"What If I Didn't Give to the General Budget" Psalm 76; Matthew 25: 14-30

I'm finding it hard to approach this week's question -- "What if I didn't give to the general budget?" because in some ways it is a typical stewardship topic wrapped in a little bit different approach. Trying to be consistent in answering the question is proving problematic.

Of course, this week has the obvious trump  -- if we did not give to the church budget, we would not have the church programs, etc.  Or, should I push the other way and suggest that God will figure out a way to find people to do the vital ministry this church does, but we get to choose if we want to participate in that.

That almost fits with the argument that giving to the church budget does not matter -- what matters is that we are giving back to God.  Implicit in the request for people to pledge to the church budget is the belief that giving to the church equates with giving to God.  As the body of Christ, maybe we can and should make that claim, but it also feels a bit presumptuous.

Why do you give to the church budget?

Last week's passage from Paul about making giving a part of our weekly routine seems appropriate here as well.  Our pattern of giving to the general budget creates a pattern of giving.

Psalm 76 suggests that we give gifts to God because God is awesome.  That, of course, leads back to the belief that giving to the church budget equates to giving to God because God is awesome.

The Gospel lesson reminds us that God does not want us to hoard or hang on to our resources, but to put them to work.  The church's mission as the body of Christ makes it the place where we put those resources to work for God.

Reflections on "What If I Didn't Give to Other Funds..." 1 Corinthians 16: 1-4; 2 Corinthians 9: 1-5

Another week exploring the question, "What if I didn't give...." This week, giving to other funds. I defined "other funds" early in the sermon to include special gifts within the church -- capital funds, bequests, special offerings -- and giving to other non-profits outside the church. That was probably too broad a category -- inside church giving and outside church giving could have been separate weeks, but I only had one week to do both in the preaching schedule.

The sermon had a couple of interesting stories. I also referenced the memorial gifts/bequests that have been given in this congregation the past few years, which members would know about, but visitors probably would not. I tried to give a brief explanation, but may not have had enough information for someone not familiar with this congregation.

After hearing the Minute for Mission in the Chapel service, I added a brief point in the Sanctuary sermon (it's in italics) about giving to the Endowment fund of the church. AS an aside, the Endowment Fund is probably the best-kept secret of this congregation! We should tell more about it more often.

I do not believe I have preached the 1 Corinthians passage as part of stewardship (maybe ever) before yesterday.  I found it to be a particularly powerful example of how we can grow into being generous givers.

"What If I Didn't Give To Other Funds” October 26, 2014; FPC, Troy; Stewardship series; 2014; 2 Corinthians 9: 1-5; 1 Corinthians 16: 1-4

Introduction: We continue reflecting on the question, "What if I didn't give...." this week moving to "what if I didn't give to other funds..."

By other funds, I am speaking of those other giving opportunities that exist in the church – capital campaigns; special offerings of the denomination; and making special gifts through your will – and outside the church – the many different non-profits that depend on people like you to stay afloat and continue in their ministries.

25 or 30 years ago, this sermon would not have included outside giving – historically, the Presbyterian church has focused its giving conversations exclusively on the giving to the operating budget of the local congregation, the special offerings of the Presbyterian Church, and an occasional capital campaign for projects in the local congregation. Gifts to other groups were made from the church's budget, so the emphasis was on giving to the church budget.

But, the world changes, and how non-profits operate and the ministries they do make demands on us. When I reflect on giving and teaching stewardship, it seems a bit silly to not recognize the impact of giving to other groups in my thoughts.

Please note that I am not going to spend time this morning answering the common question – “does my tithe include what I give to other non-profits?”

Basically, the average Presbyterian gives a little over 2% of their income to their church, which means that most of us have plenty of room in our giving budget to give to other groups – so until we are all giving a tithe, 10%, to our church, the question of how to count the tithe doesn't seem that important.

Move 1: If I didn't give to other funds, some of those groups would struggle, and might not even exist.

      a. have you ever heard of Ghost Ranch.

           1.  Ghost Ranch is a Presbyterian conference center in NM. I spent a few days their during my clergy renewal time. Ranch is set in a canyon with beautiful vistas and hikes and opportunities to explore.

           2.   But is hasn't always been a Presbyterian conference center. Early on after settlers arrived in New Mexico, it was home to cattle rustlers, who loved the safety from authorities the canyon provided. There are stories of death and betrayal that took place at the ranch during that time.

            3.  IN the early 20th century, it's deed was lost in a poker game, which seemed like good fortune to the man who won it. His fortune did not last very long, because as soon as he deeded the ranch in his wife’s name, she divorced him and took over the ranch.

            4.  She made it into a getaway for Northeasterners who wanted to visit the dry, arid, beautiful land of NM. One of the most influential people to visit Ghost Ranch was Arthur Pack, writer and editor of Nature Magazine. Arthur's daughter suffered from bouts of pneumonia, so he and his family had to move to an area with a drier climate- he came to Stanley's ranch. He bought the ranch (I might note that The renowned artist Georgia O'Keeffe, also loved visiting Ghost Ranch, and in fact, many of her paintings include views from Ghost Ranch).

           5.   As Arthur Pack aged, he began to take concern in how the ranch will be passed on. He spoke with the YMCA, the Boy Scouts of America, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, and the United Brethren Church about having and maintaining the ranch. But none of these organizations were in a position to accept the offer. Then, the Presbyterians accepted the offer of using the space as an educational facility, though it would be difficult for them to develop.

           6.  Now, the ranch is used as an educational and retreat center. Over 300 classes are offered each year in the beautiful setting in Northern New Mexico.

           7.  This camp and conference center would not exist if not for the gift of Arthur Pack.

b. When I visit with the leadership of different non-profits in the area, I am continually reminded by them about how much Presbyterians do for non-profits – with monetary gifts, giving of time and sharing of talent – many non-profits and their ministries depend on your generosity.

c.   When we read Paul's letters to the Corinthians about the special offering he is collecting for the Christians in Jerusalem, Paul will give lots of great reasons for giving – but do not miss in those arguments that the Jerusalem Christians need to the money to survive in their plight as persecuted Christians.

If I did not give to other groups, they would struggle or maybe not even exist.

Move 2: If I didn't give to other funds, I would lose an opportunity to witness to others what I value.

a. Do you notice that Paul wants the Corinthians to give to the Jerusalem Christians, in part, as a witness to the way their common bond as Christians.

        1. When the Corinthians collect that offering, when they send those funds, they announce to the world that Christians are tied together in a way that transcends their geography.

        2.  This special offering is a concrete way to witness to the world what it means to be a Christian.

b. Our congregation has been blessed in the last few years with gifts given in a variety of ways and the death of a member.

           1. These gifts have provided the resources to do additional mission work, or paid for youth activities, or helped with special projects in taking care of the church facility.

          2.  In fact, the Session has set up some of these funds so that they will continue to provide and income stream for these purposes long into the future.

           3.  Equally as important as the monetary gifts are, is the witness the gifts make.

           4.  the person, or the person's family, uses the occasion of their death to witness to their faith by giving a gift to God.

           5.  those gifts give concrete expression to that which we profess – that “in life and in death we belong to God” (Heidelberg Catechism).

c.   We heard about some of the wonderful ways our Endowment Fund is used to support ministry in the world. The Endowment Fund grows, in part, by bequests. It offers a way for someone to ensure to witness to their love for doing mission by giving to the Endowment Fund at their death.

d.  Perhaps you know the story of how Stanford University came into being.

          1.  I don't mean the exaggerated story that makes the fund raising circles that inaccurately describes the Stanfords as showing up at Harvard and being dismissed by the President of Harvard and then going to start their own university in CA.:

         2.  The real story is cool enough.

        3. Leland Stanford made his money in the railroad business in CA in the 19th century. While he, his wife Jane and only son Leland, Jr. were in Florence, Italy, Leland, Jr. died of typhoid fever, just before his 16th bir4thday.

            4. His father, who had had remained at Lelands' bedside continuously, fell into a troubled sleep the morning the boy died. When he awakened he turned to his wife and said,

"The children of California shall be our children."

          5. On their way back to CA from Italy, the Stanfords stopped and visited These words were the real beginning of Stanford University. Cornell, Yale, Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They talked with President Eliot of Harvard about three ideas: a university at Palo Alto, a large institution in San Francisco combining a lecture hall and a museum, and a technical school. They asked him which of these seemed most desirable and President Eliot answered, a university. Mrs. Stanford then asked him how much the endowment should be, in addition to land and buildings, and he replied, not less than $5 million. A silence followed and Mrs. Stanford looked grave. Finally, Mr. Stanford said with a smile, "Well, Jane, we could manage that, couldn't we?" and Mrs. Stanford nodded her head. (https://web.archive.org/web/19970113162511/http://www.stanford.edu/home/stanford/history/begin.html; you can read the fictionalzied version at snopes.com)

           6.  a gift that today still witnesses to the love parents had for their son and their desire to benefit the children of CA.

I I didn't make special gifts, I would miss a chance to witness to what I value.

Move 3: If I didn't give to other funds/special funds, then I could miss a chance to get connected.

a.. Jerusalem collection

      1. Connected to each other.

         2. one reason Paul challenges them to give to the special offering is the way it connects them to the Corinthians and binds them together.

b. When we give to groups (maybe not the $25 gift that is easier to give than to say "no"), it does create a connection that generally leads to our being more connected with that group.

c. Ice bucket challenge – Leslie and I gave a couple of different times as part of that challenge.

          1. AS part of that, I gave them my email address.

          2. Just this past week I received another email from them: it thanked me again, and then offered links to places I could go to learn more about ALS the disease and places I could go to get more connected with their activities.

         3. They believe that if I gave a gift to that cause, that I might be interested in getting more involved in it.

When I give to other groups, I open the door to getting more connected with that group.

Move 4: Finally, if I didn't give to special funds, then I would not learn to be a more generous giver.

a. Let's be honest – the tithe feels formulaic

      1.  It's not difficult.

     2.  each fall as part of the stewardship campaign I can take what Leslie and I earn and then do the math. 10% is so much, divided by 24 (we send a check twice a month).

     3.  Done. Obligation met.

b. of course, that does not necessarily give me the spirit of generosity.

         1.  In fact, in some ways it makes me less generous.

         2.  When another groups asks for money, I can always say, “Sorry, I gave at the church.” or, “no thanks, I've already met my tithe.”

c. Did you hear how Paul encouraged the Corinthians to give to the special offering.

          1. On the first day of the week, put aside your extra money so that when Paul arrives he does not have to push them at that one time for a big collection.

          2. Notice that Paul is showing the Corinthians how they can build generosity into their weekly living.

           3. generosity is not a one-time expression, but a pattern of living.

when we chose to give to other groups, to push our giving limits, we develop the pattern of generosity.

Conclusion: When we give to special funds, we grow as the generous givers God calls us to be. Amen.

"What If I Didn't Give to Other Funds...." 2 Corinthians 9: 1-5; 1 Corinthians 16: 1-4

A continuation of our stewardship series based on the question, "What if I didn't give...."  This week we are reflecting on "what if I didn't give to other funds..."

Really should be "special gifts," I suppose.  The question calls into mind two situations:  people who choose to use their wills to leave bequests to the church and the reality that many of us who give for God's work through the church also give to other non-profits doing good work.

On reason to leave a tithe of one's estate, or a specific bequest is to witness to one's faith and witness to God.  When we remember the church in our wills, we announce to everyone that we want to honor God and that we value the work God is doing through the church.  Even as we declare, "from dust we have come, and to to dust we shall return" those gifts are being given to the one to whom we are returning!

Does the gift I make to Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary or United Way count as my tithe?  Both are hopefully supporting ministries that serve God's purposes.  I'm not sure I have a clear answer to that question.  I do know that in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians he emphasizes the special offering that is being sent to the saints in Jerusalem who are struggling.   Biblical scholars tell us that for Paul this gift is above and beyond the giving of the tithe.  That's a high standard.

I do know that one reason Paul challenges them to give to the special offering is the way it connects them to the Corinthians and binds them together.  When we give to groups (maybe not the $25 gift that is easier to give than to say "no"), it does create a connection that generally leads to our being more connected with that group.

I'm pretty sure that if every Presbyterian only gave to his or her church and did not support other charitable groups, there would be some non-profits that would struggle.

My flippant answer might be - "When you get to the point that you are giving 10% to the church and to other groups, then we can talk about what that means!"  I suspect that for many of us we are not giving 10% if we add up all our giving.  And, I bet that many of us consider our income to be the amount of the check we receive each month, and forget about the money we put back into our 401Ks or our investment income.

Bottom line -- giving to other groups can support them, help us connect with them, and can help us become more generous in our giving.

Reflections on "If I Didn't Give of My Time and Talents" Exodus 4: 10-17; I Corinthians 12: 27-31

One aspect of preaching series that I like is the building of the theme, even though it might be a bit repetitive for anyone who is here each week.  But, it also allows me to "catch up" those who have missed out on previous sermons.

This week the sermon went very well and smoothly in the Chapel service.  That often means, and it did this time, that I end up stumbling a bit in the Sanctuary service.  Maybe I relax a little and lose the edge - not really sure, but I had a few stumbles in the Sanctuary sermon that I would prefer to not have.

