And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Mark 12:41-42

And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:43-44

Sacrifice An act of offering to Deity something precious To suffer loss; to give something up so that something greater may be gained

God doesn’t just want what we can give Him out of our “surplus God doesn’t just want what we can give Him out of our “surplus.” [no sacrifice] How much did He sacrifice?

For God so loved the world, that. He gave His only begotten Son, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

Romans 8:31b-32 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:31b-32

God doesn’t just want what we can give Him out of our “surplus God doesn’t just want what we can give Him out of our “surplus.” [no sacrifice] How much did He sacrifice? He expects a “sacrificial spirit” to characterize His people.

Now, brethren, we wish to make. known to you the grace of God Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,

and this, not as we had expected,. but they first gave themselves to and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Our worship this morning should cause us to think upon this important truth…SACRIFICE When we contribute into the Lord’s treasury When we gather around the Lord’s table When we open the Lord’s word

Therefore by Him let us continually Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15