Pagei Stewardship Wrkshp - 14 May 2011 Suthwest Washingtn Synd Assembly f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Intrductin. This lessn plan is intended t prvide ntes and charts fr the Stewardship Wrkshp at the Suthwest Washingtn Synd Assembly f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The wrkshp is intended t prvide the audience with a plan fr cnducting a small grup seminar t discuss their stewardship respnsibilities as Lutherans. This is, therefre, a wrkshp that defines an apprach t bringing a small grup in t cnversatin n stewardship. This is dne by an examinatin f the status f the Church tday, and discussin f hw and fr what we may be called, and ur cmmitment t this calling. The structure f the learning event discussed here is based n a sympsium cnducted earlier this year at Muntain View Lutheran Church - 2011 Sympsium: The Arma f Christ. The fllwing pages f the lessn plan include charts frm the accmpanying Pwer Pint presentatin, and instructr ntes t further amplify the cntent f the charts. This is nt intended t be a narrative utline. NOTE: The Chi Rh symbl is used n each f the charts in this presentatin. It invkes the crucifixin f Jesus as well as symblizing his status as the Christ Quick Ntes are prvided in text bxes. The purpse f the Quick Ntes is t prvide an utline that maybe used by the lecturer t guide the presentatin. The Quick Ntes are intended t address each chart in its entirety; hwever, they are nt a narrative. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page1 Chart 1: A Mdel fr Discussin f Our Calling and Our Cmmitment STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOP A Mdel fr Discussin f Our Calling and Our Cmmitment and fr ur wellbeing as stewards in service t Gd Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America May 13-14, 2011 Quick Ntes Intrductins: Melanie Wallschlaeger Bruce Sisc Open the wrkshp with prayer: Father, we thank yu fr the Synd Assembly and this time we have in Christian fellwship. We thank yu fr the pprtunity t discuss ur respnsibility fr service t yur Kingdm - ur missin as stewards. We ask that yu be with us Lrd, as we discuss ur stewardship respnsibilities - the care and lve we give t the neighbr. We acknwledge that because f ur sinful nature, ur rle as stewardship leaders is never cmplete. The idlatries f the wrld cmpete fr ur time and ur gifts. As leaders, we must strive t teach ur parishiners in all the many ways that will appeal t their intellect, their genersity and their cncerns fr the care and lve f the neighbr. We hpe that we may bring abut greater understanding in the minds and hearts f ur parishiners fr their calling and their cmmitment t service as stewards. We pray fr these things in the name f yur sn, Jesus the Christ. Amen. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page2 Chart 2: What is this wrkshp abut? What is this wrkshp abut? Discipleship; but, als stewardship This wrkshp is a 45-minute summary f a day-lng (6 hurs) sympsium Based n a sympsium cnducted earlier this year at Muntain View Lutheran Church - 2011 Sympsium: The Arma f Christ The sympsium is designed t lead members t an understanding f: Relevance f the Church f Tday Calling - Biblical Basis Cmmitment t Service in the Kingdm f Gd The sympsium can be adapted t ther frmats 5/14/2011 2 Quick Ntes 45-minute Wrkshp will present a mdel fr a day-lng educative event fr discipleship. This mdel was actually used at Muntain View Lutheran in February Prmtes pen discussin within small grups n the tpic f discipleship and stewardship We address the church in the pst-christendm era, we discuss ur calling fr service, and ur cmmitment t service We tk a brad view f discipleship and treated stewardship as a part f ur discipleship This wrkshp is actually a suggested utline fr cnducting a sympsium within a Lutheran cngregatin that will bring peple tgether t discuss their persnal stewardship in small grups. The mdel seminar is a day-lng event that was cnducted earlier this year at Muntain View Lutheran Church in Edgewd. We d nt feel this is the nly r necessarily the best way t d this. We fund that we had a fairly gd respnse frm it. Therefre we thught it wrthy f sharing in this frum. We will prbably d it again next year, with sme differences in cntent. The small grup setting, in many ways, seems t be the ideal setting in which individuals will exchange thughts n calling and cmmitment in a truthful frum and in s ding, frm their understanding and their cmmitment fr stewardship. