“Saints Alive! Living Generously”
Stewardship Sermon
© Rev. Thomas B. Cundiff, Pastor
The
Warren Avenue
Warren Avenue
Genesis 12: 1-3 The Call of Abraham
Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
I Corinthians 16: 1-4
Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia Jerusalem
I. THE BOX NAMED “LIFE ”
By now you know me pretty well. I like to be “organized”. I like living in an ordered, well-thought-out structured world. I like schedules. I like predictability. I like consistency! I like to make elaborate plans for just about everything. For me it is much easier to change a schedule than to not have a schedule at all! As John Calvin, the founder and father of Presbyterianism would say, I like to do things “decently and in order”.
Next to my bible is my calendar – figuratively and literally! My greatest organizational sin is when I let the calendar become more important than the bible.
In many ways my structured, organized world is like this box….four sides and a top and bottom. And this box has a name: LIFE ! And for a pastor, every once in a while the lid comes off the box with something that surprises me. That’s good….because life is always full of surprises! The world that is always changing all around us, part of life, also in the box named LIFE .
What about you? Imagine everything in life being placed in a box named LIFE ?. Not always structured or organized…..all the things you do, all the plans you make, everything you value is in this box. All of your passions, family and church -- everything public and private, hopes and dreams are to be found within the four walls of this box named LIFE .
From when you get up until going to bed, what’s in your box named LIFE ? If you were to pack all your experiences, fond memories, cherished friendships in a box, what would they be? Who would be with you in this box? Family? Friends? Neighbors? Perhaps the LIONS or TIGERS or a few SPARTANS? Perhaps a dog or a cat? What do you see when you imagine looking into this box named LIFE ? Your savings? Investments? Tools and toys? Cars and homes? Your job? Your hobbies? YOUR LIFE !
To carry this image of a box named LIFE a bit further: everything God has given us – blessings received – are in this box named LIFE . The air we breath. The water we drink. The food we eat. Memories. Hopes and dreams. Uncertainty about the future? Times of celebration? Pain? Laughter? Tears?
What about your faith in God? Is Jesus in your box? God’s love for you? Your love for God? All these things we value are in this box named LIFE .
One thing I know for sure in playing this imaginary game….things we see in this box of life are PRICELESS! Organized or disorganized, structured or not… we cannot place a price tag on what we see in this box named LIFE . Yet this observation: What often is priceless has a cost! PRICELESS IS NOT THE SAME AS FREE .
II. THE BOX NAMED “CHURCH”
Now think of this church as another BOX with the large BOX named LIFE . A good many of our friends, our passions, our faith are found in this place – the Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church. Jesus Christ lives in this place….. this church. We gather for worship each week. We listen for God’s Word. We share our joys and concerns, our pains and struggles. God is everywhere in this church. God’s spirit flows freely within these walls.
All we do to give glory to God in Worship is in this box named CHURCH.
We listen for God to speak to us through scripture sermons in this place named CHURCH.
We share our joys and concerns, our pains and struggles in this CHURCH.
Everything we do to serve God as educated servants is in this CHURCH.
Programs that brings us together in fellowship are in this CHURCH.
Things tha keep us structured and consistent in serving Christ as sa Presbyterian church, organizationally, is in this CHURCH.
God’s Peace – PRICELESS -- surrounds us in this CHURCH.
God’s Love – PRICELESS – penetrates everything we do… our VERY BEING…as Christ’s church.
And this reality: All of our ASSETS, tied directly to your tithes and offerings and bequests from the past – as well as your offerings of talentgs and time -- are part of our identity as the WARREN AVNEUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
All this being said as we begin our stewardship season: It still takes money to run the church. All of our combined resources are essential – like fuel or gas we put in our cars – all of our combined resources are essential in running the church. While our budget does not define us, blessings from God do! Blessings God has given us….shared with others….they are priceless and define us as Christ’s church.
Our stewardship theme this year. “Saints Alive! Living Generously!”
With this years theme we are asking you to see yourselves as the “Living Saints”, “Believers in Christ” -- living and giving generously to pay for that which is PRICELESS. How do we pay for that which is PRICELESS. We combine our gifts. Your tithes and offerings, combined, create something greater than the sum of all our gifts….this church. And what we have in this church is priceless.
