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Education Ministry

Posted on March 8, 2007 ...

We as a congregation have been challenged to consider a singular question as we approach a time of decision concerning our capital stewardship campaign, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìWhat does God want to do through me in this campaign for a future generation??¢‚Ǩ¬ù It is a wonderfully simple yet weighty question that may not necessarily be easy to answer. It doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t matter about the desires of the church staff nor does it matter what other members of the congregation decide, but it matters immensely what God wants. It is to that end and no other that we have an obligation to strive for understanding and to respond accordingly.

There are always many pitfalls that one can encounter when discussing stewardship of the financial resources that God has provided to us and, in truth, there are many erroneous ?¢‚Ǩ?ìprosperity gospels?¢‚Ǩ¬ù that are more self-serving for those requesting financial gifts than they are God-serving. Therefore, we are setting aside our normal Sunday School material during the month of April so that we can have a time of in-depth study of scriptural teachings about financial stewardship.

I can think of nothing else more appropriate during this time of significant change than seeking the will of God with our spiritual brothers and sisters in our church?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Bible study classes. As we corporately dialogue, pray, and commit ourselves to God?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s direction we will develop an environment where it is much easier to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

The lessons included in this series deal with questions for Christians who are serious about their relationship to God.

Adult Classes

In week 1, we are asked to consider the total implications of stewardship. Are we living a life of faith committed to God? Does our faith wane if we are unable to always determine just how God plans to bring about a particular end or if we are not comfortable with the result that He has determined?

In week 2, we will consider the consequences of choices that we make in our life and the fact that it is truly our choices that we must be accountable for and able to defend.

Week 3 calls us to consider who really is in control of our lives, God or self. We will also consider how to re-orient our lives if necessary and seek the plan that God has for us.

In week 4, we will examine the all-encompassing ownership of God and consider how to hold things loosely while reaching for a maturity in our relationship to God.

And in week 5, we will consider a term that is not often used in our day ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú sacrifice. We will examine questions such as, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìWho is the prime beneficiary of a gift that is not just given from our excess resources??¢‚Ǩ¬ù

These are not easy topics but they are essential for those who desire to be faithful and mature in the life that God has given them. I pray that each of us will provide God?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Spirit unfettered access to our hearts and minds as we consider what response God expects from each of us individually. Verlin