STEWARDSHIP WEEK 2 : (Sept. 30, 2012) 2 Cor 8: 1-7

            We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to 
            the churches of Macedonia; ²for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy 
            and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.³For, as I 
            can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, ⁴
               begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints— 2 Cor. 8:1-4


I zeroed right in on v.3 last week to help bring home the fact that there is a difference between 'tithes' and 'offerings'. That what we pledge and give intentionally, regularly, and proportionally to our income is our tithe, and it is what we give 'according to our means' (biblical tithing ranges from 4-20%; we have adopted 10% because it is the most common and has nice symbolism!). This is what we give to pay the expenses of the church and its tithe (benevolence) on to the broader layers of the national church. 

It i the giving that is 'even beyond our means' that is the sacrificial giving, that digs into the money we had earmarked for .... something quite different. This is what we put into the special offerings, the sacrificial giving that is 'above and beyond'. 

        +do you practice the spiritual discipline of tithing? why or why not?

        +what was the last thing you 'gave up' getting in order to give to an 'extra commitment opportunity'? how did it make you feel?

Giving an intentional and regular amount in proportion to my income for the basic expenses, maintenance, and benevolence of the church is my TITHE .... 'OTHER' giving is extra commitment giving, sacrificial offerings, 'BEYOND my means' giving

Next Sunday we come to the Lord's Table with Christians all around the world. We will receive and dedicate our Peacemaking Offering --- an 'OTHER' kind of offering More examples: Feed the Flock Ministry, Gifts and Memorials, Deacons Fund/ Enchanted Tree, buying a Lily in honor of N., the Organ Fund, and so on.(photo of 2012 PCUSA Peacemaking Offering worship materials).