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"And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance,
so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly
in every good work."
(2Corinthians 9:8)
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What is percentage giving?
Why does the church talk about a tithe?
Considering our Contributions
When persons consider their contributions to the church, a variety of questions arise. Among those questions, three usually emerge in their consideration:
- What do others give?
- What did I give last year and how much more should I give to meet the budget?
- What is my fair share?
While these questions are interesting and provide some information that may be informative, they do not provide a solid foundation for personal Christian stewardship. God does not ask us to give as our neighbors give nor as the church budget requests. So, there are two additional questions that become the most important for us.
- How much do I earn?
- What is my personal commitment to Jesus Christ?
Giving is a Journey
These are the questions that enable us to begin a journey in faith that will lead to new depths of Christian maturity and greater personal fulfillment. giving 'as we are able according to the blessing of the Lord our God which God has given us' takes us on new paths. Making our annual giving a personal priority, by growing each year in the percentage of the income we give, helps us set important priorities in our lives.
As we grow in our Christian stewardship, we discover the great joy of giving and the personal rewards of generosity. Generosity emerges from gratitude, an awareness of what God has already done for us in the person and event of Jesus Christ. It is God's extravagant generosity that we claim in Christ. Christian stewardship is our response to God's act. God's gifts to us.
The instructions from the apostle Paul as recorded in 1 Timothy are words for all of us,
Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage - to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
An Invitation
We invite you as a part of this Christian Community called Geist christian Church to grow in your faith and in your stewardship. We invite you to travel on this journey to discover the personal transformational impact of being "extravagantly generous" and "gaining life that is truly life."
What would my/our tithe be?
The traditional understanding of the church over the centuries, based upon ancient Biblical practices, is the tithe - ten percent offered to God in thanksgiving for the life God gave us. The percentage for many is based upon after-tax income or take-home pay. Please note in the calculation below if you give monthly instead of weekly, change the calculation accordingly.
Calculation:
After-tax income $_____________
Tithe, 10% x .10 $_____________
Divided by 52 weeks /52 $_____________
Equals Weekly Household Gift $_____________
Less Weekly Gift for 25/2 Campaign - $_____________
Equals General Fund Weekly Gift $_____________
If I/we aren't there yet...
If you have not yet reached a tithe for your giving, consider beginning a regular increase of at least one percent of your income each year as you grow toward a tithe.
Calculation:
After-tax income $___________
Times Growth of 1% x .01 $___________
Divided by 52 weeks /52 $___________
Equals Increase $___________
Present Weekly Gift $___________
Plus Increase + $___________
Less Weekly Gift for 25/2 Campaign - $___________
Equals General Fund Weekly Gift $___________
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