15 chapters. 

 

1.  The first 15 chapters dealt with the carnality of a new church plant that was filled with babes in Christ.  There was confusion, division, willful sinfulness, and scolding by the Apostle Paul: reproving and rebuking. 

 

2.  Chapter 16 is exhortational!  Paul is following the command that he gave to young Timothy:

 

2 Timothy 4:1-2  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  (2)  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

B.  We find in the second Corinthian Epistle tremendous spiritual growth within the local church’s believers.  Where the first 15 chapters dealt with the self-centeredness of the believers, chapter 16 focuses on their love and care for the less fortunate.

 

1.  We live in days of “entitlement” mentalities.  People with their hands out for freebies instead of working and earning.  I will not spend time on them as the Bible says that man is to earn his bread by the sweat of the brow.  Hard work.  The Bible also states that the man who will not work is not to eat.  These think that it is more blessed to receive than to give.

 

2.  But there are honest, godly people who struggle at times.  This offering was taken for such as these. 

 

C.  Now, for the backdrop of chapter 16.  This letter to the Corinthian Church was during a time of great persecution in Jerusalem.  The church at Jerusalem was heavily persecuted in the days of Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) and continued long after his conversion. 

 

D.  Our Lord had commanded the believers in Jerusalem to go into all the world, and they continued to remain in Jerusalem in disobedience.  The Lord raised up an instrument of persecution, Saul of Tarsus, and allowed great persecution to take place which forced the believers to either hide or flee. Many chose to “go into all the world,” which was the command given to the church at Jerusalem through the Apostles.

 

Acts 7:58-8:3  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep…And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.  As for Saul,  made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

 

Acts 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

 

Acts 12:1-4  Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.  And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.  And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)  And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

 

1 Peter 1:1  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

 

1 Peter 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

 

E.  This persecution brought great hardship upon the believers in the early church as confession of Jesus Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9) was both a rejection of Judaism, which caused persecution at the hands of the Jews, and the Emperor worship of Rome.  Therefore, they were hated not only by Rome, who feared that their expectance of a King would bring about rebellion, but also by the Jews because acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord condemned the Jews who had accepted Phariseeism, a system of works, as their salvation.

 

F.  In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul had given order for a collection, a mission offering, to be made for the poor saints in Jerusalem.

 

Romans 15:26  For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem, which incurred the wrath of the most powerful nation on earth!

 

2 Corinthians 8:1-5  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;  (2)  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.  (3)  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;  (4)  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.  (5)  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

 

G. I want to look at this collection for the saints for a few minutes tonight and see if we can glean some valuable truths from it.  This collection was not the Tithe.  The Tithe is a bill owed to God.  It belongs to Him and to withhold the Tithe is to rob God.  Not me!!!  Prayerfully, not you!

 

1.  The Collection Was Ordered!  Vs. 1  “”as I have given order”

 

a.  The Collection Was Ordered Above The Tithe!  Vs. 1  (Many preachers teach tithing from this chapter, but it deals with giving, not tithing.)

 

1)  Is 10% all that God requires?  Malachi 3:8  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

 

2)  God can require all because all is His!

 

b.  The Collection Was Ordered In Equality!  Vs. 1  “to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye”  2 Corinthians 8:13-14  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

 

2.  The Collection Was Purposed!  Vs. 1 “for the saints”

 

3.  The Collection Was Planned!  Vs. 2

 

a.  The Time – the firs day of the week

 

b.  The Place “in store”  Malachi 3:10 called the house of God the “storehouse”

 

c.  The People  “every one of you”

 

d.  The Amount  “as God hath prospered him”

 

e.  The Warning  “no gatherings when I come”

 

H.  Every service, we receive God’s Tithes and Offerings.  Our offerings are in the form of Missions and are put in above our tithe on both Sundays and Wednesdays.  I count it all joy that Barbara and I have the privilege of giving offerings!

 

1.  Giving An Offering Is An Act Of Grace - 2 Corinthians 8:7  Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

 

2.  Giving An Offering Is An Act Of Obedience – Malachi 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. when the Lord speaks to your heart, do not be afraid to give!  (God knows what you need and wants to bless you.)

 

3.  Giving An Offering Is An Act Of Faith - Malachi 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (This bothers some people, but the Lord said to expect God’s blessing in return!)

 

Luke 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  (There is nothing wrong with expecting God to do what He said that He would do!  We do not give for this reason, but I fully expect the Lord to bless me bountifully!)

 

Philippians 4:18-19  But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

4.  Giving An Offering Is An Act Of Love.

 

a.  Love For The Saviour - 2 Corinthians 8:8  I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

 

b.  Love For Your Brother - 1 John 3:17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 

2 Corinthians 8:1-5  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;  (2)  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.  (3)  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;  (4)  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.  (5)  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

 

5.  Giving An Offering Should Be An Act Of Joy,

 

2 Corinthians 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

6.  Giving An Offering Is Rewarded. 

 

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

 

Acts 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

 

Philippians 4:15-19  Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.  (16)  For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.  (17)  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  (18)  But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.  (19)  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

2 Corinthians 9:6-8  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  (7)  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.  (8)  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: