offering

This upcoming Sunday will be the first Sunday that we collect an offering at mosaic during the worship service.  Up to this point we have chosen to leave this aspect out of our service and only give people the opportunity to give by placing a box at the entrance.  

The largest factor in determining this decision is the following:  We believe we are failing in teaching new believers that giving of their resources is a part of their walk with Christ.  

It is less awkward to remind them weekly through implementing the passing of buckets (plates, baskets, whatever) during worship than to say "don't forget to walk over to the box where everyone can see you and give something."  

Here are some questions and answers that we have worked through in making this decision.  

Q: Will taking up the offering during the service cause those who are unchurched to be uncomfortable?

A: There are a few that may not like it, but most people who do not go to Church have gotten past that when they decide to attend a service.  Plus we will let them know that they are not expected to give.

Q:  Aren't offerings supposed to be given and not taken?

A: However you do your offering they have to be taken, unless you just leave the money sitting there.  Also Paul referred to the collecting of money in 1 Corinthians 16

Q: Isn't it better to give while no one's looking?

A:  Yeah, we don't give to be seen.  People may see you give during the offering time, people may also see you give at the box in the back.  Just don't worry about them.  Focus on God.

Q: Are we doing this so we will have more money?

A: Actually, our finances have increased drastically recently so we are not to worried about that.  God will take care of us.  However, the more people who are giving (with the right heart) the more we are equipping people to live life to the fullest.  

Q: Won't some people give out of guilt?

A: We hope not.  We hope people don't do anything for the wrong reason.  Some probably will, just like some probably do now.  

the right thing

Sometimes doing what is right does not make sense.

It is so easy to lean on our own understanding. We are comfortable with it. We are familiar with what the consequences are. We are in some sort of control of the situation. Even if it is bad there is not an element of surprise.

We don't like surprises; or better put we don't like the time leading up to the surprise. I want to know my choices:

If I am not the one picking where we go to dinner, I like to know beforehand so that I can prepare myself if I am going to be disappointed or eat less during the day if it going to be somewhere good. I do not like just showing up somewhere.

If someone is paying, I don't like rules on what to order. I want to have the freedom to choose. I want to be able to do what I want.

Why do I say all this? Because God asks us to follow him, to make decisions that are not based on our understanding but are leaps of faith.

I have to ask myself a question a lot? As a pastor, as a church planter, as a husband, as a friend, as a leader, as a father, as an individual

am I willing to follow God into the unknown?

open

Last night, I decided to drop in on our life group entitled open. Open is a group that meets at Starbucks every Sunday night. They usually start by discussing the topic of that day's sermon and then whatever is going on in someones life. The idea behind this group is to be a small step for someone to make to get more plugged into our church.

WOW!

I was absolutely amazed at the openness between people who had not met each other before that day. I was amazed at the willingness for new people to share what is going on in their life. I was encouraged by this small groups success in doing what we believe God has it there for.

If you are not seeing guests/regular attenders become more invovled in the body, then be creative. Start service based groups, interst groups, use different nights of the week, go to public locations, and do whatever it takes!

What works for us may or may not work for you, but is part of our call as Pastors and leaders of the church to do something to try and equip people (eph 4) and we have to figure out steps that people can take to move them along on their walk with Christ!

it's not about you

This is one of the most popular phrases in contemporary christian culture. "It's not about you" is the opening line in Rick Warren's best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life.

Since Warren wrote this book, it has been the desire of many Christians to get non-believers to come to the personal realization that "it's not about you." So you should stop living for yourself and join other believers in worship of the one true God!

Then, this person decides to check out a local church (maybe even an accepting, cutting edge, "seeker sensitive" church) and decides to stick around for a while. They give their life to Christ, they show others their new found faith, they start to get involved and grow closer to some of those who invited them for many years.

Then as they get to know these people they come to a new realization that is shocking, confusing, challenging, hypocritical, etc, etc! For those believers faith and church actually is all about you!

Now, instead of being part of mainstream society and involved with people they naturally click with more; They put aside their living for self and now attend a church with people (they don't even like that much) who are completely living for self.

Worship is all about the songs that they like. They sermon is all about whether or not it was deep enough (whatever that means). Giving is all about making sure their money is used the way they think it should be. Serving is all about the their personal agenda. Church is all about themselves!

I wonder why many people leave the church within their first year of conversion. Let's just keep blaming it on their salvation not being real - that way we don't have to change anything about ourselves.

I realize that their are some great people of the faith that love Jesus with all their heart. I serve at mosaic church of crestview alongside some incredible examples of this.