Consider carefully what this church gives to you…blessings received. Then consider what scripture calls a “generous portion” of what you have back to God. And with all these blessings – a generous portion of what we give are combined …. watch what happens!
One of the things that happens when we combine our gifts…something I see that is priceless are the smiles and laugher in conversations you share before worship….the love that is demonstrated in the passing of the peace. I see it in your faces. You really enjoy being here. What I see from where I sit is PRICELESS….
A close look at scripture would go so far as to suggest – and this is directly from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:
“On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come.”
An interesting question that has been asked over the years: Is the first check you write each month to the church? Or is the church the last thing that gets attention from your check book? This is tough! How do you determine what to give knowing God has already given you so much! That’s why we talk about “proportionate giving”, finding a percentage of income you are comfortable with sharing….and using this to guide you in your giving. For some this may be a full tithe, 10% if income. For others this may be 2% or 5% -- perhaps reaching for a higher percentage each year. Maybe it’s a gift of $1.00 a week now, and a $1.25 next year, with a goal $1.50 the next. All that scripture asks is that you be GENEROUS when considering your pledge knowing that our combined gifts are priceless.
I know for many times are tough. For many this is a time of uncertainty. We don’t know what is going to happen with our medical care….or taxes….or social security. Yet even with these tensions that exist in the world, does God not continue to take care of us? Blessing us? continue to bless us? Is this not the church where we can go to find God’s PRICELESS PRESENCE and LOVE and PEACE? Because what God gives us is PRICELESS all I can do is ask you sincerely….give as you can as generously as you can.
Please….please pledge something. It would really be neat this year if we could actually get a PLEDGE from every member. While most of you make regular contributions to the church only about half of this church actually fills out a pledge card. It would really help us in our planning if everyone would fill out a pledge card.
And this is also important: the most precious gift you can give is also priceless…..the foundation of all giving….your presence here today.
IV. Some Budget Facts:
The session has approved a budget of $164,000! This is up only about $800 from last year. The is a bare bones budget. We work hard to eliminate waste in everything we do. In fact, every time I hand you a piece of mail instead of using the postal service, I am saving the church 44 cent….I think today alone I saved over $8.00 by handing some of you your mail. The use of emails has allowed us to make considerable cuts in our office supply budget.
Most of our church expenses are related to church staff: my position as pastor, our parish visitor, organists and pianists, our secretary and custodian, gues preaches, guest preachers, summer magic staff.
Next to staff are the expenses in taking care of this church building….in fact we just finished over $4,000 in work to our organ….it sure makes a difference not having the wind/hissing sounds in worship…..and there is still more work to be done….
Other parts of our budget go for worship and programming and mission.
In fact you should know the church session on numerous occasions refused to make cuts in mission! Consider this interesting statistic. We give roughly 15,000 (and that includes special offerings) to mission. Over $141.00 per member is going to mission.
Given these numbers, please remember that what we do with what you can give as far as time and talent and money – is PRICELESS! What we have in this church cannot be defined by a budget.
As a structured/organized person who loves doing things “decently and in order”, the providential gifts God gives us as a church are PRICELESS – and the combined resources you give to the church through your pledges will be used responsibly….in a “decently in ordered fashion” – knowing that we cannot afford to waste any of the good gifts God has entrusted our care as Christ’s church.
And let’s be realistic…..it takes money from your combined pledges to pay for that which is PRICELESS – the ministries of his church.
IV. PRICELESS
Returning now the image of the BOX NAME LIFE . I can’t put a price tag on this. I was visiting with a member this past week who was just diagnosed with cancer. Several of you have had a similar diagnosis.
She still doesn’t know what is going to happen as far as treatments. But one thing we know for sure, this church will be an anchor for her …. and all of you working through health issues. We will be with you in prayer. God will be with you. All we do to support any of our members who are hurting or with special needs is PRICELESS…..yet my friends, it still takes money to pay for ministry….care and compassion and companionship you offer each other that is priceless.
So yes, fill out your pledge cards. Be generous. Every pledge is important. All of our pledges combined have more power than you can ever imagine. YOUR pledge combined with others makes it possible for us to be Christ’s church.
But also know what we really need is for you to be here! We need your love. We need your presence. We need your prayers.
THANK YOU for your generosity. THANK YOU for your pledges. THANK YOU for what you give passionately because of your love for Christ and this Christ’s church. Thank you!
Amen
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