I intentionally had an illustration from several churches I have served, including FPC, Troy, to subtly make the point about the work of the church as the body of Christ.   But, it ended up, particularly once I added the story from my Jr. year in high school to have to much of my story.  I'm also not sure how often I've told the mission stories in the years I have been here since they are fundamental to what I believe about serving God.  I've probably referenced those stories in different ways through the years, and perhaps even in sermons.

"What If I Didn't Give Time and Talents” October 19, 2014; FPC, Troy; Stewardship series; 2014 I Corinthians 12: 27-31

Introduction: We continue reflecting on the question, “What if I didn't give...?”

We began two weeks ago thinking about what if God did not give to us, then last week thought about the question in general terms. This week we sharpen our focus a bit and reflect on the question: “what if I didn't give my time and my talents?”

I might note that this is not my question that I answer with a sermon each week, but a question for each of us. As I reflect on that question in the sermon each week, you are encouraged to answer that question in the context of your own life.

Move 1: If I did not give of my time and talents, in part, I would not grow into who I am as a follower of Christ.

a. When we offer ourselves, our time and our talents, to God, we often discover gifts we did not know we have

1. First lessons about mission trips was that people could learn new skills.
2. Very exciting.
3. When I was serving a church on internship during seminary, I led the youth on a couple of mission trips.
4. while on those mission trips, I learned how to wire electrical outlets and light sockets and how to install insulation. New talents.
5. he church I served in KY would roof each Habitat house that was built in the county – we'd pay for the shingles, provide the labor, and the leadership.
4. I learned how to lay and hammer shingles (I also learned that being the one to carry the shingles up the ladder was not a good thing!).
5. I helped dry wall, but would never want to do that again!

6. more skills for me.

7. Not just about developing skills. On one mission trip, I watched two young women who were about to start college learn how to mix and pour cement. Later as we debriefed, one of the young women noted that she was worried about college, but she had decided that day that if she could mix and pour cement, she could probably handle anything she might encounter at college.
8. Learning new skills allows us to grow as into who we are as disciples of Christ.
b. Second lesson was taught to be me by a doctor in the church I served in Mt. Sterling, KY.

1. He invited me to lunch one day to talk about mission projects.
2. He said, “Richard, you keep preaching about doing mission and learning new skills. That's great, but I've spent a lot of time learning how to be a physician. I think I can do a lot more good for God by using those skills than hammering shingles up on a roof!”
3. “Okay,” I replied, “then what do you have in mind?”

4. That began a conversation that led to the creation of a free medical clinic in the church's facility.
5. He had a skill already that he wanted to use in his service to God.

100. The story we read in Exodus is about God giving us the talent to be used for God's work.
     1. God has approached Moses and told him that he would be leading the Israelites against Pharaoh and ultimately out of Egypt.
     2. Moses is not so sure he wants to take on this responsibility. He is looking for an excuse – so he tells' God, “I do not have the skill of public speaking. I cannot lead your people”
     2. God responds with a strong reminder: “who gives speech to mortals.”
     3. In other words, God says, “Hey, Moses, who do you think gives people the talent they have?”

5. As the story continues, God apparently gives in to Moses' comment about not having public speaking skills, but then God reminds Moses – “your brother Aaron has the gift of speaking. He'll do the talking; you'll do the leading.”

6. stop there – do not miss this point – God is the one who gives us our talents; God expects us to use those talents and to work together in the sharing of our talents.

God equips us for ministry.

If I did not give of my time and talents, I would not grow into who God calls me to be.

Move 2: If I did not give of my time and talents, I would not see beyond myself.

a. One of the challenges we have as as followers of Christ is not being satisfied with being connected with Christ.

1. Too easy to decide that we have a relationship with Christ, and that's the end of the story.

2. To be a follower of Christ, however, means to take on the tasks of Christ in the world until he comes again.
3. That's why we call ourselves the body of Christ – we are doing what Christ calls us to do in the world.
   b. Using our gifts to serve others pushes us beyond ourselves.
   1. I had a Chemistry teacher my Jr. year in high school.
   2. When I hear my daughters talk about their Jr. year in high school being the toughest year, that's how I remember it that was as well.
   3. The sophomore year (we had a three year high school) that was full of new, exciting experiences was a thing of the past and the Sr. year with all the festivities and honors was still a year away. I was stuck in the doldrums of the Jr. High.
   4. My chemistry teacher called me up to her desk one day. She asked me how things were going because she could tell I was struggling. I suppose I told her my sad, sob story.

