Reading Plan
If you’re looking to dive deeper into what the Bible says about this topic, here’s a suggested Reading Plan, one passage per day for a whole week, based on the sermon:
- MONDAY: Luke 7:36-50
- TUESDAY: Matthew 5
- WEDNESDAY: Matthew 6
- THURSDAY: Matthew 7
- FRIDAY: Mark 12:41-44
- SATURDAY: Luke 6:38
- SUNDAY: 1 Timothy 6:17-19
eGroup Discussion Questions – Great for personal reflection/journaling, too!
Sermon Notes: “Now I Know Why” ⤵️
Preacher: Steve Furtick
Passage: Matthew 26:6-13
Title: Now I Know Why
Series: Available
Date: November 24, 2019
Matthew 26:6-13, NIV
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Introduction
- Last week we talked about “Yes”
- This week we’re talking about “Why”
- God loves to say “Yes” when you ask for something according to his will
- To heal your heart
- To comfort your loneliness
- To bless you (or bypass your request to bless you more than you can imagine)
- You don’t need to crawl into his throne room.
- In this passage, the question “Why” is asked two times:
- First, the disciples ask, “Why this waste?”
- Second, Jesus asks, “Why are you bothering this woman?”
- Answer a “Why?” with a “Why?”
- Pastor Steven shares a video of his daughter asking questions about Christmas trees. (above)
- I’m going to share my “Why” to help you find your “Why.”
- God speaking to us (specifically Pastor Steven) = Never out loud, but inside you, louder than out loud
- Giving is about getting to give back to God.
- Why do we give to God?
- We can give our time.
- We can give our money.
- I only preach about money a few times a year but I always preach about giving.
- Three reasons why I give: worship, wisdom, and witness.
A. Giving is Worship
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.
Matthew 26:8, NIV
- Worship = “Worth-ship”
- What is God worth to you?
- What the woman did was “too much” for the disciples (Matthew 26:8-9)
- Don’t judge someone else’s worship when you don’t know their warfare.
- Pastor Steven compares the energy and excitement that goes on at Elevation to the excitement that goes on when a team scores a touchdown in football, but notes that at Elevation, you’re getting something from the experience. He confronts those who judge the experiences (“the music is too loud”) to those who complain about his “screaming.”
- Everybody worships something. Why not worship the God who gave you life?
- John 11: Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead [Lazarus is Mary’s brother]
- John 12: Mary saw Lazarus dead and worships Jesus now because she saw Jesus raise him from the dead
- I don’t give because it makes sense. It’s my worship.
- You invest in what you value.
- Don’t waste chances to worship.
B. Giving is Wisdom
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”
Matthew 26:10, NIV
- “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [Matthew 6:21]
- It’s not just good to give.
- It makes good sense to give.
- Everything I bought has depreciated and I can’t take it with me.
- I’ve never regretted giving back to God.
- What is God worth? (This was probably Judas who said this. Well, if the price of the perfume isn’t good enough for God, what is?)
- Giving is both an act of worship and wise investment
- The people who first began attending Elevation years ago were getting in on the ground floor. Their gifts are why you’re here.
- Give what you cannot keep to gain what you cannot lose.
C. Giving is Witness
“Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Matthew 26:13, NIV
- Can you smell that? You can still smell Mary’s perfume today.
- Chapter 11 smells like death.
- In our world Chapter 11 means bankruptcy, but here it’s talking about spiritual bankruptcy.
- Chapter 12 smells like perfume. The scent of Mary’s giving.
- Pastor Steven asks those watching online to comment their locations and he reads them live to show that our giving has allowed people all over the world to hear the Gospel of Jesus.
- Pastor Steven also shares how he keeps a photo of each of his kids on the first day they “graduate” from eKids and began attending worship in “big church.” That is his “Why.”
- It’s worth it.
- What’s done for Christ is worth it.