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page3 Chart 3: Hw we did it! Hw we did it! Each sessin is 90 minutes: 30-40 minute lecture; 40 minute rund-table discussin; 10 20 minute grup respnses Rund-Table grups f 6 8 are established; they may remain tgether fr the three sessins Discussin guide cnsisting f questins pertaining t the sessin tpic A discussin leader/recrder may be designated in each grup Each grup will be called upn t present their respnse Emphasis is n the rund-table discussins 5/14/2011 3 Quick Ntes Organizatin Three 90-minute sessins 30-40 minute lecture 40 minute rund-table discussins 10-20 minutes fr grup respnses 6-8 students per table Discussin Guide questins drive discussin Emphasis n rund-table discussins The rund-table apprach with grups f 6-8 seems t be a very suitable rganizatin fr the students - ur grups were 6. We kept the grups in tact thrughut the sessins. The sympsium was cnducted with three sessins. Of curse, we had wrship at the beginning and end; we als had a cffee break and a lunch break. I will shw yu the schedule next. Each f the learning sessins were 90 minutes. The first part was a lecture f 30-40 minutes. The lecture was fllwed by the rundtable discussin. The discussins were guided by a list f questins. Each grup was asked t designate a recrder and a presenter. The grups were called upn t present their respnses It was ur belief ging in t the sympsium that the discussins wuld be the imprtant part. After cmpleting the sympsium, we felt that was a crrect psitin. The discussins are where the emphasis shuld be. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page4 Chart 4: A Prgram Schedule A Prgram Schedule 9:00 AM Opening Wrship 9:15 AM Sessin 1: Relevance f The Church f Tday 10:45 AM Break: Cffee & Pastry 11:00 AM Sessin 2: Calling - Biblical Basis 12:30 PM Lunch 1:00 PM Sessin 3: Cmmitment t Service in the Kingdm f Gd 2:30 PM Clsing Wrship 5/14/2011 4 Quick Ntes This is the schedule f the sympsium. We wrshiped at the beginning and end The three sessins are listed Sessin 1: Relevance f the Church Tday Sessin 2: Calling - Biblical Basis Sessin 3: Cmmitment t Service in the Kingdm f Gd We prvided refreshments thrughut the day, and there was a nn-meal served. Much f what we will say fr the remainder f the charts is a summary and cndensatin f what we presented in the Sympsium In summary, the sympsium fcused n stewardship in three parts that crrespnd t the three sessins The first sessin was, in part, an intrductin. It defined the setting in which we wrship, in which we serve Gd in the wrld, tday. The church f tday in the pst-christendm era, when peple d nt simply march ff t church every Sunday; when Christianity des nt dminate, and when church may seem t be in decline. We described sme f the decline that is taking place tday in the Suthwest Washingtn Synd. In Sessin 2, we examined the divine calling. We referred t scripture fr bth Old Testament and New Testament examples f calling. We als examined the ELCA Statement n Christian Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page5 Calling. We lked at several scriptural examples f pwerful calling t ur missin as stewards. And, we als discussed thse things that interfere with ur respnse t a calling. In Sessin 3, we lked at cmmitment, in terms f ur individual cmmitment. We used scriptural references that address ur cmmitment as stewards t the Kingdm f Gd. We als used references t New Testament texts n generus giving. And, we discussed the many things that tend t get in the way f cmmitment. The emphasis f the discussin is t encurage parishiners t becme cmmitted at increased levels. But, the sympsium was nt a fund drive and did nt cnclude with distributin f pledge cards. Chart 5: Clergy and Stewardship Clergy and Stewardship Clergy must accept rle f leadership fr stewardship Laity can nt change attitudes fr giving withut the chief shepherd leading them Pastrs need t knw what their parishiners give: Stewardship is a key spiritual practice Sudden changes in giving may signal a need fr pastral care Indicatr f cmmitment Avenue fr cnversatin between pastr and parishiner 5/14/2011 5 Quick Ntes Rle f clergy in Stewardship?? Des the pastr need t be invlved with stewardship? Des the pastr need t knw what peple give? As a lay persn, I wuld say emphatically, YES, fr bth questins! Knwing what smene gives will tell yu mre abut cmmitment than anything else As the Apstle Paul wrte, treasure and heart g tgether Knwing what peple give will help determine the effectiveness f church prgrams Knwing what members give will help let yu give thanks fr the gift [Clif Christpher: Nt yur Parent's Offering Plate] Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page6 Chart 6: Sessin 1, Relevance f the Church f Tday Sessin 1 Relevance f the Church f Tday Quick Ntes Relevance f the Church tday Nt the same as ur parent's church This is the pst-christendm era We will take the next 10 minutes t summarize what we allcate 30-40 minutes t in the sympsium fr the lecture in this sessin. