Elements of a Culture of Generosity in the Church

 

Hello! Welcome to Multiply, a podcast to encourage village church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders. I am your host today, Daneille Snowden.

In the New Village Church Planters Term 2, we learned about how God sees our offerings. Wow! He looks at the heart, and the motives as we give. It is always good to even ask ourselves, why am I giving my offerings and tithes to God? Is it that we realize all we have comes from Him (look at Genesis 1:1 & Psalm 24:1)?

2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift].”

When leading a church and training leaders within a church; it is our objective to create a culture of generosity. This will test our faith and theirs, as well as deepen our relationship with our Savior. What is a culture? It is a, “set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.” As we create a culture of generosity within the entire church, it creates then a community of people actively achieving the standards God longs for His church. 

It is His supply for our personal needs, that will flow into the church, then in return; the church giving out to help the needs of others. That is the living-flow of the Body of Jesus Christ! 

When I was little, I loved the story of the widow with two mites, Jesus watched as she gave all she had. Jesus said that she gave more than everyone else because she gave out of her poverty. As a missionary, I can tell you the most cheerful and giving churches plus individuals have given sacrificially! And God continues to pour into their lives and churches as they continue to give out to bless others. 

Creating a culture of generosity begins with our values, what do we as a church value the most? To please God? To bring Him glory? This is a good question to meditate on as we listen and receive from the heart of God for direction. Generosity within the church should be considered a normal character trait as the Body of Christ. 

This quote from Term 2 is simple but well defined: “In the New Testament, churches took up collections to provide relief for God’s people who were in need (1 Corinthians 16:2). We should give to help those who are in need (Luke 10:25-37), also to support Christian workers who give all their time to ministry (1 Timothy 5:17-18), and to send missionaries to neglected places.”

I love attending our beautiful churches in Africa all for numerous reasons, but one of them is their generosity! I know they sacrifice, but that does not stop them! You can see the love and passion they have for the Lord and others, the passion to see the Gospel to be sent to touch lives. They meet the needs of their widows, orphans, and the sick. In this they are the light that shines far and wide for all to see the generous, loving heart of our God!

Thank you for listening, I hope this has blessed you and added more to your walk with God. Please share this podcast with others, and follow us on Facebook, and YouTube, plus, subscribe also on our website at vcpencouragemen.org.