“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Phil. 2:5 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38

“To wish well” “A disposition to do good: an act of kindness” “A desire to do good to others.” James 2:15-16 “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”

“Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” Gal. 2:10 1 Tim. 6:17-19 ASV “that they do good” “that they be rich in good works” “that they be ready to distribute, “willing to communicate” 1 Tim. 6:18 ESV “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.”

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Prov. 19:17 ESV NKJV “He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.” “Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.” Psalms 41:1

Leviticus 19: And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.” Gather the left-overs

Deuteronomy 26:12-13 tithe in 3 rd year  Levite  Stranger - resident foreigner  Fatherless  Widow

Matt. 22:37-39 “love thy neighbor as thyself” Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Mark 14:7 “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good.” 1 John 3:17 “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

“Caring for those in need often serves the purpose of evangelism.” A cup of cold water may ultimately lead a person to the water of life A loaf of bread may lead a family to the bread of life Physical NeedsSpiritual Needs

“seek and save that which was LOST.” Luke 19:10 1.Preaching – Matt. 28: Edifying – Eph.4: Benevolence – Gal. 2:10 We feed the hungry because they are hungry. We clothe the naked because they are naked. We help those in need because God commands it.

Estimated that only 2% to 5% of budget on benevolence 1.It is expensive 2.It takes a lot of time 3.The abuses of our generosity

Child Care Matt. 18:5 “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”

Families Needing Help Pantry Go and shop Clothes Furniture Director Records of Benevolence

“Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” Matt. 25:45 “Is this the church that helps people ?”

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Evening December 4, 2011