How the church handles money: Antioch serving Jerusalem
In this departure from the Sermon on the Mount series, Pastor Shane addresses how we at Cornerstone use a Scriptural model to practice financial integrity. Click here for the recording of this 4/27/25 Service, and you can fast-forward to 26:00 to get to the start of the sermon.
Our text: Acts 11.27-30
27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there would definitely be a severe famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.
29And to the extent that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 And they did this, sending it with Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
Introduction
I’ve lived through the Bakker and Swaggart scandals and have not forgotten their lessons - I fear others in my own tribe have, willfully.
The catholic church has paid out millions in damages from sex abuse cases
The southern Baptists have done the same
My own denomination, the assemblies of god, is in litigation over the chi alpha (college ministry) sex abuse scandal, litigation that will go on for years
All of this has left a bad taste in the mouths of the world, and the church
It is a wonder that people give anymore
The institutional church has always been racked with financial scandal- read church history, which is utterly discouraging, particularly prior to the reformation
The church today MUST be as transparent and forthright in their handling of funds, which is our focus today
To the text
The backstory is that earlier in this chapter, persecution scatters the faithful to Antioch, where they start to preach to gentiles/greeks, who then accept Christ in large numbers
The Jerusalem church sends Barnaba's to observe this, who encouraged the Antioch church to continue in the faith, then goes to Tarsus to look for Saul (Paul)
He returns to Antioch with Paul, where they spend the next year discipling the new believers
v27
Some prophets come down to Antioch from Jerusalem
These were people who
forth-told, and sometimes
foretold,
under the direction of the holy spirit
This is a biblically legitimate role, and for today, according to Paul in Eph 4
v28
The prophet agabus foretells of a famine which is about to come
Luke places this famine during the reign of Claudius
v29
Each of the disciples (mathetes, learners) determined what they could give, and gave it for the ministry of the Jerusalem church
V30
THE OFFERING WAS SENT BACK WITH BARNABAS AND SAUL(PAUL) TO THE ELDERS AT THE JERUSALEM CHURCH
From secure people, with secure people, to secure people
How we put this into practice here at Cornerstone
THE FINANCIAL BACKBONE OF ANY CHURCH ARE THE TITHES (10% OF ONE’S INCOME) AND THE OFFERINGS- if just 50%...
THIS HAS TO BE TAUGHT AND MODELED FROM PARENT TO CHILD, FROM PASTOR TO DISCIPLE
THE CHURCH AND ITS LEADERS DISCIDE WHERE TO GIVE, AND THE AMOUNT
BUILDINGS, SALARIES AND MINISTRY TAKE UP THE BULK OF THE GIVING, A BUDGET DETERMINED THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL
FROM THE TIME THE OFFERING HITS THE PLATE, IS COUNTED, AND THEN DEPOSITED, IT IS HANDLED BY MULTIPLE, VETTED PEOPLE
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY, AND PRACTICED ALL ALONG THE WAY IN #5
ANYONE WHO CALLS CORNERSTONE THEIR CHURCH HOME HAS ACCESS TO A MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENT AT ANY TIME- ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK; BRIAN, FINANCE, SHERYLE
THE PASTOR HAS NO ACCESS TO GIVING RECORDS OTHER THAN HIS OWN, DOES NOT SIGN CHECKS, AND ONLY ADVISES COUNCIL ON FINANCES WHERE/WHEN NEEDED- SALARIES OTHE THAN HIS OWN, MISSIONS, SPECIAL OFFERINGS, ETC
