Habits of a healthy church: ‘A healthy church is a generous church’

Now we're going to continue our series, thinking about habits of a healthy church from the

book of Acts.

Our third habit is that of giving.

And we're going to see that a healthy church is a generous church.

Again, we've got a few texts that we will look at together to show us this truth.

Let me begin by making a statement, I suppose, that Christians, as we read in the Bible,

are called to give generously and joyfully, to support God's work, and to provide for

the needy in response to God's generous grace in Christ.

And what we'll see as we look at the book of Acts, as we look at the New Testament and

the Old Testament, is that giving is a gospel issue.

In light of the fact that the Father, in his loving kindness, has given us his Son to be

our Savior, that Jesus has come and he's left the glory of heaven to become one of us, has

given his life to be our Savior, that the Father and the Son have given us eternal life and given

us the Spirit to live in our hearts.

That's our motivation for generous giving.

So God's grace fuels our generosity.

Jesus said our giving is a heart issue.

Remember in the Sermon on the Mount, he talked about where our treasure is.

That's where our heart will be also.

So that money can be a barrier to our worship.

Jesus would say that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is

for a rich man to enter the kingdom.

But our money can also be a way that we show that we have been changed by God's love and

it can be a way to bless others.

That we can use money to serve other people.

So the way that we spend, the way that we consume, the Bible would say, is a matter of

the heart.

Two letters to talk about before we get to the book of Acts.

The first from the early 4th century, Emperor Julian, who was no friend of the Christian

faith.

He said this, there's a little bit of his letter up there.

He said, when it came about that the poor were neglected by the pagan priests, the Christians

observed this fact and devoted themselves to philanthropy.

They support not only their own poor, but ours as well.

All men see that our people lack aid from us.

And it's really interesting to look at the early centuries of the Christian church and

how one of the major reasons, I think, why it had such an impact within the Roman Empire

was the fact that not only was the Christian community caring for themselves, they were also

caring for others.

Where the pagan priests were failing, the Christians were caring.

Second, mercy and mission went together from the earliest days of the Christian church.

Second letter, much closer to home, from Manuel, Manuel Reanu, who we support in our mission

support fund just last month in March.

Another example, lovely example of God's providence.

So he was talking to a young pastor, anxious pastor, wondering how he was going to look after

his family with a very unstable income working for the church.

And so he was asking Manuel for advice.

Should he leave his calling in order to seek a more stable source of income?

And Manuel's advice was to trust that God would provide for his daily needs and for what his

family needed, that he shouldn't set aside his calling, but rather he should continue to pastor

and he should trust God to provide.

And then Manuel said 20 minutes after that chat, he got an email from us as a church to tell him that

we were just beginning to provide financial support for Manuel month after month.

And this is what Manuel said.

He said this was for him a divine confirmation of God's constant generous care.

God caring as people give.

Let's get into the book of Acts together.

We're going to go back to that passage that we've been in a few times.

Acts chapter 2, verses 42 to 45.

Acts 2:42–45

We'll find the words are up on our screen.

To think about this idea that giving, the giving of Christians expresses fellowship.

Acts 2, verse 42.

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves, these first Christians who were converted after Peter preached at Pentecost,

they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

All the believers were together and had everything in common.

They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

So this first church, as we thought about before, they're devoted to fellowship.

And one way they expressed it was in this generous sharing.

It's that kind of mindset.

What's mine is yours.

When you read the Gospels, we discover that Jesus had a common purse.

That was looked after by Judas to meet the needs of the disciples.

And it seems like the church continues with this mindset.

And certainly the wealthy are selling land and possessions and giving to meet the needs of others.

And so again, from the beginning, this unity that they have in the Spirit,

this unity that they have because they are the body of Christ,

finds practical expression.

That their fellowship extends to financial care.

It's a reminder, again, that from the beginning, faith touches our wallets.

So it's clearly impacting their spending and their consumption.

And it's also reminding us that from the beginning,

the Christian faith and the Christian church was a community religion.

They were thinking of themselves as a fellowship, as a body together.

And that was, as we said already, part of the power of the early church witness.

The sacrificial voluntary giving to care for the needs of one another.

And that is something that you can see still today.

Something that has great power still today.

Giving to express fellowship.

