Lent 2019 Sermon Series: ‘Guidance for Giving’

To speak of Christian giving is to acknowledge God’s call to offer money, time, skills and attention in Christ’s service. This series of five Sunday services explores the broad context of Christian giving, so that we may respond with confidence to the opportunities God places before us.

Sunday 10 March:  ‘Giving Up’
11am    Morning Worship in the Old Hall   (Bible reading: Luke 4.1-13)
We may plan our Lenten Fasting as a particular discipline – yet whenever we give, it means we’re going to be ‘doing without’. How might we keep our focus upon God in circumstances of austerity?

Sunday 17 March:  ‘Giving Back’
11am   Morning Worship in the Old Hall   (Bible reading: Deut. 26.1-11)
We come into the world with nothing – so whenever we give, it means we’re handing over something that we in turn have received.  How might an awareness of ‘salvation history’ – and our own history – impact upon our readiness to give?

Sunday 24 March:  ‘Giving ear’
11am   Morning Worship in the Old Hall  (Bible reading: Isaiah 55.1-9)
We tend to think of giving as our initiative – yet whenever we give, it means we have in some sense heeded someone’s prompting. How might we learn to listen attentively and to discern God’s prompting?

Sunday 31 March (Mothering Sunday):  ‘Giving freely’
11am   All Age Worship in the Old Hall  (Bible reading: Luke 15.11b-32)
We try to be wise in our handling of resources – so whenever we give, it means we’re surrendering control and opening ourselves to risk. How might we learn to display Godly generosity by balancing carefulness with recklessness?

Sunday 7 April: ‘Giving forward’
11am   Holy Communion in the Old Hall   (Bible reading: John 12.1-8)
We try to plan our finances with an eye to the future – yet whenever we give, we’re likely to find there are consequences beyond the limits of our foresight.  How might our giving today become an investment in God’s future?