5 The Budget Moved Inwardly

Intro:

read 31 par 2

Churches Too

Greed vs Inwardly focused

greed- churches which hold on to large sums

never satisfied they have enough

NOT saying a reserve fund is bad

it is wise

However, some have far more reserves than needed and are scared to spend any.

Inwardly focused- money is used for us primarily

The church can do this in several ways.

Personnel portion steadily increases over time

NOT due to raises, but due to decreases in overall offerings.

Cuts are made everywhere but salaries.

read pg 33

2. Building and facility costs are the last to be cut.

Read last par pg 33

Where are the cuts made?

read last two par under heading on pg 34

Outside expenses are the first to go

giving to community causes

feeding the hungry

clothing the needy

supporting the schools

Outreach expenses are often cut 1st!

Giving to Kingdom ministries

giving to missions

giving to Texas Baptist Home for Children

Giving to seminary, JBC,

Baptist Progress

church plan is being dropped

Budgeting

This is a tough symptom

As people, we must live on budgets

As a church, we must live on a budget

We must spend less than we bring in.

We must prioritize those expenses

When offerings decrease and adjustments must be made, it is often the things that can help a church grow that are the first to go!

It reveals the church’s priority

Us?

Them?

How would budgets and use of funds be different between healthy and dying churches?

healthy- balanced, some reserve

evidence of outward priority

When cuts come, internal focused ministries are cut first

dying- unbalanced, sloppy

Inward focus

Struggle to keep comfortable

Things not focused on members are cut 1st

The Rich Young Ruler and Deceased Churches

Mark 10:17–22 ESV

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Rich young ruler held too tightly to what he had.

Mark 10:17-22

He wanted eternal life

came and asked about it

He was a “good man”

thought he kept the commandments

Had done so throughout his life

When Jesus challenged him to let go and give away his wealth, he struck a nerve.

The rich man couldn’t let it go

Not even for eternal life

Issue wasn’t the money

it was his firm grasp of the money

Jesus knew his heart and that in his heart, this man valued his riches over eternal life

In another passage Jesus said this:

esus said

Jesus said

Matthew 6:21 ESV

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Our hold on and use of money reveal the priorities of our heart.

it is true for us as individuals

it is true for us as a church.

Read pg 35

How does the story of the rich young ruler inform us how a church might view the money it has?

The Autopsy was Clear and Revealing

read pg 36

What are ways churches can move their use of funds from predominately an inward focus to an outward focus?

advertising

food drives

water at community events

emergency fund

outreach in times of emergency

open up facilities as shelter

prepping meals

Missions Trips

Service projects

Prayerful Commitment 5

Lord, help me to grasp that all the money I think I have is really Yours. Help me to grasps that all the money our church has is not the church’s, but Yours. Give us healthy giving hearts to use those funds according to Your purpose.