So because we had family who were serving as missionaries in the Philippines,

we got to know some different missionary families.

And there was this one family who were serving among a remote tribal group called the Mung Young people.

It lived up in the hills on a small island.

Well, they heard about...

So the Philippines is very poor.

And the Philippines also has annual typhoon season.

And so those really rickety, poorly put together houses often destroyed.

And so this church up in the hills and this island over here discovered that when typhoon season came,

it really impacted heavily on a coastal town on another island.

And their response, poor as they were,

was to get a boat full of rice and to send it to that island as a way to show care and support.

giving the only thing that they could in order to express their fellowship as the body of Christ.

The Free Church, a number of weeks ago, we decided that we would partner with Blysewood in their Ukraine appeal.

And I don't know if you've been keeping up with that appeal,

but they've raised over half a million pounds to date.

And again, what's going on there is that the Christian church here in Scotland,

through Blysewood, has partners in Poland and surrounding countries.

And so that giving is meeting the needs of the poor and the suffering,

and it's standing as a mark of fellowship also.

And of course, that doesn't have to just be in the realm of finance.

Think about what happens perhaps when a family in the church has a new baby,

or there's someone who's sick in the congregation,

and people make the time to make some meals and to deliver those meals.

Again, that's a giving that expresses fellowship.

So whether our giving is local or global, whether it's money or time or resources,

we need to think about giving and fellowship and that vital connection,

supporting one another as the family of Christ.

We see it here from the beginning.

In Acts chapter 4, verse 32 to 37, we see something similar,

Acts 4:32–37

but we also are invited to see what motivates their giving.

So let's turn there next, Acts 4, verse 32 to 37,

Acts 4:32–37

where we read,

All the believers were one in heart and mind.

No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own,

but they shared everything they had.

With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

and God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all

that there was no needy person among them.

For from time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them,

brought the money from the sales,

and put it at the apostles' feet,

and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas,

which means son of encouragement,

sold a field he owned,

and brought the money,

and put it at the apostles' feet.

So Luke likes to record summary sections in the book of Acts.

There's one, Acts 2, 42 to 47.

These verses here are another summary,

and what we see summarized

is the impact of God's grace

on this early Christian church.

Verse 32,

They are one in heart and mind.

They are one in Christ.

They are one by the Spirit.

And then we discover in verse 33 and 34

that God's grace is powerfully at work in them.

And how is that demonstrated?

It's demonstrated in the way that they are caring for the poor.

So God's powerful love to them through Jesus

in the good news of the gospel

is leading the early church

to then sell possessions

to care for the needy.

So there's a connection between

the work of God in Jesus

and their work of caring for their poor.

And there's a wonderful impact here

as we think of their words and testimony

to the risen Lord Jesus

in verse 33.

They're continuing to testify powerfully

to the reality that Jesus died

and rose again for them,

giving them new life and salvation.

And there's powerful deeds and service

as these wealthy believers

are sacrificing for the sake of others.

Just as we thought about with Zacchaeus

in the book of Luke.

God's grace fueling generous sacrificial giving.

These early Christians,

they understand that the impact

of the truth of the gospel,

that Jesus loved me and gave himself for me,

and that's clearly transforming their hearts

and motivating generosity.

That's something that we see

whenever Jesus changed people's lives.

Like Luke chapter 7, verse 36 to 50

Luke 7:36–50

is a wonderful example.

The sinful woman who anoints Jesus with perfume.

That perfume recognized by scholars

most likely representing her life savings.

And there it is smashed and poured

at the feet of Jesus

in response to the extravagant grace

that she had received

from her Savior and Lord.

As Jesus said,

I tell you,

her many sins have been forgiven

as her great love has shown.

So there is a principle

that is established here

connected to our giving.

Before we give,

as we give,

as we consider our giving,

we meditate and reflect first

on God's giving to us

of the Lord Jesus.

That we would allow that

to be shaping our heart

and shaping then

our response

of giving.

We can continue

to Acts chapter 6

Acts 6 · chapter mention

and verses 1 to 7.

And again,

we see the church active

in caring for the poor.

But this time,

with a slightly different focus,

let's think about giving

as mercy ministry.

Acts chapter 6,

Acts 6:1–7

verse 1 to 7.

