Generosity is at its core a lifestyle. It is a lifestyle in which we share all that we have, are, and ever will become as a demonstration of God's love and a response to God's grace. Generosity flows from an understanding that all we have, are, and ever will become is not ours to possess, and it results in sharing what we have been given with others for the advancement of the Kingdom and the glory of God.
Generosity, when it flows naturally ... or should I say, supernaturally ... from the heart of an individual, or a church community, is contagious! It expresses in practical and powerful ways the message at the core of our faith: God gave His only Son to us that we might have life.
The local church (no matter the size) is the primary means that God uses to build His Kingdom on earth. And every local church has a unique culture that shapes its identity. Our personal beliefs are grounded in our culture. Our actions reflect our culture. And our impact on our community is determined largely by our culture. Church leaders have been given the primary responsibility for creating a culture of faith and practice that aligns with Biblical teaching on generosity.
A church must be intentional about developing a culture of generosity! The culture of a church includes its customs and underlying attitudes. Culture sets the tone, defines the pace, and becomes the catalyst for vision, strategy, goals and impact. There is no status quo in church culture. A church is either moving toward or moving away from becoming a generous church. A generous church must be constantly, intentionally influenced until it results in the contagious generosity of the members.
Generosity is a fruit of God's grace, the product of a transformed heart, and it develops in an atmosphere that encourages it, celebrates it, and reproduces it consistently over time.
Encounter The Word
- 2 Corinthians 9:11
- Luke 6:38
*I thank Chris Willard and Jim Sheppard for their thoughts and ideas.
No comments:
Post a Comment