Preaching and Praying for Money—Yuck!
I wrote the following for Trinity United Methodist’s capital campaign. A big part of their effort will provide critically needed parking. Why do we care about 93 new asphalt rectangles? Because they represent about 200 more people who can attend on Sunday. Americans don’t go places where they can’t conveniently park.
Trinity has an interesting model. Ten per cent of the $3M raised is going to missions, including $100,000 to build a permanent home for the African Counseling Center in Cameroon, an equal amount for a local free clinic and one other project. A cool way to teach people to tithe, huh!
So in case you need a seed to grow a stewardship sermon (yuck!) here are some. BTW Chuck Swindoll’s series Hilarious Giving at insight.org is absolutely the best stewardship/giving material I know of. If you’re like me, you hate stewardship Sunday and the inexorable sermon on the budget shortfall. This is an alternative.
PRAYERS FOR CHURCH FINANCES
SEPT
Deuteronomy 8.18 says, “It is [God] who gives you power to get wealth.” Pray that, deep within, you will know that, despite these troubled times, God is our security, providing us more than enough to give generously.
King David gave sacrificially so that his son Solomon could build the Jerusalem Temple. He asked the people, “Who then will offer willingly, consecrating themselves today to the Lord?” (1 Chronicles 29.5). Pray that God will move you and many others to consecrate themselves and their means to the Lord.
OCT
When God provided manna in the wilderness, no one had too much; no one had too little (Exodus 16.18). God does not ask for equal gifts, but equal sacrifice. Pray that God will lead you to give joyfully all you can.
In a time of skepticism like ours, God’s prophet challenged the people: “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse…and put me to the test, says the Lord.” Read Malachi 3.10, and pray that God will lead you to take a step further than you have before in financial giving.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” (Acts 20.35). God doesn’t want sour saints, but grateful and joyful followers who give all we possibly can. Pray that God will bless you with the spirit of grateful giving.
Jesus pointed to the mighty example of the widow who gave the smallest gift allowed-it was all she had (Mark 12.41-44). Pray that God will use your example in giving to teach your children gratitude to God and generosity toward all.
NOV
King David said, “All things come from you, and of your own have we given you,” (1 Chronicles 29.14). Pray that God will help us see ourselves as managers of God’s world, who in giving are just returning what belongs to God.
Paul promised his dearest friends, “My God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4.19). Pray that God will inspire us to give according to God’s riches in Christ.
God promises that “the one who sows bountifully will reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9.6). Pray that God will lead us to sow through giving generously to Trinity’s future, so that our children may reap a bountiful harvest in years to come.
Jesus taught us to store our treasures in heaven, where they are safe “for where your treasure is, there you heart will be also” (Matthew 6.20-21). Pray that God will inspire you to entrust your treasure and your heart to God alone through sacrificial giving.
John 3.16 says, “God so loved the world that he gave…” In Advent and always, giving ourselves and our money stands at the heart of our faith. Pray that God will give us a spirit of sacrificial giving to the Building Project at Trinity.
DEC
Paul wrote, “[God] who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else” (Romans 8.32). During this season we remember that God gave the dearest and best; pray that God will lead us to give our best and our most in return.
Overjoyed when they saw the Christ Child, the Wise men opened their treasures and presented him gifts (Matthew 2.11). Pray that God will persuade men, women and children of Trinity to open their treasure and give generously to the Lord today, as wise and joyful as the Magi were.
Tags: stewardship