In those days,

when the number of disciples

was increasing,

the Hellenistic Jews,

among them,

complained against

the Hebraic Jews

because their widows

were being overlooked

in the daily distribution

of food.

So the twelve gathered

all the disciples together

and said,

it would not be right

for us to neglect

the ministry of the word of God

in order to wait on tables.

Brothers and sisters,

choose seven men

from among you

who are known to be full

of the Spirit

and wisdom.

We will turn this responsibility

over to them

and will give our attention

to prayer

and the ministry of the word.

This proposal

pleased the whole group.

They chose Stephen,

a man full of faith

and of the Holy Spirit,

also Philip,

Prochorus,

Nicanor,

Timon,

Parmenas,

and Nicholas from Antioch,

a convert to Judaism.

They presented these men

to the apostles

who prayed

and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God spread.

The number of disciples

in Jerusalem

increased rapidly

and a large number

of priests

became obedient

to the faith.

So here we're invited

to see some tensions

emerging

in the early church.

We know that there are

large numbers

of new Christians

and many of them

are needy.

And so these two

groups of widows

from different cultures

and the minority group,

the Hellenistic

Greek culture

widows,

are being overlooked.

Not necessarily

deliberately,

it could just be

force of numbers.

But what's happening here

is that poor administration

and organization

is leading to grumbling

and is indeed a threat

to the unity

of this early church.

And so how do

the apostles

respond?

Verse 2,

it would not be right

for us

to neglect

the ministry

of the word of God

in order to wait

on tables.

Now it's important

not to imagine

that the apostles

are saying,

well,

it's not any concern

of ours.

It's not a priority

for us.

They're saying

it is a priority

for the church

and that's clear

because they want

to organize,

to administer.

They're just saying

it's not our priority.

What's their priority

for the apostles?

Verse 4,

we will give our attention

to prayer

and the ministry

of the word.

That's their primary calling,

to teach,

to preach,

to pray.

And so what they do

is they ask the church

to appoint servants.

We often look at this text

to give the basis

for the office

of deacon.

And these seven,

interestingly,

many of whom

have Greek names,

perhaps coming

from a Hellenistic

background themselves,

these seven are chosen

to oversee

this mercy ministry

to make sure

that none of the widows

are being overlooked.

God orders,

commands his church

to care for the widows

and the orphans

and so these seven

are appointed

to make sure

that that happens.

Verse 3 is interesting.

Brothers and sisters,

choose seven men

from among you

who are known

to be full

of the Spirit

and wisdom.

The church needed

men filled with the Spirit,

men of wisdom,

both for the pastoral ministry

and the preaching ministry

and the practical ministry

within the church.

And Luke records for us

the outcome

when each focuses

as they are gifted.

Verse 7,

the word of God spread

and the number of disciples

increased rapidly.

So the apostles

continue to preach

and teach

and then

these deacons

help to make sure

that the practical needs

are being met

and the church

continues

to grow.

people.

And just

while we're on

this text,

which is a really

important text

for a number of reasons,

but it's certainly important

for helping us

to understand

our own church practice

of elders

and deacons

and as we will soon

be ordaining

a new elder

and some new deacons,

it's helpful for us

to stop

and think about

how tasks

are divided.

And what do we see here

is that

the apostles

represent

the work

of the eldership,

that we are

committed to

words and prayer

within the church

and the deacons

support that work

by focusing

in a spiritual way

on practical ministry.

And that includes

making sure

that the needs

of others are met,

that we are

well organized,

that we can be

caring for one another

as a church family.

And so perhaps

even as we think

about ordaining

new people,

it's a reminder

that we can be

praying for our elders

and for our deacons,

that we would have

these two focuses,

foci,

in our church,

that we would function

well,

to serve well.

But giving is

a mercy ministry.

Perhaps some of you

remember meeting

a guy called

Sashko,

a church planter

working in Poland.

He came to our

weekend away

a few years ago

and I just got

a newsletter

from him

this week.

And so he's got

a very small

church in Krakow,

but they're taking

in a lot

of refugees

from Ukraine.

and so his little

church has

mobilized

and they're

providing meals

every day

and they've got

a children's daycare

center that they've

just set up

and they're taking

in clothes

and giving those

clothes out

and they're giving

family support.

