At RUMC we find ourselves in the middle of what many would consider an uncomfortable situation. Our church is in the middle of a campaign – a debt reduction campaign, and it’s also the time of the year when we’re all asked to make a commitment regarding our stewardship for the year – how we will commit to giving back to God by investing with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.
Seasons like this within the body of Christ can be looked at as an opportunity to lean into God, to publically claim dependence upon him and put our money where our mouth is. Better yet – it’s a chance to put our money where our heart is.
But unfortunately, anytime money is brought up, for many of us it’s more like the fine print on the screen image (above) We say, whoa, money? Mind your own business! As a matter of fact, most Americans don’t want to see a connection between our faith and OUR use of OUR money. We think that churches ought to stick to spiritual things and stay away from talk about money.
But it turns out, there is literally no subject which Jesus (the head of this church) talks about more.
• 16 of Jesus’ 38 parables deal with how to handle money and possessions. Almost half!!! Obviously, Jesus thought money was a spiritual thing worth spending time on – worth teaching about.
• In the Gospels—1st four books of NT that tell the story of Jesus’ life—one out of ten verses, 288 in all, focuses directly on the subject of money. That’s interesting, isn’t it? The Bible talks about tithing—giving ten percent. The Gospels—the books about Jesus—tithe. They devote ten percent of their verses to the subject of money.
• In the whole Bible, there are about five hundred verses on the subject of prayer and another five hundred on the subject of faith. There are two thousand on the subject of money and possessions.
What we do with the stuff we have is important to God. To say “mind your own business” is just to recoil back into that selfish, safe place of ignorance – that’s not what we’re called to.
What we do with the stuff we’ve been given (talent, time, money, etc) – our STEWARDSHIP of these things is important to God. So as a church we’re going to talk about it. We will do it respectfully, and in a way that doesn’t embarrass or hurt – that’s why our Offering Boxes are in the back of the room during this service. Because we understand that how we approach money as a church can become a stumbling block for many people. So we removed that potential issue, by inviting you to go to the plate instead of the plate coming to you.
I’ve heard it said this way: “The scriptures deal with money matters, because money matters.”
One recent study suggests that Americans spend 75% of our time relating to money. That includes earning it, spending it, investing it, thinking about it and worrying about it. Money matters.
Jesus put it this way: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” In other words, where you’ve invested your money, you tend to invest your heart as well. So of course we’re going to talk about your “treasure” in church – we can’t just mind our own business. The business of the church is cultivating these hearts – and these hearts are connected to our treasure.
So we’ll spend a few weeks talking about different aspects of giving, of stewardship – and what we’re called to in these areas. Please don’t run. Don’t shut down and mumble, mind your own business – This, my friends, is our business. And I’m excited – because this is going to challenge us. People grow when they’re challenged – and I think we’re going to see some growth!
So we sang a couple songs: Hosanna (Hillsong) and Unchanging (Tomlin)
Our mission statement video was shot during the fabulous Fall Carnival the week before.
John spoke on the focus of the night. The idea that the secret to giving is that it cost you something. He shared the story of David buying a space to build an altar to God. The man who owned the space offered it to David for free, along with anything else he needed. But David realized how, though generous, the offer would take away from the purpose of the sacrifice.
David’s response to the man’s offer was this:
“”No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (2 Sam 24:24) He understood that a cheap and easy gift just wouldn’t mean the same thing. John spoke on that idea, and challenged us to consider the “cost” of our gifts – not just in the monetary value they have, but in how our sacrifice is connected to them.
It was also All Saints Day in our tradition. So we spent some time remembering those saints who went home in the last year. We lit candles for the church members who had passed, and people were invited up to light candles for other friends, family or loved ones who they wished to honor. It was very solemn and beautiful.
It was ALSO the first Sunday of the month, which is when we celebrate communion. So John segued from costly gifts right into Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for our sins. We took communion – served to each other (you receive, then turn around and serve the next person, then they do the same – very cool!). The band played Communion (Third Day) and I Will Not Forget You (Pasley).
We wrapped up the night with Marvelous Light (Hall) and hugs all round. It was a good night.
Here is our current prayer request list. (Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes.)
:: Jackie Anderson is still traveling a very rough road, but she did start receiving Disability!!
:: Pray for Louis Savor’s mother – she had a heart attack last week and is recovering slowly.
:: Pray for Christa and her sons
:: Pray for Lacy Thompson – she’s serving as a missionary in Ecuador until Thanksgiving.
:: Andrea, Amanda B and Randall F are all looking for new jobs – pray God will open up the right opportunities.
:: Pray for Sam Dills (and his family) as he fights cancer.
:: Pray for Tony S – his truck died – and he and Andrea are moving back in together. Pray God is in the midst of it all and provides another vehicle.