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page7 Chart 7: Relevance f the church tday Sessin 1: Relevance f the church tday Backgrund - Christendm (the way it was) Christian dminatin Edict f Thessalnica in 392: Christianity as state religin f the Rman Empire Christendm cntinued in sme frm until mid-20 th Century The Church tday in the pst-christendm Eurpe Nrth America Sme remnants f Christendm remain, even tday 5/14/2011 7 Quick Ntes Tw titles by Duglas Jhn Hall: "The End f Christendm and the Future f Christianity" - 1997 "Why Christian" - 1998 Christendm frm Rman Empire t mid-20th Century Christian dminatin - ften at the edge f a swrd But nt anymre - Huge changes in the Church in bth Eurpe and Nrth America But still sme remnants - Natinal Church f Iceland The ELCI is a Natinal church with apprximately 250.000 members which is clse t 80% f the 319,000 ppulatin. Hallgrímskirkja "Hallgrims Church" We presented the backgrund f hw the church gt t where it is tday, using Hall's descriptins f Christendm as it existed up t the recent past. The perid f time that we refer t as Christendm, began in the 4th Century - nearly 1700 years ag. As Christianity grew, thrughut Eurpe, Asia, and Africa, cnversin t the faith was ften at the edge f a swrd. Intra-Christian wars were cnducted. Church and state were ften seen as ne. The perid f Christendm has cntinued until recent times. When I was yung in the 50's, it seemed as thugh everyne went t church. We prayed in schl - I d nt think anyne cmplained abut that. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page8 But by the end f the 20th Century, it was clear that things had changed. Accrding t Hall, Christendm had ended. There are a few vestiges f Christendm remaining. I was in Iceland last year. Lutheranism is still the state church. The legislative sessin in the Althing (Althingi) begins with a cnvcatin in the Lutheran Church next t the Althing with the Lutheran Bishp f Iceland presiding. The Emperr f the Rman Empire, Cnstantine the Great, Rman Emperr frm 306 t 337. Well knwn fr being the first Rman emperr t cnvert t Christianity, Cnstantine reversed the persecutins f his predecessr and issued the Edict f Milan in 313, which prclaimed religius tlerance f all religins thrughut the empire. Chart 8: Suthwestern Washingtn Synd Sessin 1: Suthwestern Washingtn Synd Grwing: 21 cngregatins with grwth f 5% r mre in a five year perid f 2004-2009 Stable: 22 with wrship decline less than 5% r grwth n greater than 5% Declining: 44 with wrship decline greater than 5% in a five year perid Ttal cngregatins measured : 87 (Des nt include 3 new starts) 5/14/2011 8 Quick Ntes Alarming data n ur wn Synd Nearly 1/2 f ur cngregatins are in decline Is this ur demise? Or is it an pprtunity? Next we will see sme ther perspective n that by Duglass Jhn Hall Here, we shw sme rather alarming data pertaining t churches in ur wn synd. This gives a picture f a church in decline - maybe even, rapid decline. This infrmatin tends t bring abut a certain shckeffect n thse that attend the Sympsium. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page9 Chart 9: Visin fr the Future Sessin 1: Visin fr the Future Duglas Jhn Hall's visin f the church f the future Let g f dminatin; we are nt ging t cnquer the wrld Christian disengagement f dminant culture is nt abandnment - it is an pprtunity Our rle as Christians, as the peple f the crss within the wrld, is precisely what Jesus said it was t be: salt, yeast, and light The bject f Gd s lve, accrding t biblical faith, is nt first f all the church; it is the wrld: 16 Fr Gd s lved the wrld that he gave his nly Sn, s that everyne wh believes in him may nt perish but may have eternal life. (Jhn 3:16) A hspitality that lves and serves thers, a stewardly hspitality, n strings attached The End Of Christendm and the Future f Christianity, Duglass Jhn Hall Why Christian?, Duglass Jhn Hall 5/14/2011 9 Quick Ntes Hall says frget abut plans t restre the Church in the dminant rle f the past - it is nt ging t happen - give up n the frmer cultural dminance Hall is hpeful; he says that we shuld see the pprtunity Take the pprtunity t becme the salt, yeast, and light And he refers t Jhn 3: Fr Gd s lved the wrld... Nt the church, but the wrld He describes an hspitable church; a stewardly church, and a church that is inclusive, nt exclusive Des this sund like the missinal church??. