New Testament Giving

Coming out of COVID we were in a really good financial position. We found ourselves sitting on a good sized checking account. From that position, we made several decisions at various points:

We increased the size of our emergency reserve fund

We invested more of our money with church investment groups.

We incorporated the preschool fully into our church budget.

We decided to invest more in our preschool by increasing the teachers’ salaries so we could retain good staff for longer.

We also came to a point where we could no longer operate our food bank out of our own building because we couldn’t comply with the rules. So we got a good deal renting a building for them.

After years of struggling to maintain the grounds well, we replaced our landscaping contract with a groundskeeper, Steven Robinson.

We also saw increases in utilities, insurance, inflation. Everything that’s going up for you has been going up for us too.

Along the way, a couple of other things happened.

Our preschool enrollment took an unexpected dip for the 24-25 school year. The actual income hasn’t come down much, but the goal was for it to grow. We aren’t sure exactly why this happened—the world of preschool education is changing fast, and we also changed from having a morning and afternoon class to having a preschool and pre-k class. Scheduling

We have had a lot of givers graduate to Heaven, and they have not been replenished.

We received unexpected gifts over the past few years,

They gave to THEIR CHURCH FAMILY. (32, 35)

They didn’t “give to God”

Acts 4:32 NIV

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

they saw everything as belonging to God. (32)

The NT never mentions offering money to God. Giving money to others is an offering to God.

They gave to the church for use in the common mission. (35)

Acts 4:35 NIV

and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Because they were of one heart and mind. (32)

Acts 4:32 NIV

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Sharing in the life of the church means sharing in the cost of that life.

Explain General Fund.

How much did they give?

They gave according to THE NEEDS. (35)

They never tithed. Tithing makes us think that 10% of our money goes to God and the rest goes to myself.

They gave “to the extent that anyone had need.”

Acts 4:35 NIV

and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Right now, our expenses are higher than our giving.

Explain what is in the general fund.

Salaries

Utilities and maintenance

Church ministries

Especially kids and youth ministries

Missions

Foreign

Ministry Partners

Local

Increases:

Insurance

Utilities

Food Bank

Staff salary

Preschool salary

Crossover position

They gave according to WHAT THEY HAD (BEEN GIVEN). (33-4)

Some of you are ready to give your last mite.

Acts 4:33–34 NIV

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

The whole point of this is that we share the work of our family together. That’s the real meaning of the Widow’s Mite

What now?

Board actions

Pray for our finances.

Discern where the need and your capacity meet. (An influx of cash will help us level out in the short term. Ultimately, we need a steady income in our general fund to maintain the current cost of our ministries).

Support needs where we will need to make cuts.