It’s On Our Hearts

How we relate to the resources in our lives is a reflection of our faith and our discipleship of Jesus Christ. In his book Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City, Tim Keller argues that “participating in God’s redemptive plan in a profoundly important and practical way” (349) requires us to consider prayerfully how God is calling us to participate in the ministry and how we are financially contributing to your church’s mission. This personal commitment is at the heart of life as a disciple of Christ. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us where you treasure is, there is your heart also. Jesus’ key concern is about our hearts! Our giving reflects our discipleship. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus—not on stuff.

Our church participates in our community in so many ways—feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, helping people find work, to name just a few. Through our Outreach committee, we contribute to many worthwhile organizations. But we also feed souls! Our church services, Bible studies and small groups all feed my soul and I think feed yours as well.

In 1st Timothy 6, Paul tells us not to set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment…we are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share. We are called to grow—to be generous, seeing the connection between our faith and our finances.

The last couple of years have been tough for all of us, yet you have been faithful and generous. The Finance Committee wants you to know how much we appreciate you and everything you do for our church.

As Keller, suggests, we need to prayerfully consider how God is calling us to participate in the ministry of our church and how we can financially contribute to our mission to make disciples.

On the next page is a form to help you make that commitment.

First UMCSB has made it easier than ever to support the missions, staff, and facilities while we are all practicing social distancing. Using Vanco Payment Solutions, there are now three easy ways to continue your online giving from the safety of your home. You can pay from your computer via a secure web portal, use the iOS and Android compatible Vanco Mobile apps, or make a donation simply by using text messaging.

First UMCSB is determined to be a leader in helping the community survive and thrive physically, fiscally, and most importantly, SPIRITUALLY! We can only do this if you continue to support us with your tithes and offerings.

Why we talk about money

IT’S A SPIRITUAL ISSUE

Stewardship is directly linked to our journey of discipleship. How we use our resources is primarily a spiritual issue, not a financial one. The quality of that decision is determined by the spiritual condition of our heart.

JESUS TALKED ABOUT IT

Jesus spoke openly about money and possessions. About two-thirds of the parables and about one in every ten verses in the Gospels address this very issue. As followers of Jesus, we should not be reluctant to talk about giving as an outward expression of our love for Christ.

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BUDGET

In stewardship campaigns, it can be tempting to approach the financial needs of the church as if we were simply funding the budget. In Taking the Next Step, we acknowledge that that living generously is an inseparable part of our following Christ. God does not need our money; rather, we need to give it as an act of gratitude and trust.

IT’S ABOUT TRUST

As we learn to trust God more and follow Christ’s teaching more faithfully, we learn to depend less on ourselves and more on God, relinquishing attitudes and habits that impede our relationship with God.