Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

We Should Remember The Poor
Mark A. Copeland
INTRODUCTION
1. The early Christians demonstrated great liberality toward the poor, especially brethren...
a. The church at Jerusalem - Ac 2:44-45; 4:34-37
b. The church at Antioch - Ac 11:27-30
c. The churches of Macedonia - 2 Co 8:1-4
2. Paul in particular was engaged in helping poor Christians...
a. He was asked to remember the poor - Ga 2:9-10
b. He instructed churches on how to take up a collection - 1 Co 16:1-4
c. He accompanied such a collection to the needy saints in Jerusalem - Ro 15:25-26
-- It can truly be said that the early church did “remember the poor”
3. Today, some are more likely to revile the poor than remember them...
a. If someone is poor asking for help, they are assumed to be lazy
b. If inclined to help, the poor are expected to earn what they are given
4. Yet God has chosen to bless the poor...
a. In the words of Jesus - Lk 6:20
b. In the words of James - Ja 2:5
[Therefore a Biblical study on the subject of the poor and poverty can be beneficial, lest we fall short in
our duty to “remember the poor”. Let’s start with...]
I. UNDERSTANDING THE POOR AND POVERTY
A. THOSE WHO ARE POOR...
1. Includes those who may have absolutely nothing, or very little - cf. Mk 12:41-44
2. Also those who have enough to offer meager sacrifices - cf. Lev 14:21-22
-- One does not have to be completely destitute to be considered ‘poor’
B. CAUSES OF POVERTY...
1. Sometimes it is due to sinful actions on the part of the individual
a. Laziness - Pro 6:6-11
b. Refusing to heed correction - Pro 13:18
c. Pleasure seeking - Pro 21:17
d. Drunkenness, gluttony - Pro 23:21
2. Other times it is due to sinful actions of other men
a. Usury and extortion - Pro 28:8
b. Greed - Isa 3:14-15
c. Unfair labor practices - Jer 22:13
d. Oppression - Amo 4:1
e. Persecution - 2 Co 8:1-2; He 10:32-34
3. It can also be due to natural disasters
a. Plague, economic depression, war
b. Hurricane, earthquake, tsunami
Topical Sermons 365