BOGO

2 Corinthians 9:10-15

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%209%3A10-15&version=NIV;NLT

 Everybody loves a bargain! Maybe you’ve made a statement like one of these before.

    “My sister’s husband’s brother’s neighbor got me a great deal on my (fill in the blank).”

           “I bought these chairs dirt cheap at the auction house.”

 

My personal favorite bargain is a BOGO one, better known as Buy One, Get One. I’ve used that to buy Heath candy bars and mouthwash. It’s especially appreciated when eating out at a restaurant and you pay full price for your meal, but your spouse gets theirs for FREE!

 

Yes indeed, everybody loves a bargain! Even Paul said that the Corinthian believers were getting a BOGO deal.

 

¹² 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.          NLT

 

In this chapter, Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to make a generous donation to help the poor in Jerusalem. The verse above tells us that there would be two good results from the collection: people’s needs would be met and God would be thanked.

 

Paul was applying the principle of generosity to the offering. In reality, this principle can be applied to any offering of Time, Talent or Treasure. All three of these are a BOGO ministry.

 

After all, isn’t one of God’s characteristics generosity? He gives abundantly to us to provide for our needs so that we might provide for the needs of others. It doesn’t matter if it’s through the offering of our time, talent or treasure.

 

So go ahead and enjoy a bargain and give generously – BOGO.

 

 

 

 

Do You Make Everyone Around You Better?

“Kingdom of God is at hand”

Acts 3:17-26

  

Peyton Manning, at age 39, retired this past week from the National Football League. During his NFL career of 18 years, he set numerous records while winning five league MVP awards and two Super Bowl championships. Following his emotional speech, there was a huge outpouring of tributes from other players.

 

Perhaps the greatest praise of all came from Manning’s rival and friend, Tom Brady, who posted this on his Facebook page. “Congratulations Peyton, on an incredible career. You changed the game forever and made everyone around you better. It’s been an honor.”

 

In the passage today Peter is preaching to a crowd in the temple. No doubt, these are many of the same people who wanted Jesus dead. Listen to his words:

 

^25 “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ ²⁶ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”                        NIV

 

The initial covenant that God made with Abraham had to do with inheriting land and becoming a great nation with many descendants. But Peter was pointing to a far greater meaning. He was stating that ultimately Israel was blessed because God had given them the message of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

 

As a result of Peter’s outspoken preaching, Acts 4 tells us that, “the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand”. You might say that Peter was blessed by God, and as a result he was a blessing to others. You could even say, that he made everyone around him better.

 

As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you will have opportunities to be a blessing to others. You do that by investing in people’s lives; by ministering to those who are unable to help themselves; by sharing the Gospel in word and deed.

 

I have no idea if Peyton Manning is a Christian, but he embodies God’s promise to

Abraham; “You are blessed to be a blessing”. And like Manning, when you do that, “you make everyone around you better”.

 

Do you?

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%203%3A17-26&version=NIV;NLT

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Acts.3.17-Acts.3.26