I typed “crisis in the church” in Google’s image search, and what do you think most of the images depicted? The sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. It’s an absolute mess. I live in the Harrisburg (PA) Diocese, and it made national news recently when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Before weContinue reading “Was the early church communist or socialist? – Acts 5-6:7, Part 1”
Tag Archives: generosity
What churches need to be devoted to (and a building is not one of them) – Acts 2, Part 5
What would your church do if God brought revival to your church and in a relatively short time period thousands of new people started coming to your church? What we have seen in the first church was that 3000 people were added to their number that day in Acts 2. If that happened to us,Continue reading “What churches need to be devoted to (and a building is not one of them) – Acts 2, Part 5”
False Ideas Christians Believe About…Money
Today, as we continue our series on False Ideas that Christians believe, we are fact-checking statements about money and generosity. You can’t out-give God. Give and you will receive. It’s my money; I worked hard for it. Money is the root of all evil. Let’s start with… On the surface, this one is true. GodContinue reading “False Ideas Christians Believe About…Money”
God doesn’t expect that much from me? [False ideas Christians believe about…God’s desires for Christians. Part 5]
How much does God expect from us, really? It is very tempting to think, “God does not expect that much from me,” when you know you are so thoroughly loved by God, so thoroughly forgiven, and in fact rightfully believing that there is nothing you can do to earn your salvation. We can almost theologicallyContinue reading “God doesn’t expect that much from me? [False ideas Christians believe about…God’s desires for Christians. Part 5]”
How to grow your love for God, part 2
Yesterday I referred to the axiom, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” but I didn’t talk about how it matters. This week we are looking at Deuteronomy 11, and how to grow love for God, and I promise that I’ll eventually explain how the axiom about the apple tree relates to this. ButContinue reading “How to grow your love for God, part 2”
God’s surprising views on justice
Last year we started studying the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. Then I went on sabbatical. We had covered the first nine chapters of Deuteronomy. Now we’re heading back in! For the most part, though, we’re going to study Deuteronomy differently than we did last year. Last year we went chapter by chapter, verse byContinue reading “God’s surprising views on justice”
When Jesus was people-watching and taught his disciples how to be generous
I love people-watching. When I was in college, I took a class in which one of our assignments was to go to a place where lots of people walk by and we had to people-watch. While we were watching them, we were to pray that God would give us a heart for people. I neverContinue reading “When Jesus was people-watching and taught his disciples how to be generous”
What the Bible teaches about how much you should give (or How to beat donor fatigue in a world that asks a lot)
Donor fatigue is real. Do you feel it? Are you tired of all the people and organizations asking you to support them? Last week I introduced the issue of donor fatigue by saying that in our culture, where money is tight for so many, it can be hard to be generous. When all of theContinue reading “What the Bible teaches about how much you should give (or How to beat donor fatigue in a world that asks a lot)”
Do you feel you’re being asked to give too much, too often?
How many of you are living paycheck to paycheck? What do I mean by “paycheck to paycheck”? What I mean is that you need that paycheck to keep coming in order to pay your bills. If you don’t get that paycheck, you won’t be able to pay bills, buy groceries, etc. Does that describe yourContinue reading “Do you feel you’re being asked to give too much, too often?”
How to have a good relationship with money – Part 2: Be Rich Toward God – Luke 12:13-21
How is your relationship with money? I wrote this question on the welcome board in our church lobby. We always have a question of the day, hoping to get people thinking as they walk in for worship. As I conversed with one person yesterday, we started joking: “My relationship with money? WeContinue reading “How to have a good relationship with money – Part 2: Be Rich Toward God – Luke 12:13-21”
Engaging Scripture 