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page10 Chart 10: Visin fr the church in the Future Sessin 1: Visin fr the church in the Future The Missinal Church Gd s missin in the wrld; missinal church is a means f fulfillment Serves the neighbr: In the wrld; In the church What mtivates peple t give? Secular nnprfits succeed because they tell dnrs what they d t change lives; churches tend nt t d that Pastrs and leaders need t ask fr gifts by first prviding a visin f what the gift will d t change peple's lives in Christ Nt Yur Parent s Offering Plate, Clif Christpher 5/14/2011 10 Quick Ntes Missinal church is ne that serves the neighbr; a stewardly hspitality Clif Chritpher is a fund-raiser; but he presents sme very pertinent cmmentary Churches need t ask fr gifts and articulate hw they will change peple's lives in Christ The missinal church is riented twards service t the neighbr. The prclamatin f the Gspel as the gd news f Gd s salvatin given in the life, death, and resurrectin f Jesus distinguishes the Church frm all ther cmmunities. The Gspel liberates frm sin, death, and evil and mtivates the Church t care fr neighbr and the earth. The missinal church serves the neighbr in the church, but als, in the wrld - n strings attached. But serving, als requires gifts - the resurces that are needed t serve. Secular nn-prfits prmte their prgrams by describing what hw they will change peple's lives with yur gift. But churches generally d nt d that. We fail t tell ur givers hw their gift will change lives. Instead, we talk abut maintaining the facilities f the church, salaries, etc. It may be better if we can explain hw their gifts will change peple's lives in Christ. In capital campaigns we generally have mre success, but here, we d, in fact, define hw we will change peple's lives. Fr example, a capital campaign may be t raise mney t fund seminary schlarships, r build a fd bank. It is easy t see hw either f these missins will change lives. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page11 Chart 11: Discussin Guide Discussin Guide. Sessin 1: Relevance f the Church Tday? Frm the grup's cmbined perspective, describe the current psitin f the Christian Church in America. Can we reverse the current decline frm the dminance that church nce had? Describe hw the Church is, r is nt relevant t peple in America Describe hw the Church can survive, r why it will nt survive in America Describe what yur church culd d t be salt, yeast and light t be a missinal church What des ur Church d nw t bring change t peple's lives in Christ and what ther things shuld we be ding? Is it enugh t survive, r is there smething else we shuld be ding? Hw can we articulate what we are already ding that changes peple s lives in Christ is this hw we describe it in the annual budget? 5/14/2011 11 Quick Ntes The questins are intended t guide the rund-table grups int meaningful discussins that acknwledge : Current state f the church in Nrth America Understanding f why the church is in the current psitin Restratin f the dminant church prbably impssible; even, nt desired Opprtunity fr fulfillment f Christ's Great Cmmandment Need fr Missinal Church What the church can d and what the church can be t bring change t peple's lives; and why we shuld lk at financial stewardship in terms f bringing change t peple's lives in Christ The questins are intended t guide the rund-table grups int meaningful discussins that: Acknwledges the current state f the church in Nrth America Includes an understanding f why the church is in the current psitin Acknwledges that a reversal f the current trend in the decline r disappearance f Christendm is prbably impssible and prbably nt smething that we as the established church shuld even want. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page12 Includes an understanding f what the church may d t mve frward twards a fulfillment f Christ's Great Cmmandment Includes the cncept f the missinal church as central t Great Cmmandment wrk and fulfillment f service in the Kingdm f Gd Includes an understanding f what the church can d and what the church can be t bring change t peple's lives; and why we shuld lk at financial stewardship in terms f bringing change t peple's lives in Christ Chart 12: Sessin 2: Calling Biblical Basis Sessin 2 Calling Biblical Basis Quick Ntes This sessin discusses ur calling Intended t Insure that peple think abut their baptismal calling Encurage peple t give prayerful thught t discern their calling Cause peple t think abut hw they might respnd t