To Boldly Go! #1: Pray and Give -- 041112

Tonight we started our new series for the month called: To Boldly Go!  Over the last six weeks we have talked about a survey of the Bible.  For those of you here last week we talked about the epilogue, that Jesus was returning but that we have jobs until He returns.  One of those jobs is what this sereis is about: To Boldly Go!  We are called by God to be active "amabassadors" in our world, tryin gto get people to get back into a good relationship with God.  This mission is given in 3 parts by our denomination: Pray, Give, Go.  We will be talking about Pray and Give tonight because they both focus on other who are doing the mission already, then next week we will talk about us going on the mission personally.  The third week we have a special speaker who has just gotten back from going. 

Paul, a missionary in the arly church writes this to Christians ina  church and I think missionaries today would ask the same.  Ephesians 6:19-20.  We are to be praying boldly (which means without fear) for our missionaries.  Asking God to help those who are on the mission to accomplish their calling, and help them accomplish it more effectively.  it is a big responsibility, but it is worthwhile and needed. 

2nd Corinthians 9:6-13.  We are to give boldly (without fear) to our missionaries, so they can do their job more effectively.  This passage gives us several things to keep in mind with our giving:  #1.  Give generously.  #2.  When we give generously, God helps us out and rewards us, so that we can give even more.  #3.  We should determine what we are to give, and give it cheerfully not out of guilt or coercion.  #4.  Not only does your giving help the missionary it brings others closer to God.

You are a vital part of this mission to Boldly Go and change our world, and the first part of that is to give and to pray! 

I give tonight: C+
Favorite Moment: Easter Egg Challenges

Tithing -- Sunday, September 13th, 2009

Today we continued our study of Genesis. Our passage was Geneis 14:18-20, which is a short bit that comes admist a story of rescue. Abram, with help from some local kings, rescues his kidnapped nephew Lot. On the way home from this a king and priest named Melechedek appears and blesses Abram. He in turn gives Mel 10% of the things he gained on his raid. This is ht efirst example, in the bible, of what we now call tithe.

The word tithe comes from a word meaning 1 tenth. It is a voluntary contribution to the church in order to bring about a good result. The bible gives us examples, some times talking about giving food, sometimes money, sometimes animals. Regardless 2nd Corithians 9:7 tells us that we should be cheerful givers, only giving what we have decided to not beause we are guilted into it. We are also told in Luke 11:42 that we are supposed to continue the practice of tithing. But we need not think of this as only an adult issue. We also need to be tithing and making up in our mind now what we will be doing when we actually start earning money. Will we tithe or not. If we do not then the church will start to crumble because of lack of support. Now is the time to decide what you are going to do!

I give this morning: C-

Favorite Moment: Blaming Haley for Lacey and Emma's cold