5. Her response? She told me that she had learned through the years that when she was going through a rough spell, the best thing she would do was to do something for someone else. To extend beyond myself and serve others.

6. I did, and she was right. When I was helping someone else, I was a lot less concerned about my own little issues.

7. I don't remember much Chemistry, but I'm forever grateful for the life lesson taught by my chemistry teacher.

b. When we give of our time and talents, it pushes us to move beyond ourselves and engage the world around us.

1. Volunteer a few days at the Breakfast Club or talk to someone who does volunteer there.
2. I bet you will discover that when you work at the Breakfast Club you meet people and you might not notice otherwise. You learn their stories; you develop relationships; and you discover it's not just a one-way street of ministry – those serving breakfast and those being served breakfast are better for the experience.
If I did not give my time and talents, I would not push beyond myself.

Move 3: Finally, If we did not give of our time and talents, the church could not live fully into its calling as the body of Christ.

a. That is what's at stake in Paul's discussion of the different gifts people have for different tasks.

1. He is trying to help these early Christians discover not only what it means to be the church in an institutional sense, but how they can manage to live into their work as the body of Christ.
2. There is more for the body of Christ to do in the world than any one of them can do. The same is true today for us.
3. Paul reminds that God brings them together for theses tasks; that God equips them for the tasks.
4. There are multiple talents to be found in the church because their calling as the body of Christ requires those talents.
5. We are back to the story in Exodus – God needs leaders for the Israelites, so God sends Moses with his gift of leadership and Aaron with his gift for public speaking.
   b. Consider all the ministries in which this congregation already engages and the possibilities for ministry that await us.
   1. It is more than any one of us can do.
   2. It is not more than we can do collectively, and if it seems like it is, just wait because God is sending someone with the talent needed or showing one of us how to develop that talent.

If I did not give of my time and talents, the church could not live fully into its calling.

Conclusion: I finish with a quote from Erma Bombeck. I shared it with the congregation a few years ago after a member saw it at another church while serving on a mission trip. Bombeck notes: "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say ' I used everything you gave me' " (Ellen Luken shared this quote at the 11/11 Session meeting. It had been on a cross at the church that hosted a PDA camp in TX.FPC, Troy, Advent, 2012)

“If I didn’t give my time and talents...”

"What If I Didn't Give Time and Talents?" I Corinthians 12: 27-31 Exodus 4: 10-17

From last's week general overview of giving as seen through the lens of the question: "What if I didn't give...?"  we sharpen the focus and reflect on what if we did not give our time and talents.

Never see beyond yourself -- I had a Chemistry teacher my Jr. year in high school who told me that if you are going through a rough time, you need to do something for someone else.  When we offer our gifts for God's work, it helps us recognize our connections to others and our responsibility as we live our our relationship to others.

The church cannot live fully into its calling as the body of Christ.  Paul's discussion of the different gifts people have for different tasks is made in the context of what makes up the church.

If we did not give our time and talents, people/ministries would be impacted.

Grow into who we are as followers of Christ -- discover gifts we did not know we have; use gifts that we already do have -- see connection between the talents we have and the God who gives them to us.

When Moses tells God that he cannot speak well enough to lead the Israelites, God offers up Aaron, Moses' brother who does have the gift of being able to speak well.  A reminder that God provides the gifts we need and that it takes more than just our own gifts to do God's work.

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Reflections on "What If I Didn't Give...." 2 Corinthians 9: 6-11; Psalm 25: 4-5

I often consult different translations when working on a text, and this week chose to read from The Message because I thought his translation was really helpful in hearing a familiar text in a new way.

At the Sanctuary service before the sermon, a member shared her reflections as we lit the Peace Candle.  Her comments included the fact that she had been baptized and confirmed in this church.  As I preached about the baptismal vows in the Sanctuary service, I referenced her comments (not included in this text).  It was a wonderful illustration of how congregation's live out their baptismal vows.

I really liked this sermon.  Perhaps I should have developed any one of the points into a full sermon and not had three points, but that is an ongoing issue for my preaching -- I tend toward breadth, not depth.

If you want to know what my core values are on the subject of giving, this sermons gets to the heart of my theological underpinnings for giving.