their calling These tpics are discussed in the rund-table grups We will take the next 10 minutes t summarize what we allcate 30-40 minutes t in the sympsium fr the lecture in this sessin Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page13 Chart 13: Calling Sessin 2: Calling Biblical accunts f calling: Mses: Exdus 3: 10 S cme, I will send yu t Pharah t bring my peple, the Israelites, ut f Egypt. Paul: Acts 9: 3 Nw as he was ging alng and appraching Damascus, suddenly a light frm heaven flashed arund him. 4 He fell t the grund and heard a vice saying t him, Saul, Saul, why d yu persecute me? 5 He asked, Wh are yu, Lrd? The reply came, I am Jesus, whm yu are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and yu will be tld what yu are t d. 5/14/2011 13 Quick Ntes We see examples frm scripture in which Gd spke directly t smene Read Exdus 3:10 - Mses t bring the Jews ut f Egypt, actually several times Read Acts 9 3-6 - Christ spke directly t Saul when he was n the rad t Damascus The calling was quite clear fr Mses and Paul First, we will lk at several biblical stries f calling. Here, we see tw Old Testament examples in which Gd speaks directly t Mses, and the prphet, Elijah. And the apstle, Paul, is cnfrnted by Jesus. These types f events d nt happen very ften. Mst f us will never have such a direct expressin f calling. Yet, we are called by Gd, just the same. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page14 Chart 14: Baptismal Calling Sessin 2: Baptismal Calling What are we called t d as a result f ur baptism? Rmans 6: What then are we t say? Shuld we cntinue in sin in rder that grace may abund? 2 By n means! Hw can we wh died t sin g n living in it? 3 D yu nt knw that all f us wh have been baptized int Christ Jesus were baptized int his death? 4 Therefre we have been buried with him by baptism int death, s that, just as Christ was raised frm the dead by the glry f the Father, s we t might walk in newness f life. Galatians 3: 25 But nw that faith has cme, we are n lnger subject t a disciplinarian, 26 fr in Christ Jesus yu are all children f Gd thrugh faith. 27 As many f yu as were baptized int Christ have clthed yurselves with Christ. 5/14/2011 14 Quick Ntes We see tw examples frm scripture in which the Apstle Paul defines ur baptismal calling Read Rmans 6, 1-4 - Thrugh ur baptism, we are dead t sin and may nw walk in newness f life Read Galatians 3:25-27 - Thrugh ur baptism we are clthed with Christ; that is, we are called t be like Christ - t be the servant The baptismal calling is t leave ur sinful lives behind T live ur lives like Christ lived - t the extent that we can The Apstle Paul speaks t us abut ur baptismal calling - the calling that all f us that are baptized have received. We see this in Rmans 6, and again in Galatians 3. In baptism, we are dead t sin s that we might "walk in the newness f life". We are all called thrugh ur baptism t walk away frm ur sinful life and t be like Christ - "clthed yurselves with Christ". Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page15 Chart 15: ELCA Statement n Christian Calling Sessin 2: ELCA Statement n Christian Calling The Baptismal Vcatin f Christians [ELCA Scial Statement, The Church In Sciety: A Lutheran Perspective] One f the ways the Church participates in sciety is thrugh its members. In dying t sin and rising with Christ in Baptism, Christians are called t walk in newness f life (Rmans 6:1-11). They fulfill their baptismal vcatin in rdinary life as family members, friends, citizens, wrkers, and participants in vluntary assciatins. Since daily life *is+ the primary setting fr the exercise f *the+ Christian calling, it is in that setting that Christians are t serve Gd and neighbr. 5/14/2011 15 Quick Ntes This is the Lutheran Statement n Christian Calling frm the ELCA Scial Statement - The Church in Sciety Read the ELCA Statement n Christian Calling A universal calling t all baptized. THE CHURCH IN SOCIETY: A LUTHERAN PERSPECTIVE: This scial teaching statement was adpted by a mre than tw-thirds majrity vte at the secnd biennial Churchwide Assembly f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting in Orland, Flrida, August 28-September 4, 1991. This church sustains its baptized members thrugh the ministry f Wrd and Sacrament. The gifts f the Spirit frm and transfrm the peple f Gd fr discipleship in daily life. In the bdy f Christ, the character, utlk, and mral cnvictins f Christians are shaped in distinctive ways. Jesus frees Christians t serve thers and t walk with peple wh are hungry, frgtten, ppressed, and despised. The example f Jesus invites Christians t see peple near and far away, peple f all races, classes and cultures, friends and strangers, allies and enemies as their neighbr. Christians value the cvenantal cmmunities f family and marriage, and they view their wrk as a means by which they can express their baptismal vcatin. