Text Box: Jesus demonstrated an incredible ability to look beyond the actions of all these people. He was able to look at their attitudes and their intentions. He looked beyond the amount of offering they had brought and was able to see the attitudes within their hearts as they gave. Jesus used this observation to teach His disciples a great Kingdom truth. He called them to Him. Knowing they had seen the same things He saw, Jesus knew that they were probably impressed by those who gave the highest amounts. He knew that they probably were considering the highest givers as the most spiritual and the most blessed by God. Jesus went on to reveal an incredible and amazing spiritual truth. God was not concerned with how much the people’s offering was, but instead He was concerned with how devoted to Him they were. God was concerned with how much the individual loved Him, not how much offering they gave to Him. While the widow gave God a very small, even tiny offering of money, it was all the money that she had. For her the act of giving this money was an act of complete devotion and love for Him. She was willing, if not eager, to have been totally dependent on Him to provide for her every need. Clearly, we can see that Jesus teaches us today that when we give, God is not concerned with how much we give, but with what attitude we bring our offering. We should bring our offerings with a heart of love and devotion to Him. We should not base the amount of our offerings on how much material wealth we have, but on how much spiritual wealth and love for God that we have.

$Text Box: Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." Mark 12:41-44 In the Temple in Jerusalem there was a section called the Court of Women. Located within the Court of Women was the place were the Temple offerings were collected. In the Court of Women were 13 offering receptacles where people would place their offerings. These receptacles were trumpet shaped with large mouths that tapered down to the floor. Any individual who brought an offering was to place it inside of one of these receptacles. What would astonish most of us was the practice of actually giving the offering. The person or persons giving the offering were to stand in front the receptacle and audibly announce how much their offering was and in the event they wanted it to go for a specific purpose, they would also announce that. Talk about a public offering!$

Text Box: What likely became part of the practice was the ‘tossing’ of the money. Since all money in that day was coinage, not paper, it would have made some noise as it was put into the receptacle. So the larger the offering the greater the amount of noise it produced as you tossed it into the receptacle. There would have easily been some pride present when ones offering made enough noise to cause others to look over to see who had made such a noisy and voluminous offering. There was a required minimum for this temple offering. This minimum was two small copper coins, which were worth very, very little. While we might find it a bit incredulous that there was even a minimum that was required it is important that we realize that it was a very little amount. Also, this minimum was not instituted by God but by the men. At the last part of Chapter 12 in the Gospel of Mark we find Jesus sitting down near the place were the Temple offerings were given. He observed the crowds of people as they placed their offerings into these receptacles. He listened as people pronounced the amount and any stated desired use of the offering funds. Jesus observed many rich people put in some very large offerings. Instead of having His attention drawn toward these large offerings and their presenters, Jesus was captivated by the offering of a widow woman. Her offering made almost no sound at all. Her offering consisted of two small copper coins, the minimum required amount.

The Temple Offering

by Pastor Dave Bassett

Text Box: Building God’s
Kingdom Together

December 21, 2007

December, 2007 — Issue #2

Building God’s Kingdom Newsletter

Special points of interest:

· The Temple Offering

by Pastor Dave Bassett

· Snow Drifts

by Judy Bassett

· The Snow of God

by Pastor Dave Bassett

Rev. Dave Bassett is the pastor of Rosewood Lane Church of the Nazarene. Click the link to see the church’s website at
http://www.nazarene.ch/RosewoodLane
for info on the Rosewood Lane Church in Layton, Utah.
We would love to have you visit our church!

As I look out my window there is a little snow falling. However, during the night, enough snow fell to cover the trees again. The trees that were just bare sticks yesterday, with no leaves, and no sign of life, today are a beautiful wonderland of snow and ice.

When I look at the snow and how it covers everything and hides what is underneath, I think of how God’s love covers us and makes us beautiful in His sight. Christ’s is like a snowstorm. If we accept Him as our savior and turn our life over to him completely, He covers us with His love and makes us beautiful. He sees us as beautiful, pure creatures, even though we have sinned. Our past sin is covered and Christ sees it no more.

In a few days, the snow will melt away or the wind will blow and knock the snow off the branches of the trees. This too is like Christ’s love in our lives. The winds of life blow and the weather of life’s pressures might heat up and as human beings, we might sin again. Since Christ can not be in the presence of sin, that covering might melt away. All we have to do is ask Jesus Christ for His help and ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Without Christ’s presence in our lives on an ongoing basis, we cannot help but sin. With Christ as an ever-present help, we can resist sin’s pull on our lives.

[continued on page 2]

We would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! May God’s grace be with you this coming year and fill your lives with his perfect love!

Pastor Dave and
Judy Bassett