"What If I Didn't Give...” October 12, 2014; FPC, Troy; Stewardship series; 2014 2 Corinthians 9: 6-11

Eugene Peterson's the Message translation

2 Corinthians 9: 6-11: Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

Introduction: As you may remember, the Interpretation and Stewardship committee has invited us this fall to reflect on the question “What if I didn't give....?” We are doing so from a variety of different vantage points.

Last week, we began with the asking that question of God: “What if God didn't give us life? What if God didn't give us Jesus Christ?”

This week we ask, “What if I didn't give?” in broad terms. In the coming weeks, we will sharpen our focus a bit.

Please understand that when I refer to giving, I am referring to our gifts of time, talents, and money. Not one to the exclusion of the others, but all that we have.

Move 1: In part, the answer to the question, “If I didn't give” is “I would not be living into God's image”

a. As we noted last week, God gives

1. God gives us life.

2. God gives us Jesus Christ and all that comes with that: forgiveness; salvation; hope of eternal life.

3. God gives us the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us, to shape us into the new creations God calls us to be.

4. If we look to the core of who God is, we see a giver.

b. We are made in God's image – that's who we are.

1. We spend our lives trying to live into that image. Never quite achieving it fully, but growing into who God calls us to be.

2. Since giving is a foundational part of who God is, we need to grow in our giving as part of what it means to grow into God's image.

3. We do not give our time because God needs it; we do not give of our talents because God needs it; we do not give of our money because God needs the money.
   4. Sure God wants us to give; God will use our gifts; but I imagine the God who created the world out of nothing can make out OK if we opt out of giving.

4. Likewise, we do not give to the church our time, talents, or money because the church needs it. Yes, there are numerous ministries that will benefit from our gifts, but the church has made it for the past 2000 years, and probably will make a year or two more whether I give or not.
5. I give because I need to be a giver; you give because you need to be a giver.

6. We give because we need to be givers – its who we are as people created in God's image.

If I didn't give, I would not be living into God's image.

Move 2: Another part of the answer to the question, “If I didn't give,” is “I would not learn how to live as an asset manager for God.”

a. Dave Ramsay, who writes and teaches about how we should manage our finances from a Christian perspective, suggests that we no longer understand what it means to be a “steward” because the word has lost its meaning for us (Ramsay discussed this on CD 6, The Great Misunderstanding: Unleashing the Power of Generous Giving, as part of his Financial Peace University).

1. He reminds us that the word steward comes from Old English and a time when a few lords owned all the land and all the resources.

2. at the bottom of the economic ladder were serfs, who worked the fields for the lord.

3. Stewards were the middle managers, if you will, who were responsible for overseeing the and managing all the lords resources – money, fields, and serfs.

4. the stewards did not own any resources, the lord did; but the stewards managed the resources for the lord.

5. Ramsay likens that role to an asset manager in today's language. Someone who does not own the assets, but manages them.

6. We do not own the resources, god the creator does. But we manage the resources for God.

b. Being an asset manager is life long job, not a one-time transaction.

1. As many of you may know, this year has seen an incredible development in fund raising – the ALS ice bucket challenge.

4. As of the end of August, $100 million had been raised for ALS through people pouring a bucket of ice cold water on themselves and challenging others to do, all of whom make a donation to ALS (See www.forbbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2014/08/29/the-als-ice-bucket-challenge-has-raised-100m-but-its-finally-cooling-off/)

5. I suspect many of us have participated in an ice bucket challenge, know someone who has, or have donated

6. Lots of non-profits are not trying to figure out what they can do that will be the next ice bucket challenge.

7. The unknown about this fund raising effort is One of the questions that is yet to be answered whether it is a one-time phenomenon, or will it lead to a change in people's patterns of giving to ALS?

8. when we talk about being an asset manager or being a steward of God's resources, we are not talking about a one-time transaction.

9. We are describing what God calls us to be – people who generously manage the gifts God has given to us.

If I didn't give, I would not learn how to live as an asset manager for God.

Move 3: The third part of the answer to the question, “if I didn't give” is “I would not be teaching my children about giving.”

a. Baptismal vows.

1. When we baptize infants, this congregation takes vows on behalf of the church universal to nurture and teach the child to grow into the faith.

2. We live out those vows by guiding the children who grow up in this congregation to discover and claim for themselves what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

3. They learn in lots of ways, but a very important way is how we model what it means to be a disciple of Christ.
4. Likewise, they will learn best how to be givers like God is if we teach them to be givers by our example.

b. as a parent, I know that my children have learned a little bit about giving from attending Church school and listening to the sermons and Minute for missions in worship.