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page16 Chart 16: Steward s Calling? Sessin 2: Steward s Calling? Our calling fr lives as stewards: Ephesians 2: 8 10 8 Fr by grace yu have been saved thrugh faith, and this is nt yur wn ding; it is the gift f Gd 9 nt the result f wrks, s that n ne may bast. 10 Fr we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus fr gd wrks, which Gd prepared befrehand t be ur way f life. Hw d we respnd t ur calling as stewards? Or d we respnd? We seem t be busy peple? Cmpeting pririties? Cmpeting idlatries? 5/14/2011 16 Read Ephesians 2: 8-10. Quick Ntes This text, and the thers read earlier plus the Lutheran Scial Statement make ur respnsibility as stewards smewhat mre clear But we may still nt knw exactly HOW we are t serve the neighbr If by prayerful thught and cnsideratin f relevant scriptural passages, like Ephesians 2: 8-10, we discern ur calling as a steward Hw d we respnd? We are busy peple? cmpeting pririties? cmpeting idlatries? We saw scriptural references frm Rmans 6 and Galatians 3 that describe ur baptismal calling - ne that we all have, if we are baptized. The ELCA scial statement adds clarity t this. But, what abut ther, maybe mre specific, callings fr stewardship. This is where we must give prayerful thught and cnsider relevant scriptural passages, like Ephesians 2: 8-10 and 2 Crinthians: 12. Discernments f ur calling is ne thing. But, what abut the respnse? What d we d? First, is the prblem f cmpeting idlatries. Yes, we d seem t be busy peple. Whatever happened t sand-lt baseball? Nw it seems we have becme ver-rganized. We have yuth sprts, and we have select teams, and the list ges n. These are all things that cmpete fr ur time. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page17 Chart 17: Discussin Guide Discussin Guide. Sessin 2: Calling If nt by Gd speaking t us directly, hw are we called D we really attempt t discern ur calling? Hw d we respnd t ur calling? Or d we nt respnd? Have we been called as a part f ur baptism? T d what? Hw d we hear ur call? What srts f things get in the way? 5/14/2011 17 Quick Ntes The questins are intended t guide the rund-table grups int meaningful discussins that include: Acknwledgment that we all have callings; it is nt just the clergy. Acknwledgment that we all have a calling that stems frm ur baptism - what des that mean t us? Acknwledgment that we must indulge in prayerful thught t determine ur calling. We must discuss this with family, and friends. And we must decide hw we are ging t act n it. Acknwledgment that there is an increasing number f cmpeting pririties. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page18 Chart 18: Sessin 3, Cmmitment t Service in the Kingdm f Gd Sessin 3 Cmmitment t Service in the Kingdm f Gd SALT YEAST LIGHT Quick Ntes In this sessin we will use scripture t guide ur thughts n cmmitment The intent is t prmte hnest discussin within the rund-table grups n cmmitment T cause each individual t think abut the extent t which he/she is cmmitted? OR, are they cmmitted in a meaningful way? We will take the next 10 minutes t summarize what we allcate 30-40 minutes t in the sympsium fr the lecture in this sessin Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page19 Chart 19: Texts On Generus Giving Sessin 3: Texts On Generus Giving New Testament? N References t tithing, per se; cncept f tithing is nt new cvenant Abundance f text n generus giving and caring fr thers: Fr as in ne bdy we have many parts. Rmans 12: 4-8 Fr we brught nthing int the wrld, just as we shall nt be able t take anything ut f it. If we have fd and clthing, we shall be cntent with that. 1 Timthy 6: 7-10 Tell them t d gd, t be rich in gd wrks, t be generus, ready t share. 1 Timthy 6: 17-19 If smene wh has wrldly means sees a brther in need and refuses him cmpassin, hw can the lve f Gd remain in him? Children, let us lve nt in wrd r speech but in deed and truth. 