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Life Giving

Life Giving. Giving starts with God Giving is at the heart of God’s character. “God gives what God is – his life. The gift is not a substitute for God. It is God, God in motion, God in action.” Rowan Williams

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Life Giving

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  1. Life Giving • Giving starts with God • Giving is at the heart of God’s character. • “God gives what God is – his life. The gift is not a substitute for God. It is God, God in motion, God in action.” Rowan Williams • Jesus giving his life for us is the ultimate demonstration of God’s generosity and grace “For God so loved the world that he gave…….”John 3:16a

  2. God’s giving provokes ourthanksgiving • All that we have, and allthat we are originate in God’s generosity. • In what ways have you expressed your thanks forall that God has given you? ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.’ Psalm 118:1

  3. Giving for Life Giving Throughout Life, A Journey of Generosity

  4. Giving throughout Life • Life is a journey • As with many aspects of discipleship, many Christians find that they are on journey when it comes to giving. “But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving’ 2 Cor 8:7

  5. Four words underpin our thinking…. Discipleship Mission Generosity Lifestyle

  6. But it doesn’t just happen… • We need to reflect regularly on what enables us to be generous, and what prevents us. • Where are you on yourjourney of generous giving? ‘Becoming a Christian ….. is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.’ Billy Graham

  7. Giving for Life A Framework For Generosity • a priority – assessed in relation to all of our income, and not simply the spare change after all other needs have been satisfied. (e.g. Deut 26.2-3, 1 Cor 16.2, 2 Cor 8.5) • prayerful – an act of worship and thanksgiving. (e.g. 1 Chron 29.10-14) • planned – but not prescriptive, and allowing spontaneous generosity. (e.g. 2 Cor 9.7)

  8. Giving for Life • proportionate – a realistic proportion of our income. (e.g. 1 Cor 16.2, 2 Cor 8.11-13) • given in community – both for the needs of others, and given with others for a common purpose. (e.g. Acts 2.42-47, 2 Cor 8.13,14). The act of giving shifts our focus from individual wants to a communal need, demonstrating solidarity with the poor and a commitment to working together in mission.

  9. Giving for Life • sacrificial – in that there is a cost to our giving. As a result, we will have less to spend on ourselves, and our lifestyles will reflect this. Those who have more to give, will give more. (e.g. Luke 21.1-4, 2 Cor 8.2-4) • cheerfully and joyfully given – whether giving of money, time or hospitality, we give with grace from the heart, as an offering to God. (e.g. 2 Cor 9.7,8)

  10. Giving for Life The scope of Christian giving is not just financial giving but how we use the money, time, talents and possessions God has entrusted to us. Generous giving should become second nature to us, and as it becomes so, our living and our giving are transformed to start to resemble the overflowing generosity of God. This is ‘Giving for Life'.

  11. We have some deeply ingrained habits!

  12. Giving for Life Our Giving Gives Life

  13. Giving Life • When we give, we give life. • Regular giving enables the life and mission of the Church • Giving time and hospitality transmits love and compassion. • Giving to church and to charities enables new life, new vision, new hope. “Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace.” Mother Theresa

  14. Two yardsticks….. • Do we give regularly? • Do we give generously? ‘On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income,’ 1 Cor 16:2

  15. Giving For Life 2 Corinthians 9:6-14 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

  16. Giving For Life our giving brings blessing to others, we are challenged to give in response to God’s generosity to us, rather than in expectation of what we might receive in return.

  17. Giving For Life Giving In All Of Life

  18. Four words underpin our thinking…. Discipleship Mission Generosity Lifestyle

  19. Giving in all of Life • We are challenged to be generous in every aspect of our lives. • Not just about giving of money, but including the giving of money. • Also hospitality, time, skills….. at home, at work, in church. • Giving is the outworking of faith. “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” Amy Carmichael, Missionary to India

  20. Giving For Life “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” Amy Carmichael, Missionary to India ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’ Winston Churchill “Give what you have. To someone it may be better than you dare to think.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-82), American writer and poet

  21. Giving For Life “Dearest lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost.” — Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), Jesuit founder “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” Edmund Burke “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Mother Teresa

  22. Giving For Life 2 Corinthians 8:7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving

  23. Giving For Life James 2:14-17   What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

  24. Where should I focus? • In which area do you find it easiest to give? • Which area do you need to work at? ‘We make a living by what we get, but we makea life by what we give.’ Winston Churchill

  25. What can I do? • Give thanks • Give regularly • Give generously • Give yourself ‘Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.’ Isaac Watts

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