5. but the most effective learning takes place when my wife Leslie and I sit down with our kids and explain what a tithe is – literally looking at paycheck they receive and doing the math – and when we describe our own giving patterns.

6. Long after they've forgotten their father's sermons, I suspect they will remember the conversations about giving, the challenge of giving we have shared with them, and the example of our own giving.

If I didn't give, I would not be teaching giving to my children.

Conclusion: In the Scripture lesson this morning we heard Paul teaching the Corinthians about giving. He warns them not to give because of some sob story or arm-twisting.

Paul is not after an impulsive one-time gift.

Instead, he is teaching them about giving. How much God has given to them and how they can give back to God.

How they can grow as givers as part of their calling, as part of who God made them to be.

"If I Didn't Give...." 2 Corinthians 9: 5-7

We continue through our series on "If I Didn't Give...."  Last week, we reflected on what it might be like if God didn't give us life and Jesus Christ.  This week, we reflect on what it would mean if we did not give in general terms.  Here are some of my initial thoughts:

1.  Giving includes time and talents; but it does not exclude our monetary gifts.  If we push to include time and talents because we recognize that they are part of what we have and are called to share, great.  If we focus on time and talents because we do not want to discuss our financial giving, then we are avoiding the overall call the give.

2.   We are made in God's image.  God has modeled giving. To grow into our likeness to God, we should be givers.

3.  Ran across this story, which some of you may have seen on FB.

Hundred dollar bill! Married couple Makenzie and Steven Schultz celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary at Kazoku sushi restaurant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but their love story is not what's making headlines. The couple left their waiter a $100 tip, even after receiving poor service, and their Facebook post explaining why  has gone viral.

Makenzie wrote about her experience on Saturday, Sept. 27, sharing a photo of the receipt. "So here's the deal. Our service tonight sucked," she wrote. "Took 20 minutes to get water, 40 minutes for an appetizer and over an hour for our entree. People all around us were making fun of the restaurant & how bad the service was. Yeah, it was pretty terrible."

Makenzie explained that the problem, though, was not the waiter. "It was very obvious that the issue was being short staffed, not the server. He was running around like crazy and never acted annoyed with any table," she continued. "At one point we counted he had 12 tables plus the bar. More than any one person could handle! As I sat there and watched him run back & forth and apologize for the wait, I said to Steven... 'Wow, this used to be us.' Waiting tables. I don't miss it at all and I never loved that job. I did it for the tips."

She and her husband deliberated and decided to pay it forward to their hardworking server. "Steven and I agreed it would feel good to make this guys night when he would probably be getting minimal to no tips due to slow service," she wrote. The couple left a $100 tip for a $66.65 meal, and even wrote a sweet message for their server Kyle H: "We've both been in your shoes. Paying it forward."

Since the heartwarming photo of the receipt was posted, the update has received  over 190,000 plus shares and 1.5 million likes. "We walked out before he saw this and I'm not posting this for a pat on the back," she concluded. "I'm just sharing this as a friendly reminder to think of the entire situation, before you judge. And always always always remember where you came from. — with Steven Schultz."

Speaking with the Today show  on Tuesday, Sept. 30, Makenzie said: "No matter how much you apologize to tables, there are going to be people rolling their eyes," she recalled of being a server herself. "Throughout the dinner we were like, 'We've been in his position.'"

Read more: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/couple-leaves-waiter-a-100-tip-for-bad-service-facebook-message-2014309#ixzz3FeRcqOlH
Follow us: @usweekly on Twitter | usweekly on Facebook

4. Dave Ramsay, noted Christian leader who teaches about financial management from a Christian perspective, suggests that we no longer know what the word "steward" means (he then goes into detail describing the steward as the one who managed the resources of the lord back in feudal days in England), which leads him to suggest that the term "asset manager" might be a better term.  His point is that all we do is manage the resources given to us by God.

5.  We do not give because God needs the money; or because the church needs the money; we give because we need to be givers (Dave Ramsay also talks about this, although it is not unique to his teaching).

6.  When we give, we teach our children about giving.  If a parent has not had a conversation with his or her child about giving/tithing, then an important teaching point has been left on the table.

"What If God Didn't Give Us..." Genesis 2: 4b-9; John 17: 20-26

Some of the good things about preaching a series are:  if the listeners get engaged, they will want more; there is some continuity; I can focus and study on a topic that will keep appearing through the whole series.

Some of the challenges:  if the listener does not get into the series, you lose for the next six weeks; sometimes the box created by the sermon series becomes hard to negotiate; it's hard to keep from having too much overlap or looking to future topics.