1 Jhn 3: 17-18 5/14/2011 19 Quick Ntes New Testament des nt talk abut tithes, as a 10 percent standard f giving But there is an abundance f text n generus giving Christ talks mre abut giving than any ther thing Read the fur scriptural passages The New Testament des nt include the cncept f tithing. Hwever, there is an abundance f scriptural references t generus giving Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page20 Chart 20: Texts On Generus Giving (Cntinued) Sessin 3: Texts On Generus Giving (Cntinued) The Gd Samaritan: 30 Jesus replied, A man was ging dwn frm Jerusalem t Jerich, and fell int the hands f rbbers, wh stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Nw by chance a priest was ging dwn that rad; and when he saw him, he passed by n the ther side. 32 S likewise a Levite, when he came t the place and saw him, passed by n the ther side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was mved with pity. 34 He went t him and bandaged his wunds, having pured il and wine n them. Then he put him n his wn animal, brught him t an inn, and tk care f him. - Luke 10: 30-34 5/14/2011 20 Quick Ntes Read the Gd Samaritan text The parable f the Gd Samaritan is abut a generus giver The Samaritan is an hnest steward He respnds t his neighbr's need Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page21 Chart 21: Grwth in Cmmitment Sessin 3: Grwth in Cmmitment Missinal Church Serves the neighbr Sees itself ding Gd s wrk Peple cmmit t thse things that will change peple s lives in Christ Muntain View Cmmunity Center/Fd Bank In 2010 we served 8,345 families and 34,266 individuals Our average number f families we serve each week is abut 180 1 st Annual Back-T-Schl BBQ & Health Fair August 21, 2010 700 peple attended ur event 350 backpacks Free haircuts fr students Free schl clthes 5/14/2011 21 Quick Ntes Grwth in cmmitment cmes frm ding thse things that change peple's lives The Missinal Church serves the needs f the neighbr The Missinal Church is ur pprtunity t be what Christ always wanted the church t be: salt, yeast and light fr the wrld The Muntain View Cmmunity Center/Fd Bank is an example f missinal effrt The Cmmunity Center/Fd bank serves many in the Puyallup/Edgewd area. The Cmmunity Center's 1st Annual Back t Schl BBQ and Health Fair in August 2010 prvided: 700 peple attended ur event 350 backpacks Free haircuts fr students Free schl clthes Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page22 Chart 22: Discussin Guide Discussin Guide. Sessin 3: Cmmitment What is the mst imprtant thing t have fr a strng and cmmitted cngregatin? What are sme ther things? Where have we seen cmmitment in ur cngregatin? Where has it been lacking? What can we d as a cngregatin t grw in cmmitment? What can we d as a cngregatin t be a missinal church? 5/14/2011 22 Quick Ntes The questins are intended t guide the rund-table grups int meaningful discussins that acknwledge: That we may have areas f strng cmmitment in ur church. Where cmmitment is lacking Discuss means by which we can increase cmmitment What can we d t be a missinal church? These are pen ended questins intended t prmte discussin. There are n right r wrng answers. Respnse will be variable, based n individual experience Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page23 Chart 23: Summary Summary The three sessins f this sympsium are: Relevance f the church tday Calling Cmmitment This sympsium is intended t: Educate members n their respnsibility as stewards and n the missinal church Cause members t think abut their calling t serve and the extent t which they may be respnding as a cmmitted steward Presentatin materials available t dwnlad n the Synd website at: http://www.lutheranssw.rg/, select Resurces & Links; Synd Dcuments; Stewardship Resurces r simply enter the fllwing URL http://www.lutheranssw.rg/?page_id=166 5/14/2011 23 Quick Ntes The three sessins f this sympsium are: Relevance f the church tday Calling Cmmitment This sympsium is intended t educate: Members n their respnsibility as stewards Members n the missinal church Members t give prayerful thught t: Their calling t serve Their respnse as a cmmitted steward When yu cmmunicate the event, be sure that it is clear that this is an educative event n discipleship and stewardship. They can relax; they are nt ging t be cnfrnted with a pledge card at this time. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]
Page24 Quick Ntes Presentatin materials mat be dwnladed frm the Synd web site. They are: This presentatin The full presentatin fr the 2011 Sympsium: The Arma f Christ Presentatin materials available t dwnlad n the Synd website at: http://www.lutheranssw.rg/, select Resurces & Links; Synd Dcuments; Stewardship Resurces Or simply enter the fllwing URL http://www.lutheranssw.rg/?page_id=166 If yu are unable t dwnlad materials, call the Synd ffice and a CD will be mailed t yu. Suthwestern Washingtn Synd f the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Stewardship Wrkshp - Draft Lessn Plan [V1.6]