November 30th, 2025
The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!
Part 4: The Power of a Cheerful Heart
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
November 30, 2025
Memory Verse:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
Proverbs 17:22 NLT
Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Happy Thanksgiving Church! Today we are in week four and the conclusion of our series I entitled "The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!" In this series we are going to study the importance of making the right offering to the Lord. Holy, pleasing, and acceptable to Him.
A lot has been said about what is the right way of giving to the Lord. Is it by tithing or giving 10% of all of your income? Or is it really just based on what you set in your heart to give? Whatever or however you choose to give what is important is your attitude behind your giving.
Main Pointers:
“I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.”
2 Corinthians 9:1-5 NLT
1. A good offering is given not grudgingly but of a willing heart.
A. The apostle Paul commended the church in Corinth because of they're quick response when it comes to giving. Through them the apostle Paul gave us the lesson on proper way of giving to the Lord.
B. If you notice, Paul never brought up the topic on the amount of giving, but he concentrated on the attitude behind the giving.
C. “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
Mark 12:43-44 NLT
2. Decide in your heart and then give it cheerfully.
“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 NLT
A. According to the apostle Paul, giving is like planting seeds.The more seeds you plant, the more harvest will be waiting for you. This is the key to make giving a cheerful act.
B. When giving is done cheerfully the result is needs are always met and there's even leftover to share with others.
C. “Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.”
2 Corinthians 8:12-13 NLT
3. Generosity is a godly character.
“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving— the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”
2 Corinthians 9:10-15 NLT
A. Great things are accomplished when we become cheerful givers. First needs are always met and secondly God is glorified! Let's challenge ourselves not only to excel in faith and other areas of ministry But also in the ministry of giving.
B. “Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT
Conclusion:
Holy, pleasing, and acceptable this is the goal of our offering to theLord. May we give Him our best always. May we seek to offer to Him what is holy. May we please Him with our faith. May we offer an acceptable sacrifice our living bodies as an act of worship to Him.
Part 4: The Power of a Cheerful Heart
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
November 30, 2025
Memory Verse:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
Proverbs 17:22 NLT
Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Happy Thanksgiving Church! Today we are in week four and the conclusion of our series I entitled "The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!" In this series we are going to study the importance of making the right offering to the Lord. Holy, pleasing, and acceptable to Him.
A lot has been said about what is the right way of giving to the Lord. Is it by tithing or giving 10% of all of your income? Or is it really just based on what you set in your heart to give? Whatever or however you choose to give what is important is your attitude behind your giving.
Main Pointers:
“I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.”
2 Corinthians 9:1-5 NLT
1. A good offering is given not grudgingly but of a willing heart.
A. The apostle Paul commended the church in Corinth because of they're quick response when it comes to giving. Through them the apostle Paul gave us the lesson on proper way of giving to the Lord.
B. If you notice, Paul never brought up the topic on the amount of giving, but he concentrated on the attitude behind the giving.
C. “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
Mark 12:43-44 NLT
2. Decide in your heart and then give it cheerfully.
“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 NLT
A. According to the apostle Paul, giving is like planting seeds.The more seeds you plant, the more harvest will be waiting for you. This is the key to make giving a cheerful act.
B. When giving is done cheerfully the result is needs are always met and there's even leftover to share with others.
C. “Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.”
2 Corinthians 8:12-13 NLT
3. Generosity is a godly character.
“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving— the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”
2 Corinthians 9:10-15 NLT
A. Great things are accomplished when we become cheerful givers. First needs are always met and secondly God is glorified! Let's challenge ourselves not only to excel in faith and other areas of ministry But also in the ministry of giving.
B. “Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT
Conclusion:
Holy, pleasing, and acceptable this is the goal of our offering to theLord. May we give Him our best always. May we seek to offer to Him what is holy. May we please Him with our faith. May we offer an acceptable sacrifice our living bodies as an act of worship to Him.
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