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A Disciple’s Generous Response

A Disciple’s Generous Response. Six Principles to Live By “You have been given the principles of generosity, rightly interpreted for a new time.” —Doctrine and Covenants 162:7c. Generosity & Response. God gives graciously, providing “enough and to spare.” —Doctrine and Covenants 101:2f

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A Disciple’s Generous Response

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  1. A Disciple’s Generous Response Six Principles to Live By “You have been given the principles of generosity, rightly interpreted for a new time.” —Doctrine and Covenants 162:7c Overview 10 – 20 Minutes

  2. Generosity & Response • God gives graciously, providing “enough and to spare.” —Doctrine and Covenants 101:2f • As disciples, we strive to be generous like God. • “…stewardship and discipleship cannot be divided and are dependent upon each other. ” —Doctrine and Covenants 162:7c

  3. A Disciple’s Generous Response Guiding Principles • Generosity – a spiritual discipline • Responding faithfully • Our financial response • Sharing generously • Saving wisely • Spending responsibly

  4. 1. Generosity – A Spiritual Discipline A disciple practices generosity as a spiritual discipline in response to God’s grace and love. • “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” —John 3:16 NRSV • “All things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal.” —Doctrine and Covenants 28:9a

  5. 1. Generosity – A Spiritual Discipline A disciple practices generosity as a spiritual discipline in response to God’s grace and love. • Receive first God’s boundless grace and unending love. • Share with a sense of gratitude.

  6. 2. Responding Faithfully A disciple is faithful in response to Christ’s ministry. • “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” —Lamentations 3:22–23 NRSV • “It is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as stewards over earthly blessings which I have made and prepared for my creatures.”–Doctrine and Covenants 101:2c

  7. 2. Responding Faithfully A disciple is faithful in response to Christ’s ministry. • God’s unconditional love for us is expressed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. • Respond faithfully with steadfast love and commitment to God.

  8. 3. Our Financial Response A disciple’s financial response, while unique to individual circumstances, expresses love of God, neighbor, creation, and oneself. • “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also . . . You cannot serve God and wealth.” —Matthew 6:21, 24 NRSV • “But before you seek for riches, seek for the kingdom of God.”—Jacob 2:23 RAV

  9. 3. Our Financial Response A disciple’s financial response, while unique to individual circumstances, expresses love of God, neighbor, creation, and oneself. • Using our resources to the glory of God aligns our hearts with God’s heart. • Being purposeful in our financial response keeps us focused on God, Christ, and the building of God’s kingdom.

  10. 4. Sharing Generously A disciple shares generously through tithing so that others may experience God’s generosity. • “Therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.”—Alma 1:46 RAV • “These principles (of generosity) call every disciple to tithe faithfully in accordance with means and capacity.”—Doctrine and Covenants 162:7c

  11. 4. Sharing Generously A disciple shares generously through tithing so that others may experience God’s generosity. • Tithing is a gift of thanksgiving to God in response to God’s generous gifts to us. It is given before we save or spend from our income. • Our tithing response reflects the call to be in the church (Local and World Mission Tithes) and the community (Community Tithes).

  12. 4. Sharing Generously Mission Tithes • “Look to the needs of your own congregations, but look also beyond your walls to the far-flung places where the church must go.” —Doctrine and Covenants 162:7d

  13. 4. Sharing Generously Community Tithes • A disciple’s response to church-affiliated organizations and other charitable nonprofit organizations that are “…in the forefront…recognizing the worth of persons and are committed to bringing the ministry of my Son to bear on their lives.” —Doctrine and Covenants 151:9 Examples: • Graceland University • Outreach International • Restoration Trail Foundation • Other charitable nonprofit organizations

  14. 5. Saving Wisely A disciple saves wisely in order to create a better tomorrow for self, family, the church’s mission, and the world. • “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and . . . ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” —Mark 12:30–31 NRSV • “And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” —1 Timothy 5:8 NRSV

  15. 5. Saving Wisely A disciple saves wisely in order to create a better tomorrow for self, family, the church’s mission, and the world. • Saving is a way we prepare for the future, both the expected and the unexpected. • One method for increasing savings is to determine a sustainable standard of living at current income, and then maintain it when income increases.

  16. 6. Spending Responsibly A disciple spends responsibly as a commitment to live in health and harmony with God and the world. • “They imparted of their substance, every man according to that which he had…Thus they established the affairs of the church; and thus they began to have continual peace again.”—Alma 1:40, 42 RAV • “I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty…I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”—Philippians 4:12–13 NRSV

  17. 6. Spending Responsibly A disciple spends responsibly as a commitment to live in health and harmony with God and the world. • The teachings of Jesus challenge us to make lifestyle choices that are often counter to our culture. • Learning the importance of living within our means and learning the appropriate use of debt helps us become disciples who spend responsibly.

  18. Continuing the Journey • A Disciple’s Generous Response is a whole life commitment we choose to make in response to God’s wonderful generosity. • We commit to discipleship that includes all that we are and all that we have. • Whether we are considering our stewardship of resources for the first time or are recommitting to a time-honored practice in our ongoing discipleship, God will bless our response and guide us in becoming generous disciples.

  19. Resources now available • Becoming A Generous Disciple – Six Principles to Live By (book)* • A Disciple’s Generous Response (tract)* • Tithing (tract)* • World Mission Tithes (tract)* *available through Herald House at 1-800-767-8181 or www.HeraldHouse.org • Presiding Bishopric Web site www.CofChrist.org/bishop • Resources (description of resources above, including PowerPoint presentations) • A Disciple’s Generous Response • Adult • Children/youth • Personal Money Management resource reviews

  20. Resources available during 2005 • Temple School courses • Bishops: Ministers of Generosity • Stewardship: An Old Path Made New • A personal, confidential tithing plan

  21. For More Information Please visit the Presiding Bishopric Web site at www.CofChrist.org/bishop;write 1001 West Walnut, Independence, MO 64050; or call 1-800-825-2806, ext. 2216.

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