And in God's

providence,

he's from Ukraine,

so he speaks

Ukrainian,

so he's able to

teach the kids

Bible stories,

he's able to share

God's word

with families.

And there's a

wonderful picture

there in Krakow

of God's people

both sharing

the gospel

and helping

people's

practical needs.

It's a really

biblical pattern.

And so we can

pray for folks

like Sashko

and many others

who are

engaged in the

front line right

now,

reminding us that

giving is a

mercy ministry.

The last text

from the book of

Acts that we're

going to look at,

we'll jump forward

to Acts chapter 11

Acts 11 · chapter mention

and verse 25

to 30.

This brings us

to the church

in Antioch.

So Acts chapter 11

Acts 11 · chapter mention

at verse 25.

Then Barnabas

went to Tarsus

to look for Saul

and when he found

him,

he brought him

to Antioch.

So for a whole

year Barnabas

and Saul

met with the church

and taught

great numbers

of people.

The disciples

were called

Christians

first at Antioch.

During this time

some prophets

came down

from Jerusalem

to Antioch.

One of them

named Agabus

stood up

and through

the spirit

predicted that

a severe famine

would spread

over the entire

Roman world.

This happened

during the reign

of Claudius.

The disciples

as each one

was able

decided to

provide help

for the brothers

and sisters

living in Judea.

This they did

sending their gift

to the elders

by Barnabas

and Saul.

So here we're

being introduced

to the Antioch

church,

a largely

Gentile church,

a church

that has been

well taught

by Barnabas

and then by Saul

solidly teaching

for a year

there.

The outsiders

were calling

them Christians,

not necessarily

a term of

endearment

but a sign

that it was

evident who

they belonged

to and who

they worshipped.

And to this

church comes

this warning

from Agabus

about a famine,

a famine that came

in the 40s AD

and their

response is so

interesting

because their

response is

that they are

going to look

to provide

for mother

church,

the church

in Judea.

And so

everyone who

gives as

they are able

and this gift

is to be

organized by

Barnabas and

Saul.

Now why

did they

choose to

give to

Judea?

Well perhaps

they appreciated

that famine

would be a

particularly big

problem in

that region.

Perhaps

they'd heard

that there

are large

numbers of

poor Christians

living in

Jerusalem.

We just saw

it in Acts

6.

Perhaps

they knew

that the

Christians

there in

the heart

of the

Jewish

nation

would likely

be cut

off from

Jewish food

distribution.

That was

what happened.

That's something

that we hear

today as well.

Persecuted

Christians will

testify living

in poorer

countries that

often they

miss out on

food distribution,

aid distribution

because of

their faith.

We're not

told the

reason why

they're

motivated to

give to

Judea but

nevertheless

they do.

Maybe it's

simply because

the Jerusalem

church had

given so

much.

The apostles

came from

there.

The gospel

emanated from

there.

And perhaps

they knew

that the

church in

Jerusalem had

been suffering

much in

terms of

exclusion and

would face

famine.

And so

their instinct

is let's

help.

Let's

not just

leave them

to it.

Let's

help.

And so

their giving

is an

expression of

church unity.

This church

in Antioch

who most

likely never

met anybody

in the

church in

Judea

aimed to

alleviate

their suffering

as a way

to promote

unity,

to put

their faith

into action

for the

sake of

the body

of Christ.

Christ.

I really

like the

way Ajit

Fernando

puts it.

So Ajit

Fernando

works for

Youth for

Christ in

Sri Lanka.

He's the

director of

that mission.

And he

says the

body of

Christ

mentality

should be

that when

one part

is pinched

we must

say,

ow,

that hurts.

There should

be a real

living connection

within the

body of

Christ.

Christ.

So whether

that's

Ukraine or

India or

Afghanistan,

whatever,

when one

part suffers

we all

suffer.

And as we

see here

from Acts

11,

it also

gives us

the opportunity

to give,

to look to

support,

to show and

demonstrate

church unity.

I think for

us as a

local congregation

it's one of

the reasons

why we

chose to

set up our

mission support

fund,

which just

began at the

start of the

year.

It's a way

to express

our unity and

to show love

to the

Reannels

over in

Colombia,

and as we

look to be a

mother church

in Galashios.

