Two men were marooned on a tiny island. One man paced back and forth worried and dreadfully frightened, while the other man sat back, whistling and sunning himself. The first man said, “Aren’t you afraid we’re going to die here?” To which the second man replied, “Nope, I make $100,000 a month and I tithe faithfully to my church….My pastor will find me!” This humorous story identifies one of the key reasons why many pastors and churches avoid the financial teaching of scriptures. But as you examine Scripture, you find that stewardship is not fund-raising; it’s basic discipleship. Giving is actually a deep personal indicator of our spiritual maturity as well as our love for God. If we understand Jesus’ words that our “treasure” is an indication of our “heart,” how can churches and pastors avoid teaching on the important issue of giving? Jack Graham, who pastors Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, said “The purpose of giving is to teach us to put God first in our lives. God doesn’t need our money. Instead, He wants what our money represents: our priorities, passions, and purposes. “ This week, Pastor will challenge us with the message “When We Give”. We will explore how giving spreads the gospel message, meets people needs, assists people in growing spiritually and enables our church to shine as God’s lights in the world. Be in your seat ready to grow!