Tuesday, 14 June 2011

• Missouri Annual Conference 2011 - highlights, quotes and takeaways

  From Dr. Elijah Stansell, Treasurer, Texas Annual Conference:

  Christians should "have a case of the can't help it's" - I can't help hurting with you, I can't help helping you
  

  Remember that "Nothing is lost in the sight of God"
  

   Generosity is sacrificial by nature

   The driving influences for generosity: PERIL - PARTNERSHIP - PASSION

  Generosity's master is not compliance; you've got to break the rules

  
  

  Generosity's mantra should be "God, I got it!" - I won't go a day without sharing the grace of God.
  
  

  Do our churches have a "discipleship mandate?" That is, what happens after the study, after the applause, after the worship hour?
  
  

  In remembrance of when I was rescued, I have become a rescuer
  
  Are you willing to put your own status on the line so that things might be made different?
  
  From 3:00 Breakout Session - Teaching Kids Extravagant Generosity
  

  Truly look at the definitions of extravagant and generous 

   

  Extravagant generosity flows from a generous heart
  Extravagant generosity forces us to examine our values
  Extravagant generosity takes many forms - time, money, service
  

  
  

  God calls each of us to the task of stewardship - the ultimate goal results in our intention to become tithers

  When it comes to children: They learn from biblical lessons, adult models, opportunities to practice.Do kids get pledge cards in our churches? Are they taught about stewardship?

  Lessons - MALACHI 3.8-12 (first fruits scripture)

  Have kids list the reasons why God is not pleased with the offering in this passage
  THE FIRST FRUITS were the BEST FRUITS

  Help kids understand the fruit itself - use games that teach percentages, portions

  With older kids - don't be afraid to look at the church budget....

  (because they will be honest with you about what they see)

  Ask, where does the church spend the most money? The least money?

  Ask what does that spending do for the church? For the world?
  

  Use common items to model extravagant generosity... water bottle, pack of gum

  Ask how could these be used to show love, to demonstrate giving?
  

  At church, kids should:

  Practice offering
  Write newsletter articles/journal about their own giving habits
  Be directly involved in missions
  Be treated the same as any other member. Do kids get Stewardship Packets?
  Celebrate their own learning about stewardship
  
  

  From Bishop Robert Schnase (Sunday AM Learning Time)

  Every story of giving in scripture demonstrates extravagant generosity

  Is there a story in scripture where what is given is just what's left?
  
  The mix of words is new.. the practice is not
  
  Developing generosity - Our giving helps us become what god desires us to be
  
  Appetite
  "Giving fosters a healthier relationship to money"
   "We wallow in abundance while suffering from a self-proclaimed scarcity"
   We suffer from enculturated discontent
  
  Ownership
  

  How much land does a man require - Short story by Tolstoy

  Is it true that I own everything I own and I can do with it what I please?
  Rather all I have is God's and I am a temporary steward...
  
  Intentionality
  Giving fosters intentionality
  "Writing your first tithe check is like swallowing an avocado pit"
   Are lay people willing to talk about how giving has changed their lives?
  
  Witness
  Teach and practice
  Opposites of generosity:

    Greed, self centeredness, self absorbtion... we have plenty of people teaching these
  
  Right hand-left hand metaphor: pride driven
  Let your light shine metaphor: humility driven
  These two frameworks of giving must be balanced
  
  

  Not putting the preaching into practice has a corrupting quality
  

  "You can't be generous and general without being generous and specific" 

  
  

  "God uses our giving to reconfigure our interior lives"
  
  "Giving sanctifies the whole struggle we have with the material world"

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  There was plenty more to draw from here, but these are the notes that I took. May we allow God to shape us in the coming year through the words and the messages of this conference!  Feel free to comment with your own notes, thoughts, or additions.

   --kory // www.korywilcox.com

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