Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship: Alma 13:49–51
*Hymn: “I Have Called You by Your Name” R-10
OR “Take My Life and Let It Be” HS 408
*Invocation
*Response
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to
integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World Ministries
Mission Tithes. Generosity stories are provided to keep the church in touch
with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the peace of Jesus Christ.
Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information
as part of your offertory ministry. Visit www.CofChrist.org/generositystories
to print a copy, or contact your pastor, congregational financial
officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.
Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 162:7a
Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes
Hymn: “Santo, Santo, Santo” NS 43
OR “Yesu, Yesu, Fill Us with Your Love” HS 407
Prayer for Peace see
page 27
Hymn: “Touch Me, Lord, with Thy Spirit Eternal” HS 409
OR “Here I Am, Lord” NS 12
Reading
O scribe, walking around in long robes
whose prayers are even longer;
wanting respect in the marketplace,
wanting the best seats in the synagogue,
wanting places of honor.
Putting your large sums into the treasury
for the sake of appearance—
sums coming from your abundance.
(pause)
The widow has given out of her poverty
and so has put in the greater part.
—Mark 12:38–44 adapted
Sermon
Based on Mark 12:38–44
AND/OR Three Testimonies of Giving
If the testimony option is chosen, the following format is suggested:
Share the first testimony, then the congregation sings verses one and two
of “Lord, I Give You,” NS 32. Share the second testimony; sing verses
three and four. Share the third testimony; sing verses five, six, and seven.
*Hymn: “Just as I Am, Thine Own to Be” HS 421
OR “I Love You, Lord” NS 18
*Benediction
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Ruth 3:1–5, 4:13–17; Psalm 127;
Hebrews 9:24–28; Mark 12:38–44/12:45–50 IV
Exploring the Scriptures
Many followers today have heard the story of the widow’s generosity as told
in verses 41–44 of Mark 12. The richest meaning of this passage is discovered
when it is presented in the context of verses 38–40. An understanding of the
comments Jesus made just before he drew attention to the widow’s offering can
change the focus of the story from a theology of giving to a theology of
receiving.
In verses 38–40 Jesus tells us to beware of, or be discerning of, those who
would publicly present themselves as being righteous and God-loving, but are
actually ostentatious and self-loving. He does so by making reference to certain
scribes, but his warning applies to all who would act in that way. Jesus knew
that people who act in a conspicuous manner are often ones who believe that the
items they “possess” are things they “own” and that the ownership has come about
because of their own actions. People who believe this way may be good givers in
the sense that they give large sums to the church. But Jesus is acknowledging
that such people may be more concerned with how much they keep for themselves
than how much they give back to God.
Verses 41–44 present the widow as a contrast to the “rich people.” The
scribes in the previous verses were also set as a contrast to widows. While
there is not a direct statement connecting the rich people to the scribes, it is
not unreasonable to assume Mark is making a connection between them based on the
way in which these contrasts are presented. Those who Jesus described as rich
were practicing a theology of giving. They were giving freewill offerings for
the support of the temple but were doing so out of a sense that they were giving
part of what they “own” to support God’s work. They very well may have been
joyful givers. But in contrast with the widow, Jesus was suggesting they were
giving from a belief that they were the giver and God was the receiver.
The widow’s offering was from the opposite understanding. By virtue of the
fact that she gave all that she had, she was acknowledging that God was the
giver and she the receiver. Her gift stated clearly that she knew God owned
everything and she owned nothing. It was not so much that she was giving back to
God, but that she was relinquishing possession of what had belonged to God all
along. Since she had two coins, it would have been possible for her to keep one
of them for her own sustenance and give half of what she possessed. But her
understanding of the theology of receiving would not allow her to do so. She was
compelled to give all to God in recognition that God had given her everything
she had.
Central Ideas
- A theology of receiving acknowledges that everything we have (our lives,
family, relationships, homes, money—and the earth) comes from God.
- A theology of receiving calls on us to respond to God’s gifts by using
all that we have received to praise God.
Questions for the Speaker
- What must a follower do to be able to give themselves fully to God as
the widow did?
- A common phrase is “the joy is in the giving.” How can you change your
understanding of God’s love to feel comfortable saying “the joy is in the
receiving”?
- Author Leonard Sweet has said, “God is the owner. I am the ower.” How
does that relate to today’s scripture? How could such a statement influence
your personal discipleship?
- How does the Mark scripture relate to Doctrine and Covenants 163:9?
(Focus particularly on the phrases “Break free of the shackles of
conventional culture that mainly promote self-serving interests” and
“Eternal joy and peace await those who grow in the grace of generosity that
flows from compassionate hearts without thought of return.”)