This sermon probably reflected all of that.  I like the idea as presented, but am challenged with making it work for the next six weeks.

It's also a bit contrived to think about "what if God didn't do something."

Nevertheless, the following kicked off the series.

The italics at the end of the sermon is what I added for the Sanctuary service that I did not do in the Chapel service.  I think it was a better ending.

"What If God Didn't Give Us...” October 5, 2014; FPC, Troy; Stewardship series; 2014 Genesis 2: 4b-9; John 17: 20-26

Introduction: It happened to me just this past week. It seems to happen to me more often these days.

I was leaving a store, pushing my cart with all the items I had bought. I spied a card table where a couple of adults were sitting.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a couple of young men one of whom had a sign that I quickly read “troop...” before I looked away.

I instantly knew that they were selling something,

selling something for a good cause,

selling something for a good cause that I did not want,

I avoided eye contact and began my journey to the car.

With my back to them, a pang of guilt raced through me, quickly replaced by rationalization.

I didn't need what they were selling.

I didn't have any cash in my wallet.

I usually buy popcorn from a Boy Scout I know personally.

But I could not shake the thought: “What if I didn't give, and they really needed the money.”

the Interpretation and Stewardship committee thought it would be an interesting exercise for all of us ask ourselves a series of questions this fall that begin with “What if I didn't give...”

What if I didn't give – in general terms

What if I didn't give my time

What if I didn't give to the budget?

What if I didn't give to other groups and special projects.

And we finish with the affirmation that we do give.

We are going to have some interesting opportunities for reflection over the next six weeks or so.

Before arriving at the question about our own giving, we have to go to the foundation for our giving, God, and ask that similar questions about God.

This morning, we reflect on these two questions: .

What if God didn't give us the gift of life?

What if God did not give us gift of Jesus Christ?

Move 1: I find the passage we read from Genesis one of the most moving images in scripture.

a. I have never used a pottery wheel, but I've seen it done.

1. the blob of clay taking shape as the potter spins the wheel and shapes it with her hands.

2. the object taking form at the will of the potter.

b. God literally scooping up mud and blowing God's very breath into it to call us into being.

1. we owe our very being to God.

2. We exist only because of God's choosing.

3. Our shape and form come from God.

4. We are intimately connected with God because it is the very breath of God that gives us life.

100. If God did not give us the breath of life, where would we be?

1. I don't want to prematurely end our reflections, but simply put, if God did not create us, then we would not be here.

2. List all the things you love about your life – you would have none of them and you would not be here to enjoy them without God breathing your life into you.

3. Robotic cheetah (http://www.businessinsider.com/silent-robot-cheetah-from-darpa-and-mit-2014-9, MIT's Super-Stealthy Robot Cheetah Can Run You Dow, Jessica Orwig)

4. no relationship.

5. Being filled with the breath of God is an intimate relationship with God.

6. relationships with each other.

Move 2: What if God did not give us Christ.

a. As we come to our Lord's Table today on World Communion Sunday, we pause and ponder what our lives would be like if Christ had not come, if we did not have this gift of Christ to sustain us.

1. Lots of thoughts might come to mind.

2. Without the coming of Christ, where would find forgiveness.

3. without Christ dying on the cross, how could we hope for salvation.

b. Love.

1. AS we read Jesus' words that he shared with God just before being arrested, we are reminded that Christ is our invitation to know God's love.

2. Christ is our access to God's love.

3. Christ God's love on full display.

4. WE can dare to believe that God loves us and we can risk ourselves in loving others because Christ has shown us God's love.

5. If God did not give us Christ, we would not know God's great desire to love us, nor would we know the fullness of God's love.

Conclusion: Perhaps the most memorable playing out of the “what if...” takes place in the Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life.

As you may recall, George Bailey, as played by Jimmy Stewart, is unhappy with the way his life has turned out. He has not lived out the dreams of his childhood; he has been trapped by circumstances beyond his control;

As he faces what he sees as his miserable life, he wishes that he had never been born.

Clarence, the bumbling wannabe angel arrives on the scene to reveal with George what the world of Bedford Falls would have been like if George had never been born.

George discovers that the “what if...” looks rather grim – lives not changed; opportunities not lived out; love not shared.

As you know, he decides that he has a wonderful life after all.

God has given each of us the wonderful gift of life and the gift of Christ.

All we are and all we have are because God has given to us.

We can ask “What if...” about God because God has already answered.” Amen.

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