Guest preacher Rich David asks if we are F.A.T. Christians?

One of the hardest parts of giving money to someone else is the giving. It’s gone, it’s not mine any more. Scripture reminds us that in God’s economy the best way to grow someone or something it to give it away, because we can’t out give God.

Ever think about why you give of your time and money in the way that you do? Even with the purest intentions it can be hard not to want some thanks, someone to notice. We see in this passage that the heart of a giver offers our best to God, no string attached, trusting and thankful for God’s provision.

If you plant corn seed, you get corn, not tomatoes. Sounds simple right? What kinds of seed are we planting when it comes to our resources, and the attitude that we use them with? Are we planting with faith that God will grow them, or carefully hiding our seeds away?

Jesus speaks bluntly and clearly to our relationship with money. Jesus asks us to reflect on what kind of value we place on the items that we own, and the money that we process. Does our heart lie with our stuff, or somewhere else? If we are to be a giving people, we have to begin honestly addressing what beliefs we have about the very things we are called to give away.

The Bible says that we are to put God first when it comes to money. What does that mean? How does the way I use my financial resources reflect or not reflect this idea? Why does God come first when it comes to the money I earn anyway?

We live in a me word. We are reminded often about the importance of looking out for me, #1. Spiritual gifts, fly in the face of that, and instead are to be used for the good of other people. In fact, it is a matter of our stewardship to use them thoughtfully to help and serve others.

Once we have been given these spiritual gifts, what next? Jesus illustrates for us that our Spiritual gifts are not commemorative items to be placed in a case or put on display, but put to through use, not for own gain, but to reflect back on the one who gave them to us.

With great power comes great responsibility. What is a Spiritual gift, how does it differ from skills, or does it? Where do they even come from? We will begin our series with the reminder these gifts are from God, as a gift to us. These are abilities that go far beyond our human abilities, but what are we to do with them?

Sometimes God just feels far away. You may not even be able to put your finger on why, but He feels far away. The psalms lift up honest prayers that confront God in those moments, openly wondering where God is at, but trusting that He is near even when it’s hard to feel it.