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Let's Talk Money

So, let’s talk about money and giving.  Let’s do it from the context and perspective of our story at Encounter Church and how your giving has, and will continue to make an impact on the lives of people in Hot Springs, as well as nations around the globe. After more than 20 years in pastoral ministry, I know that few things bring more tension in a conversation than talking about money. In fact, most people never talk about it unless they are in trouble. But I think we need to have a healthy understanding of how ministry is funded and the part we play, the part God plays, and where the money is going.

“Where’s the Money Going?”

The finances of any church should not be based in fear, or tension, because our finances are really just a story about us and about where we are going as a church. Our budget, as a church, is a tool we use to manage the incredible gifts we have been given and to live boldly in the calling of God in this community. For example, you cannot talk about finances, and where we use them at Encounter Church, without talking about the kids and teens that we reach every week. Your giving tells the story of how we get to share the Gospel of Jesus with over 50 kids every week. It will also tell the story of how we will reach about 100 children this year at VBS with the message of hope, love, and connection, and even food, that for many families is hard to come by during the summer. It will tell the story of E-Teens and all the pizza, crazy games, Youth America Camp, and the amazing worship and messages that have made Sunday night  an additional service here at Encounter. In addition to the 2 services every morning, we have added a third for reaching and gearing towards our next generation.

The finances also tell the story of the A21 program that is set out to reach those caught in Human Trafficking, and the Dream Factory that feeds and clothes children and parents every week. They also tell the stories of our Small Group and demographic ministries. They tell the story of Millenials that reaches young adults, Babes that Brunch, and Men’s Fraternity. You also can’t forget about the amazing worship environments we create every week where people have the chance to give their lives to Christ.

What’s our Part? – or “Where does the money come from?”

Every area, every penny that comes into this church comes from people just like you. When we take up the tithes and offerings, the missions offerings, when the teens do a car wash, or sell cookies, every dime comes from you!  You are the heartbeat of Encounter Church. Without you there would be no reason to do this, and no resources anyway. Your giving has made everything that has happened possible and your continued giving will continue to make even more happen. There is, though, a problem under the surface. Some people, who consider EC home just do not give. No matter what we will love you and will serve you, but you are missing out on blessings: to bless others and to reach more people for Jesus.  When you give more to buy tickets to see a movie across the street then you do to see the Gospel preached, there is a heart issue, but there is also a missed opportunity to give back to others and to help people receive the message of Jesus Christ. In the Bible it is put very blunty. Malachi 3:8 says “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house…”

Let me ask you this question, and it is going to hurt some of us. If you are robbing from God – can you really expect him to bless your life? Would you show generosity to a person who was robbing from you? With tithing you give your FIRST fruits. I pay my tithing first, in fact, mine is withheld from my salary and done automatically before I ever see it. A tithe is 10%, so we teach our girls the .10c of every $1.00 belongs to God first. Before we buy groceries, gas, or pay our mortgage – we tithe! We believe that the first “redeems” the rest. In Genesis, Abraham tithes, in Exodus 13, God decrees that the first is his. Proverbs 3:9-10 says “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”  In Exodus 23 God commanded the first be brought to him. Leviticus 27:30 says “All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.”

Another blessing you would miss out on if you did not give would be the blessing for you - this is where God comes in. The reality is, how we spend our money and how we give our money is as much as spiritual obligation and issue as it is a physical one.

Here’s God’s Part:

Malachi 3:10 says “…Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

So, if we will give it he will fill it! If I hold on to it, that’s all I will ever have, but If I will give it he will fill it.

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