Series: Stewardship
Sermon: Build this Local Church
Bible Passage: Exodus 25:1-8
I. The LORD wanted His people to build a dwelling place for Him
1. Let them make for me a dwelling place, so that I may live among them (verse 8)
a. So that the LORD would center Himself among them
b. So that they (the people of Israel) would center themselves around Him
c. The LORD’s presence among them was not His necessity, but it was their necessity
d. It is better for them to dwell around the dwelling place of the LORD
e. This dwelling place would remind the people of Israel the presence of the LORD
2. The LORD wanted His dwelling place (the Tabernacle) to be built with their “freewill giving” (verses 25:1-2; 35:5)
a. The word “freewill” refers to something designated for a higher purpose— תְּרוּמָה
b. This “freewill giving” is not legislated but it comes “from every person motivated by a willing heart you are to receive my offering” (verse 2)
3. The contributions that the LORD expected from His people were expensive, rare, and out of the ordinary
4. Everything they had was given to them by the LORD
II. The people of Israel responded immediately and generously (35:20-29)
1. Whose heart stirred him to action
2. Everyone whose spirit was willing
3. Men and women alike
III. The people of Israel gave so abundantly and generously that Moses commanded not to give any more for the building of the sanctuary (36:6-7)
1. Moses instructed them to take his message throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman do any more work for the offering for the sanctuary”
2. So, the people were restrained from bringing any more
3. Now, the materials were more than enough for them to do all the work
IV. The end result was that the LORD came down in glory to dwell in the sanctuary (40:33b-38)
1. Moses finished the work (verse 33b)
2. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (verse 34)
3. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (verse 35)
4. When the cloud was lifted up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on all their journeys but if the cloud was not lifted up, then they would not journey further until the day it was lifted up (verses 36-37)
5. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, but fire would be on it at night, in plain view of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys (verse 38)
V. Observations:
1. Building a dwelling place for God is a joyful and voluntary initiative
2. From master craftsman to weaving women, the skills of everyone are acceptable and needed to build the sanctuary
3. Giving to God one’s time, talent, and resources is a privilege
4. Giving is a believer’s attempt to appreciate who God is—it is the best worship
5. Giving is theological: the more you know Him the better you give
VI. Unlike in the OT, the NT believers do not need to build a physical structure for God, because He Himself is building His dwelling place—the Church (Matt 16:18, 1 Cor 3:5-9; Eph 2:19-22)
1. Every believer plays a role in God’s effort of building the church
2. They need to contribute generously their time, talent, and resources
3. Believers’ participation in God’s work demonstrates their appreciation of God—worship
VII. In 2 Cor 8, Paul teaches about Christian giving—he uses different terms for giving
1. “partnership” (8:4)
2. “willingness” (8:11, 12, 19)
3. “generosity” (8:2)
4. “abundance” (8:14)
5. “grace” (8:4, 6, 7, 19)
6. “love” (8:7, 8, 24)
VIII. General notes on “stewardship” (The position of the Crossroad Church)
1. The New Testament does not teach “tithe” for Christians
2. Believers do not relate to God by means of the Law, which includes “tithe”—the law of “tithe” is not for Christians
3. Believers must not give to God out of compulsion and also with an expectation
4. Giving is never legislated or forced upon, but it is spontaneous as a response to who God is
5. It is the barometer of one’s love for God
6. A third party (pastor or elder) must not impose it on the believers
7. Giving is learnt from God and it is a believer’s attempt to imitate God
8. At our faith-family, the Crossroad Church, every believer partners with God generously
Take Away:
Worship the Triune God with your time, talent, and resources because He is building our faith-family