“Christianity’s Impact on Charity and Giving”

Pope Francis with Fidel

Castro

Pope Francis with Raul

Castro

Pope Francis addressing Congress

Pope Francis arriving at the

Shelter

I. The Basis of Christian Charity and Giving (Matt. 25:33-36)

1. The Lord Jesus expects and requires us to give.

2. The Lord Jesus wants us to give for the right reasons.

3. The Lord Jesus wants us to practice benevolent or charitable giving

4. The Lord Jesus reminds us that our giving is ultimately to the all-seeing heavenly Father.

5. The Bible teaches that Christian giving is an act of worship.

6. The Bible teaches that Christian giving should be done in light of the incarnation.

7. The Bible teaches that Christian giving should be done in accordance with our means

8. The Bible teaches that the bounty of God’s blessings to us is connected to the bounty of our Christian giving.

9. The Bible teaches that Christian giving must be willing giving, from the heart.

10.The Bible teaches that Christian giving ought to be cheerful giving.

II. The Beginning of Christian Charity and Giving.

Development & Maintenance of Christian

Charity & Compassion• Created a diaconia that cared for widows (Acts 6:1-7)

• Furnished matricula (church lists of needy persons)

• Established common treasuries to aid the needy (1 Corinthians 16:2)

• Formed collegia, soladitates, or factionis (voluntary associations) to aid the

unfortunate

• Provided for orphans:-Godparents at baptism

(care for their orphaned godchildren)

-Helped solicited by bishops- Orphanotrophia introduced (buildings for

orphans)-Brephotrophia established (buildings for

foundlings)

•Introduced morotrophia (mental asylums)

•Established nosocomia, (first

institutions that served only the sick)

• Constructed xenodochia

(buildings that housed strangers, travelers and the sick.

• Operated ptochia (institutions for the

poor)• Introduced gerontocomia

(institutions for the aged)

• Established typholocomia (institutions for the blind

• Provided medical care by Knights Hospitalers of St. John

during the Crusades

• Provided health care for lepers by Hopsitalers of St. Lazarus

during the Crusades

• Maintained voluntary associations

• Passed child labor laws

III. The Benefits of Christian Charity and Giving (Matthew 6:19-21)

1. Giving Shows Love and Gratitude for Jesus Christ

2. Giving Builds and Sustains Christ’s Church

3. Giving Helps Fulfill the Great Commission

COOPERATIVE PROGRAMThe Heart of Southern Baptist Missions &

Ministries

73.2% World Missions MinistriesIMB (50.41%)

NAMB (22.79%)

22.16% Theological Education Ministries

Seminaries (21.92%)Library & Archives (.24%)

2.99% SBC Operating Budget1.65% Christian Ethics and Religious Liberty Ministries

ERLC

4. Giving is a Form of Worship

5. Giving is a Form of Fellowship

6. Giving Testifies of a Changed Life and a Concern for Others.

7. Giving Supports the Ministry that Supports Us.

“It is by divine design that local churches provide the primary

context in which Christians are to use their material

possessions to further the work of God’s kingdom.”

--Gene Getz