Monday recap!

We covered a lot of ground yesterday, and I was going really quick - apologies! On reflection it would have been better to go slower and cover this over two weeks. So I thought it would be worth while to post up a brief recap, including the 5 principals for giving.

Who do we serve? God - whole life WORSHIP because of his great mercy (Rom 12:1) Each other - we all belong to each other (Rom 12:5)

Who does the serving? We all do - God, in grace, saves and empowers us (Rom 12:3, 6)

What can I do? Love one another - Rom 12 fleshes this out! And we all must PRAY and GIVE.

5 principals of giving These are taken from 'Starting Point' by Covenant Life Church. And remember this is just one part of what it means to go 'all in' as we give ourselves to whole, life, worship.

Generous not stingy Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoeversows generously will also reap generously. 2 Cor 9:6 ​ As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the templetreasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly Itell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. Allthese people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her povertyput in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4

Enthusiastic not grudgingEach of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, notreluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver 2 Cor 9:7

Deliberate not haphazardOn the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum ofmoney in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come nocollections will have to be made. 1 Cor 16:2

Discreet not showyBut when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what yourright hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father,who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matt 6:4

In faith not anxietyBring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in myhouse. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throwopen the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will notbe room enough to store it. Mal 3:10

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at alltimes, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Cor 9:8