It's a way

for us in a

very tangible

way to

express church

unity and

commitment to

those very

different ministries

in different

parts of the

world.

John Piper

puts it this

way,

the ministry

and mission

of the

church is

at the

center of

Christian

giving.

And it's

what you

see time

and again

in the

book of

Acts.

Now we're

going to

leave Acts

for the

moment and

we're going

to turn

in our

Bibles to

1 Corinthians

the end of

chapter 15

and into

chapter 16

because here

we have a

really important

set of

principles in

this very

short practical

section.

Just before

this we have

Acts chapter

Acts 15 · chapter mention

15 where

Paul speaks

much about

the

resurrection

of Christ

and the

reality of

our

resurrection

bodies.

And then

in chapter

15 verse

58 he

says,

Therefore

my dear

brothers and

sisters stand

firm,

let nothing

move you,

always give

yourselves fully

to the work

of the Lord

because you

know that

your labour

in the Lord

is not in

vain.

Now about

the collection

for the

Lord's people,

do what I

told the

Galatian

churches to

do.

On the

first day

of every

week each

one of you

should set

aside a

sum of

money in

keeping with

your income,

saving up so

that when I

come no

collections will

have to be

made.

Then when I

arrive I

will give

letters of

introduction to

the men you

approve and

send them with

your gift to

Jerusalem.

If it seems

advisable for

me to go

also they

will accompany

me.

And so

just to

start there

in verse

58 he

says therefore

therefore in

light of

Jesus'

resurrection he

says two

things is hold

on to gospel

truth and

dedicate yourself

to gospel

work.

He reminds us

as Christians

that we have

hope and

purpose our

labour in

the Lord is

not in

vain because

of the

resurrection

and then he

immediately moves

from there to

think about this

collection that

they are to

give for the

Lord's people

and perhaps

we are to

understand that

one of those

labours in

the Lord is

giving to

serve the

needs of

others.

Five questions

that we can

ask in this

little section

that can help

us towards

five principles

for our

giving.

First question

why should

Christians

give?

Two reasons

we find in

here.

the first

is implicit

the second

more explicit

perhaps.

Verse two

on the first

day of

every week

each one of

you should

set aside

a sum of

money.

The first

day of

the week

the day

when

Christians

worship

their giving

was to be

part of

their worship

was something

they did

on the first

day of

the week

this new

day of

worship

a day

that changed

because of

the resurrection

of the

Lord

Jesus.

Verse three

I will

give letters

of introduction

to the men

you approve

and send

them with

your gift

to Jerusalem.

