Give It ALL Away!

Recently, my church gave space and time to a mission church.  We made it possible for Movement Church to meet at a time and in a facility that very well suited their preferences.  They've met a couple of times here and everything seems to be going good for them.  I'm happy to be able to support a sister expression of the Body of Christ and their efforts to expand the Kingdom!

I've been asked by some of our members why we are doing this.  "Why host a mission church?  Why have Movement Church here?"  Good question; fair question...and I believe the answer is a KEY, FUNDAMENTAL, ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL ELEMENT of the Christian Walk.

We are giving away.

My church and Movement Church share the same view of our city.  When we look at St. Petersburg, Florida, we see a city in desperate need of what Jesus offers.  We see need and we see hurting people.  Mostly, we see people searching...and not knowing what they are searching for; and some not even knowing they are searching.  And we both know, we have the answer - the Hope that all in this city need. 

We are two expressions of the Body of Christ, in the same city, with the same view of the city.  So, we are giving away.

But even beyond being like-minded, there is something else involved…we are meeting needs.  Movement Church needed space near downtown St. Pete and time to grow and strengthen.  We have space available at the times they wanted, and we are not too far from downtown. We are providing the space and time that will help meet their needs.  We are giving away.

We have a need as well.  God clearly has called my church to reach the northeast quadrant of this city.  There are so few involved in Kingdom work in this area; we almost are alone in this vital effort.  And there is no way we can reach all the people.  But Movement Church can reach some.  In fact, because of their uniqueness, they will reach some that we never would be able to reach.  By helping them, we are helping ourselves accomplish our mandate.  We are giving away.

We are GIVING AWAY; to help meet the needs of another; to help accomplish our mandate; and to see the Kingdom expand.  The point is…WE ARE GIVING AWAY.

My church, North East Park, is gaining a reputation as a giver.  I am so happy to be a part of a church that regularly gives away.  Here are some examples of how we have been giving away:

1. We are hosting a Haitian congregation.  They are different culturally, which has caused some friction at times.  But that's okay.  We've adjusted and learned through this; as have they.  And because we are giving away, they have the opportunity to grow, strengthen and reach people in this city that we never will, nor ever would.  We don't speak the language, and are not familiar with the culture.

2. We gave away our Family Life Pastor for several months to help a sister church in our county.  He preached on Sundays and provided leadership after the previous pastor had left.  As a result, a church was strengthened and excited once again for Kingdom work.

3. To the same church we next gave away our Evangelism/Small Group Pastor.  He was providing the Wednesday Bible Study for them and they loved him so much he was called as their new Pastor.  We didn't intend to send him to a new assignment!  But God so ordained and we gave away.  Sometimes giving away is costly.

4. Now, we are giving away our Family Life Pastor again.  He is becoming part-time with us so that he can focus on a new project from God.  Called the Pinellas Youth Project, it is a collaboration with CEF, FCA and Intervarsity to have a campus ministry on every elementary school, middle school, high school and college campus in Pinellas County!

5. I personally give away some of my time/attention/energy to help encourage, pray with and guide church planters in our quadrant (there now are four!) and other places.  I give away time to fellow pastors and to missional efforts that involve our city and St. Petersburg, Russia, among many other activities.

6. My church gave away space for a Live Sent Conversation hosted here last month; and the 2 St Pete’s Missional event coming soon.  We are hosting other associational, missional, etc., events - giving away what we have available for the cause of the Kingdom.

These are just a few examples of how, as a Pastor and a people, we are giving away!

To be honest, some (even in our own church) would say: “But, we don’t have it to give!”  Ever heard that phrase?  Can I change the inflection just a little, and a word or two?

I would put it this way:  “We have it, TO give!”

God gave it to us, so we would give it away and be a blessing to others!  It's all His anyway; nothing is really yours or mine.  Money, houses, cars, talents, wisdom, etc., it is all God's property, for a time entrusted to your stewardship.  It's not what you have, but what you do with it that is important.

I believe giving away ourselves and our resources, as God gives opportunity, pleases God very much. In fact, I KNOW this to be true because of something Jesus said.  There is this little passage in Scripture – one we like to overlook and forget is even there – called the Return Principal!

JESUS: “Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over – will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

More than like-minded vision, more than meeting needs (theirs or ours); there is something deeper – a more profound reason for giving Movement Church time and space here on this campus, and for giving ourselves and resources away…OUR GIVING DETERMINES OUR RECEIVING!

Notice 2 things about our giving, and 3 about receiving:

1. We must give first, then receive.  "Give and it will be given to you."  We give first, then get the return.  This requires a STEP of FAITH by us.

2. We give expectantly.  God has made a promise, so as we give we expect Him to fulfill His word.  This means we can give cheerfully, not just because we will receive a blessing, but because God loves us so much He will provide abundance for our lives!  So don’t be stingy, miserly, or a hoarder.  Give away.

3. Jesus said if we give well, we will receive abundantly: "a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over."  That’s ABUNDANCE!

4. Jesus said this abundance would come easily.  Literally, it will be "poured into your lap."  You don't have to fret or worry, you don't need to sweat and make great effort; just give, and the reward is poured into your lap!

5. Most importantly, Jesus said the level of our giving determines the amount of our abundance.  The measure you use determines the measure God uses!  Use the smallest spoon, expect a small spoon of blessing returning to you.  Use a dump truck, and wait for the results!

I believe God has a mountain of blessings He desires to shower upon us - to pour into our laps.  But He is waiting and watching to see what we will do.  And when we are miserly...when we use the tiniest of scoops to give away to another, then He uses a tiny scoop to reach into that mountain of blessings.  How tragic!

This is the Return Principal.  This is not about giving, as we generally think about it – though it certainly includes being a faithful tither and contributor to the church.  But this is much bigger.

This is about GIVING all of yourself and all you have – giving it all away!

Does this work?  Well, have you ever known God to not fulfill His promise?  Of course it works; because God is faithful to do what He has promised.  But just so you will know for sure, let me give you one recent example.

As a church, North East Park gave away two staff members.  Without us looking for it, God is bringing us a new staff person – one who came unexpectedly – literally: poured into our lap!  One who is a great fit for where we are currently as a church and where we are headed.

When we share, when we give away – God gives us back in abundance.

It truly is very simple: HOLD, & LOSE…or...GIVE, & RECEIVE!

I'm a giver. I’m leading our church to give away. Remember: We have it, TO Give!  I would like for you to be one who gives away as well. You will be happier. You will be able to celebrate better what God is doing. And you will receive more in return.

Are you going to be a MISER?  Or, a GIVER!