March 21, 2015 - Church at Worship

Sermon: "Coming Out Even" Part 2 – When You Give... - Randy Roberts

Pastoral Welcome: Dustin Aho

Baptism: Hayleigh M. Yeoh - Jonathan Foo

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:10-15, TNIV - Ella and Jessica Sabo

Note: Child Dedications and Baptisms are on the extras section of the dvd.

Sermon Notes:

Do you remember philosopher Immanuel Kant’s dictum of autonomy? We’ve talked about it before. Kant, a philosopher who is widely considered one of the central figures in modern philosophy, lived in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. One of his philosophic formulas was called the Formula of Autonomy. It goes like this: “So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.” In other words, when you make choices about what you’re going to do—such as, how hard am I going to work on this mission trip I signed up for?—act in such a way that if everybody on the mission trip acted the same way, would that be OK? Or maybe the issue has to do with driving. If everybody on the highway drove the same way I drive, would that be safe? Or maybe the question is about giving—giving to support the work of God through the church. If everybody gave the same way I give—if they gave to the same level of generosity—would that be acceptable? In the passage we consider today, Paul is concerned that those who are contributing to the offering he is collecting will do so in a united fashion. He doesn’t want some to be burdened while others get off scot-free. He wants there to be mutuality and equality in the giving life of the church community.

I pray for the same.

Randy Roberts

Senior Pastor