this is voluntary

this gift

it's the

language of

grace

not demand

it's a

reminder again

that our

giving flows

from the

gospel

act of

worship

response

to grace

Jesus

Andy

Stanley

who writes

really

helpfully

says

God's

extravagant

generosity

towards

us

compels

us

to be

extravagantly

generous

towards

others

so why

should we

give

we should

give as

our

worship

we should

give

because

of

grace

who

should

give

that's

dealt

with

here

verse

two

each

one

of

you

should

set

aside

a

sum

of

money

every

follower

of

Jesus

recognizing

this

church

like

every

church

is

made

up

of

rich

and

poor

mixed

group

but

if

Jesus

is

Lord

and

it

all

belongs

to

him

we

are

all

asked

to

give

as

part

of

our

faith

where

should

we

give

it's

also

dealt

with

here

and

this

is

interesting

there

is

that

reference

to

setting

aside

a

sum

of

money

and

then

the

church

collecting

it

and

then

we

discover

in

verse

3

that

it

will

be

sent

with

your

gift

to

Jerusalem

so

we

give

both

in

church

and

for

church

our

generosity

begins

with

the

church

family

we

are

to

give

to

serve

the

church

family

again

it's

a

reminder

of

the

way

that

generosity

unites

churches

part

of

the

way

our

Presbyterianism

works

is

our

financial

sharing

supporting

the

strong

supporting

the

weak

so we

give

in

church

and we

give

for

the

church

when

should

we

give

how

often

should

we

give

we

can

find

that

there

too

here's

the

principle

on the

first

day

of

every

week

so it's

a reminder

that for

Paul

in the

Bible

the

expectation

is we

give

regularly

it's

normal

and

ongoing

it's

not a

one-off

based on

emotional

appeal

it's

not a

one-off

based on

well I

happened to

get a

bonus

this

month

so I've

got a

bit more

disposable

income

no we're

invited to

give

regularly

how much

should

we give

maybe

that's

the

question

we're

all

waiting

for

and

verse

two

gives

us

guidance

there

each

one of

you

should

set

aside

a

sum

of

money

in

keeping

with

your

income

it's

interesting

isn't it

there's

no

percentage

set

in the

Old

Testament

they

spoke

of

the

tithe

but

there's

no

percentage

level

there

it's

a

helpful

reminder

that

then

and

now

in

a

mixed

congregation

people

have

very

different

levels

of

income

for

somebody

who

is

struggling

to

survive

10%

might

be

a

bridge

too

far

someone

who

is

very

affluent

10%

may

be

far

too

low

even

within

the

Old

Testament

when

there

was

the

tithing

requirement

that

was

always

just

at

a

base

level

there

was

also

free

will

offerings

there

was

also

first

fruit

offerings

so

there

was

the

floor

set

but

there

was

never

a

ceiling

set

and

you

find

those

different

times

especially

around

the

building

of the

tabernacle

and the

temple

the

people

were

giving

so

much

and

so

generously

that

the

priest

actually

had to

say

whoa

stop

we've

got

enough

and

more

than

enough

and

talk

about

a

tithe

but

there

is

talk

on

a

generous

joyful

sacrificial

in

response

to

God's

grace

to us

in

the

Lord

Jesus

Tim

Keller

the

pastor

in

New

York

made

the

observation

a

number

of

years

ago

that

this

side

of

the

cross

as

we

have

known

more

of

God's

grace

as

we

have

seen

how

God's

salvation

comes

to

pass

in

the

sending

of

his

own

son

Jesus

he

asked

the

question

of

his

church

should

we

give

less

than

an

Old

Testament

believer

in

light

of

greater

grace

that

we

have

received

how

much

should

we

give

we

should

give

in

keeping

with

our

income

that

then

becomes

a

matter

of

good

stewardship

and

a

matter

of

our

own

conscience

doesn't

it

but

what

we

can

see

in

the

book

of

Acts

as

we

see

the

church

grow

we

can

appreciate

really

clearly

that

a

healthy

church

is a

generous

church

and

that

makes

sense

if we

return

to

why

we

give

if

our

giving

is in

response

to

God's

giving

then a

healthy

church

is a

church

that

delights

in

the

gospel

where

our

treasure

is in

heaven

because

our

treasure

is

Jesus

and

it's

that

heart

and

it's

that

mindset

that

makes

it

easier

to

give

it

motivates

generosity

for

mercy

and

mission

let me

close

I guess

with a

word of

thanks as

well as

a call

to

reflect

because

as a

church

we are

to be

thankful

we're

coming

towards

the end

of

pandemic

thankful

that

many

have

been

generous

in

an

ongoing

way

that

God

has

looked

after

us

through

pandemic

that

our

finances

haven't

taken

a

huge

hit

and

a

dip

that

people

have

responded

maybe

giving

differently

than

the

past

finding

different

ways

to

give

and

so

as

church

leaders

we are

thankful

for

that

but

I

think

it

gives

us

a

chance

to

reflect

first

and

especially

as

we're

around

Easter

to

reflect

on

the

generous

sacrificial

grace

shown

to

us

in

Jesus

and

then

to

reflect

on

our

own

giving

is

it

a

response

of

worship

I

think

that's

one of

the

challenges

maybe

this is

just

me

but

when

we

give

by

direct

debit

it's

a real

challenge

is my

response

worship

or is

just

another

amount

of money

that comes

out of

the bank

at the

start

of the

month

is

my

giving

fueled

by

an

understanding

of all

that God

has done

for me

in

Jesus

the fact

that he's

made me

part of

his body

part of

his kingdom

and is

that

fueling

our

response

well

let's

leave

that

there

and

let's

pray

together

Lord

once again

we want

to thank

you

for

your

generous

grace

towards

us

in the

Lord

Jesus

we know

that we

do not

deserve

your

mercy

we do

not

deserve

to be

called