This Sunday, we start a new four week series on stewardship, as we’ll address the invitation from Jesus and Paul to live with Open Hands. Specifically, this Sunday, we’ll talk about money, and stewarding all the financial resources that God has given us. It can be a tricky subject as so many people have past experiences of being hurt by how a church handles money, and in particular, giving. I am very sympathetic to those who have negative experiences in this regard. Last week, I saw a viral video of a woman who was publicly reprimanded and shamed by her megachurch pastor for not bringing a large enough gift forward during the offering time. Jesus, of course, would have nothing to do with this posture of leadership.

For Jesus and Paul, the invitation is not to balance a church budget (nice as that might be), but to see money and stewardship as a primary way that our inner life is shaped and formed to live in the kingdom of God, or not. In other words, what we do with our money says everything about what we treasure most in our hearts. 

Before church this Sunday read Matthew 6:19-24 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-3. And together, this Sunday, we’ll grow as a church of the open hand.

With love,

Mark