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Tithing with Justice

Here’s a thoughtful article by Chris Haw about the biblical practice of tithing and its relationship to justice. Posted on the Two Cents blog, you are invited to join the conversation. (Photo by SAiM)

The Giving Community

Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
July 1, 2012
This week’s epistle lesson offers an excellent chance to talk about stewardship and generosity. Read on for ideas for preaching and teaching, worship, and time with youth and children.

Teaching Generosity in the Era of Austerity

Who is teaching the next generation how to prioritize sharing as one of their primary money habits? Who is calling the question on ‘how much is enough?’ The dearth of opportunities to dig into these critically important questions is no less than astounding. Enter faith communities. This is an ideal time for congregations to convene multi-generational learning experiences about money. (Photo © June Reed – Fotolia.com)

Carpe Tithem: How tithing can invigorate your faith

The vast majority of people in the world cannot even imagine the standard of living that most Americans take for granted. The truth is that we are called to worship God with our wallet as well as our body, mind, spirit and heart. Following are five ways to re-imagine the tithe so that we can see it as an essential expression of the life of faith. (Great article in the Journal of Lutheran Ethics.) Photo © Pei Lin – Fotolia.com

What’s the Catch?

Lectionary Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 29, 2012
Ask and you’ll receive. Is there a catch? Of course! The whole idea behind this week’s reading from 1 John, and indeed the entire book, is that in the sacrificial love of Christ we see and experience God; in doing so we are compelled to live out that love in word and deed. (Photo by rabanito used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)

Do Mormons love Jesus more?

A clever bumper sticker speaks wisely: “Tithe if you love Jesus. Anyone can honk.” If that nugget of wisdom holds true, we have to ask, “Do Mormons love Jesus more than other Christians?” An impressive 79 percent of Mormons tithe their income – giving 10 percent to their church, according to a recent article in […]

Fostering Giving all Year Long

‘Tis the season of gift-giving, but what about the rest of the year? Jeremy Adam Smith offers seven tips to foster giving every day of the year. Imagine how the lives of individuals and congregations might be changed by placing an emphasis on these simple principles. Click here to read Smith’s article on The Daily […]

Giving That is Blessed, Indeed!

“IT’S PERSONAL” BLOG
What did Jesus mean when he said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”? Is all giving covered? Paul, who quotes Jesus in Acts 20:35, gives us some important hits in the context. (“In Paris Texas” photo, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)

Tithing = ten percent…of what?

Here’s an amusing, yet insightful, look at what constitutes “tithing.” Click here to watch a YouTube video entitled “Tithing = ten percent…of what?” (Photo by seo_gun used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)

Zacchaeus, Patron Saint for Stewards

When Zacchaeus encountered Jesus, he did not promise to read scripture more faithfully nor to attend the synagogue more regularly. On this occasion he was not pledging his time or his talent to the programmatic mission of the faith community. Worthy as those are — and necessary for the life of the people of God — this visit was about something else.