Sermon Text: Mark 12:41-44
Sermon Excerpt
Presbyterian minister Scott Hauser recently shared a list of things that many American Christians often love more than God. His list includes items many may dismiss, but perhaps should not: football, beauty, and technology. It also contains items that some may be more willing to admit often become like gods – at least for a season: the American way, attention, and safety. Whether or not your complete list would look similar to Hauser’s, I think you will agree with his assertion that the number one American idol – the thing we most often love more than God – is money.
Given our cultural tendency to love money and even to obsess about it, we need to be reminded that this is not God’s plan. We talked last week about stewardship as a whole life experience. Everything that we have and everything that we are is God’s; we are entrusted to care for it all as stewards or managers.
While we have divided our stewardship campaign into two separate weeks, it is important to see that the components are designed to work together rather than in competition or isolation. We demonstrate the centrality of the way of Jesus by how we live our lives each day. Our intentional generosity of our time, talent and treasure is far more powerful than any words we might speak.
A few years ago the United Church of Christ published a stewardship booklet as a part of the Congregational Vitality Initiative. It is co-authored by Martin Copenhaver and Lillian Daniel – two names you may know. Martin has been a pastor in a congregational context for several decades, has written five books, and later this year will become the President of a seminary. Lillian continues to serve in pastoral ministry in the congregational context, has written three books, and is a popular speaker.
This booklet features several multiple choice questions. I will share one with you. As I do, be sure to choose an answer.
When the preacher begins a sermon on stewardship, your first thought is:
- “Did I leave the oven on?”
- “I’m so glad my shallow, materialistic neighbor is here to hear this.”
- “I come here for hope and inspiration, not to have some spoiled brat make me feel guilty for what I have,” or
- “Does God really care about money? I’ll listen just in case the Spirit has a word for me.”
I hope . . . (read full manuscript).
So What?
Many churches have an annual stewardship campaign. The majority of congregations that engage in this practice invite folks to make a commitment by pledging the amount they will give for the coming year. This discipline helps individuals and congregations.
- How do you determine the percentage and/or dollar amount you will pledge (or, if your congregation doesn’t ask for such: how do you determine the amount you will give over the course of the coming year)?
- Over the course of your adult life, have you become more generous in your giving, less generous, or remained relatively stable? How has your trend influenced the way you approach stewardship Sunday each year?