GOOD MORNING!

Can you read this?

If not, can we suggest you sit nearer the front?

2 JANUARY 2012

GIVING - A SIMPLE GUIDE

Parish of All SaintsWokingham

3 JANUARY 2012

A GENEROUS GOD

• God is generous.• God gives graciously.• God gave His Son.

4 JANUARY 2012

GOD'S GIVING IS EXTRAVAGANT

Think of...•The earthly life & parables of Jesus•The wine overflowing at Cana•The twelve basketfuls left over onthe hillside

• How many of the events of His life and the stories He told involve celebrations and feasts, and the unstinting sharing of Himself with others.

5 JANUARY 2012

LIVING RADICALLY DIFFERENTLY

As Christians we are challenged to live in a way that helps bring about God's kingdom and shares in the flow of His generosity.

Jesus showed us a radically different way of living.

6 JANUARY 2012

WHAT IS GENEROSITY?

• Not just about money. • Our time• Our talents• Our possessions.

• Part of the outworking of our faith.

• Part of our discipleship.

LOOK OUT!

Giving generously will have an

an impact on our whole lives.

££+++

JESUS'S EMPHASIS• Not on

−How much we should give

−To whom

JESUS'S EMPHASIS• Not on

−How much we should give

−To whom

• But on −Where our heart is

−What's most important to us

−Where we find security

−Trusting God

GENEROUS GIVING• A Priority• Prayerful• Planned• Proportionate• Communal• Sacrificial• Cheerful

GENEROUS GIVING• A Priority• Prayerful• Planned• Proportionate• Communal• Sacrificial• Cheerful

LIVING GIVING

EXAMPLES OF CHRISTIAN GIVING• Two examples• 1.

• 2. Advice from a modern-day priest−Think of the amount you can give ...

−... and then double it

John Wesley

LIVING GIVING

STYLES OF GIVING• Tithing

−Echoes the old testament

−Some people give 10% of their income after tax

−Some give 10% of their total income

• Part tithing−General Synod encourages us to do God's work by ...

−... Giving 5% of our income after tax through His church ...

−... Giving a further 5% to charities

• First fruits−Calculate how much you earn per hour

−Give an hour's pay

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY GIVING? - 1

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it:

You shall love your neighbour as yourself.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY GIVING? - 2• Giving is not just about money.• The gospels challenge us to be generous in

every aspect of our lives.• Living generously may be costly.• 'Budget' our time and energy.• Why not set aside an hour to think prayerfully

about our lifestyle?• What values do our bank statements reflect?• What do our diaries say about our priorities?

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS...• From our Lord:

−Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [Matt 6 vv19-21]

• From St. Peter:−Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God,

serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received [1 Peter 4 v10]

• You will soon be joining in with these words...−All things come from you, and of your own do we give

you [1 Chron 29 v14]

16 JANUARY 2012

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PLEDGES LAST YEAR

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PLEDGES THIS YEAR

FAITH

17 JANUARY 2012

WHAT IS GENEROSITY?

• Not just about money. • Our time• Our talents• Our possessions.

• Part of the outworking of our faith.

• Part of our discipleship.

LOOK OUT!

Giving generously will have an

an impact on our whole lives.

££+++ anan