Living Generously Giving Generously Spiritual Discipline Of Stewardship

It's not just giving generously - it's living generously. That is the theme of this book, and I believe it's the invitation we receive from the Lord in the New Testament. I am proposing a holistic discipleship education emphasis which places financial giving within the context of what the Lord expects of those who seek to be faithful disciples of the Lord. The six steps are not steps toward earning one's salvation, but rather six steps toward a generous life in response to salvation already received from Christ. It is NOT simply an annual financial campaign for the local church. The focus is not on the church's needs, but rather upon each individual's need to respond generously to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ - with their hearts and with their hands It is my prayer that this book will help you to lead your congregation to become deeply devoted disciples of Jesus. The basic content of this book was first prepared for the Stewardship Summit of the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. I appreciate their invitation to lead their biennial stewardship summit. In preparation for that summit, I required the participants to read Clif Christopher's book, God vs Money. In recognition of that, in the last chapter I refer to that source and quote Clif Christopher about a dozen times. Clif's book, God vs Money, is an excellent resource, and I encourage you to purchase it at Cokesbury.com or Amazon.com.

We all know that everything we have is a gift from God. But sometimes it s hard to know just how to give back to God. How much is enough? What does the Bible really say? What should giving look like in our everyday lives? Filled with good news for followers of Jesus, Mark Allan Powell s Giving to God shows Christians the way to a better life and a better relationship with their money — and with God. Powell presents stewardship as an act of worship, an expression of faith, and a discipline for spiritual growth. Faithful use of our time, talents, and money starts with a deep, satisfying relationship with the God to whom we belong. We can then learn, says Powell, to give gladly and generously out of our heartfelt connection with God. Informative, concise, and eminently practical (including discussion questions), Giving to God gives us resources for best using the treasures, material and otherwise, that God has given us.

We know it's important to be generous. But it can be hard to know what healthy stewardship looks like in our families and churches. What if God has deeper and richer lessons to teach us about what it means to live generously? Ignite Your Generosity will help you see your resources of time, talents and treasures in a fresh, God-honoring way. A twenty-one-day devotional, this book is now expanded with a four-week small group guide that is perfect for both individual and church use. Every day's reading features an engaging story, Scripture for further study and personal reflection questions to grow in the area of stewardship. Begin your journey of pursuing generosity God's way. Discover the joy and fulfillment that comes from a life of giving freely to his plans and purposes.

Help implant the heart of giving within a congregation.

This vital resource aims to awaken believers to their purpose as stewards and inspire them to take meaningful action. Intentional Living and Giving presents a comprehensive guide divided into three parts, aiming to help Christians embrace their role as stewards entrusted by God. It serves as a valuable resource for a new generation by providing a stewardship covenant and a detailed job description. By weaving relatable stories and illustrations throughout the content, individuals can grasp the principles in practical and tangible ways. Part One establishes the foundational principles of biblical stewardship, highlighting God's expectations of His stewards. Part Two offers practical steps for applying these principles in everyday life. Finally, Part Three provides additional resources and a small group study guide to deepen one’s understanding. Intentional Living and Giving addresses the inherent problem of believers feeling uncertain about their role as stewards, offering clarity and guidance. Its unique blend of biblical insights, practical application, and relatable anecdotes make it appealing to readers seeking to fulfill their stewardship calling with intention and purpose.

Fasting. Solitude. Contemplative prayer. Lectio divina. Have you heard about these practices and wanted to try them? Have you wandered from one practice to another not sure quite what to do? Are you overwhelmed by all the to-dos of your spiritual life? We have good desires—for a more intimate prayer life, perhaps, or deeper insight from God's Word—but we don't know how to get there. So we give up our pursuit, tired from wandering aimlessly, and end up feeling guilty and more distant from God instead of closer. In the Spiritual Disciplines Handbook Adele Calhoun gives us directions for our journey toward intimacy with Christ. While the word discipline may make us want to run and hide, the author shows how desires and discipline work together to lead us to the transformation we're longing for—the transformation only Christ can bring. Instead of just giving information about spiritual disciplines, this Handbook is full of practical, accessible guidance that helps you actually do them. Mothers, fathers, plumbers, nurses, students—we're all on a journey. And spiritual disciplines are for all of us who desire to know Christ deeply and be like him. Here is direction for our desire, leading us to the ultimate destination: more of Christ himself.

So how do we even begin to live a more generous life? First, it comes by acknowledging where our resources come from. This affordable and pocket-sized book presents giving as a lifelong journey in Christian discipleship with emphasis on six specific areas: Bible Reading Prayer Worship Service Financial Giving Witness Using excerpts from Committed to Christ, a six-week stewardship program, readers will cultivate a thankful heart that leads to giving more than they could ever imagine.

Being a steward is about how you live your life and express your values to others. Faithful followers of Jesus live shalom by living in harmony with others and the world. We are called to live as generous creatures created by a generous God who shares responsibility with us for all creation ? to live stewardship. This book applies to all adults and youth who have not had much experience in a faith community or who are moving to a new faith tradition. Activities in this book help readers explore congregational practices (whether a new participant or not) and make connections to others in the congregation. Practicing our faith is a lifelong process. When completed, this series will offer 24 practices in 10 different life settings. This series can be used at any time or stage in your life.