THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST - 2023 SPECIAL STUDY ON CORE VALUES AND RULES OF CONDUCT: STUDY 10

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST

2023 SPECIAL STUDY ON CORE VALUES AND RULES OF CONDUCT

STUDY 10: SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2023

 

MCKEOWN MISSIONS WEEK: OFFERING SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO THE CHURCH

Main Text: Ezra 3:7-10

Memory Verse: Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation – Philippians 2:14.

 

Introduction

One of the core values of ­e Church of Pentecost is for every assembly to be self-supporting. For this to happen, members are taught to provide sacrificial services to the church. Church history abounds with good examples of sacrificial services offered without any expectation of any financial rewards. Th­ese sacrifices helped to make the church effective and relevant in terms of numbers, congregations and impact on society.

In th­e Church of Pentecost, mention can be made of officers and members who have from time to time offered sacrificial services to the church. ­ese services include undertaking evangelistic outreaches with personal resources, offering labour services for building of places of worship and mission houses, donation of properties and monies, among others. In the passage read, we observe how sacrificial services and free will offerings, contributed to the rebuilding of the temple. We shall discuss ways by which we can uphold this distinctive attribute for the current generation and posterity.

 

Questions for Discussion

1. How did those from exile support the rebuilding of the temple? Verse 7, Ezra 2:68.

2. Which categories of people were involved in rebuilding the temple? Verses 8 and 9.

3. How does sacrificial service facilitate discipleship and church growth?

4. What are some of the benefits of offering sacrificial service to the church?

5. How can we deal with the hindrances to personal sacrificial services in recent times?

 

Conclusion

It is obvious from the discussion that offering services in God’s vineyard without expecting financial rewards is a legacy we must guard jealously. ­e exiles gave wholeheartedly and freely, offered labour services for the rebuilding of the temple. While we commend and uphold the importance of technical and skilled service, as the case may be, for a local church, we should the more make every effort to stress the role sacrificial service plays in promoting the Kingdom business.

Many have sold property to push the kingdom business. Others have offered their very lives to planting churches on hard grounds which have gloriously spawned many other local churches. Some continue to help with their skills and talents in creating the right atmosphere for church services.

Our fulfilment should spring from seeing God’s agenda of saving nations come to pass with or without financial rewards as the peculiar arrangements and conditions may be. Being chosen as a vessel through which God’s agenda on earth is fulfilled is enough blessing. Ministry is multifaceted, diverse and demanding such that, paying everyone involved in transforming our spheres with Kingdom values would be impossible. For this reason, voluntary service should be encouraged at all levels. 

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