Holy Habits Session 5 - Giving and Service

Holy Habits Session 5 – Giving and Service

“Send us out to live and work to your praise and glory.”

What has been happening in an hour or so is not just a peaceful interlude in a busy week, it is intended to be the very foundation of that week. We are being sent out to make a difference to our world. To bring, even into the very ordinary things we do each day, a tiny trace of God’s glory. We go out with something, having been reminded of it, we go out “in the power of the Holy Spirit” and with God’s peace, and God’s grace.

If what you do in church doesn’t have an impact on your life outside, then you may as well stay home with the Sunday papers.”

Our church life leads us to give generously and serve where we are needed to be. Read again Acts 2:  44 – 45. Then read Acts 4: 32 – 37.

What picture of “church” is painted here?

Luke presents pictures of the first Christian communities of disciples supporting one another and those in need in the wider community by the generous giving of their resources. They shared and sold possessions to create a common fund which could be used to support those in need of income and later on the deacons and others set apart for ministries of preaching and service. A recurrent practice as and when need arose.

Was this habit of giving like this fleeting? This type of sharing does not appear again in the NT after Acts 4!  What do you think happened?

Think about times you have been given something recently. What was the motive/reason in the giver? How did you receive the gift?

Think about a time you have given something generously? How did you feel? Do we live in a climate that has stopped giving and does receiving better because it expects so much from others?

Think about the Bible as a narrative of giving:

Read the following pages and ask yourselves in your conversation what is happening and what the words say about God then think about humans did next! 

Genesis 1: 26 – 30 and Genesis 2: 15 – 24

John 3: 16 – 21

Hosea 11: 1 – 9

The generous, persistent giving of God despite ourselves…

Is your church a giving church expecting nothing back? Or do we give only when we think it will give us something in return? Some traditions still do tithing – see Leviticus 27:  30 - 32  

Jesus talks about money more than any other subject – he uses stories and examples to point people to the divine impulse of generous giving.  

Read Luke 21: 1 – 4 – what does this story say to you tonight? The sacrificial generosity of the widow is stunning but by no means unique. So often it is those who have the least financially or materially who are the most generous with their giving. Have you examples of this? One in the material from Burundi.

John Wesley had things to say about money and giving in The Use of Money…

We know that it is the love of money that is a root of all kinds of evil. The fault does not lie in the money, but in those who use it.

Money can be used wrongly — and what cannot be misused? However, money can also be used properly. Money is of indescribable benefit to all civilized nations in all the common affairs of life. It is a most condensed means to transact all kinds of business and of doing all kinds of good (if we use it according to Christian wisdom).

If humankind were in an uncorrupted state or if all people were filled with the Holy Spirit, there would be no misuse of money. In paradise, the use of money will be outmoded, and we cannot imagine that there is anything like money among heaven’s inhabitants.

In our present state, though, money is an excellent gift from God, working toward the most elevated purposes. In the hands of God’s children, money is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, and clothing for the naked. For the pilgrim and stranger, money provides a place to lie down to rest. By the right use of money we can provide for others. Money can serve as a husband for the widow and as a father to the orphans. We can supply protection for the oppressed, a means of health for the sick, and comfort for those in pain. Money can become as “eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame” (Job 29:15, NRSV)2; and, indeed, money can lift up others “from the gates of death” (Psalm 9:13).

Therefore, it ranks among our highest concerns that all who fear God know how to use this valuable gift. It is important that we be instructed in how money can serve admirable ends to the highest degree. Perhaps all the instructions necessary for this goal can be reduced to three simple rules. By observing them, we can become faithful managers of money. These rules are gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.

Read Luke 19: 1 – 10 – Imagine it is your home Jesus is visiting. What does he give to you? And what do you feel called to give in return?

We may be able to pool our money but what about time and resources? As a Circuit we are trying to think about helping each other across the churches with skills and gifts and practical help. Some churches like quite understandably to hold on to their money for them and keep their own show on the ground first, when the Circuit system at its best is about us helping each other to be God’s people. Some people see the Circuit as an outdated thing of the past (even in this Circuit!) A discussion for another day J

Generosity and giving does not stay with the fellowship of believers who look after each other – it leads to service in the world.  Look at Acts 3, what happens after God gives the Church his Spirit?   No wonder they had the goodwill of all the people! The importance of incarnational mission . Think of an example of how your church is serving people outside your inner fellowship.

John 1: 14 – in the Message says the Word became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood. Jesus got involved, walked the streets, sat in the market place, spent time in people’s homes,  he got his hands dirty and offered the life changing touch of holiness. He brought heaven down to earth. Have we moved from this sort of Christianity keeping the Church going with all our energy now? Read story of disconnection (page 180) – need to know what the community is thinking, talking about, its problems and sorrows, not just about putting on what we think they need anymore or answering questions no one is asking. A church that is still in 1960 cannot speak to 2017.

Read Luke 14: 12 -14

A final exercise in groups leading to a plenary of action:

Read Matthew 25: 31 – 46. What does this passage say to you/challenge you about?

What ways do you exercise Christian giving and service in your life outside of Church stuff eg at work or in your leisure interests?

What one thing can your church give to people in the next few weeks?

How can your church serve its neighbourhood? What one thing might you do together to make that happen. Put it to  your next Church Council. 

Reflect together on the words of this hymn:

God wills us to show forgiveness, mercy and compassion, just as God bestows those gifts upon us. We are continually called toserve God in whatever capacity we can.

Called by Christ to be disciples                 

Every day in every place,

We are not to hide as hermits

But to spread the way of grace,

Citizens of heaven‟s kingdom,

Though this world is where we live,

As we serve a faithful master,

Faithful service may we give.

Richly varied are our pathways,

Many callings we pursue;

May we use our gifts and talents

Always, Lord, to honour you;

So in government or commerce,

College, hospice, farm or home,

Whether volunteers or earning,

May we see your kingdom come.