Announcements

Sunday night kids’ programs have ended for the summer (last meeting was 4/27) and will resume on August 24th.

AWANA award ceremony will be on May 18th.

Kids’ choir program will be May 18th following the AWANA award ceremony. (Practices are Wednesday from 6 until 7 PM.)

Assistants are still needed for May in children’s ministry. Sign-up sheet will be passed around in class.

We are doing a new sign-up sheet for our nursery rotation. We need to fill 14 slots, and so far I only have 8 volunteers. Please consider signing up. You can either email Beth (beth.layton@hotmail.com) or sign up via the sheet that will be passed around Sunday morning.

There will be a baby shower for Shulana at the Lindow residence on May 17th from 2 to 3 PM. Shulana is registered at Target and Wal-Mart.

Current Series

We have just wrapped up the church-wide series on stewardship, so we are continuing in our study of James.

The book of James was written by James, the oldest half-brother of Jesus. James was an early influential church leader focused on reaching lost Jews.

James was one of the first books written in the New Testament, around 49 AD. It is a How-To book on Christian living, sometimes referred to as the Proverbs of the New Testament for its practical application. This book is very non-hypocritical, very hard-hitting, and very straight-forward. It was written to the persecuted Jews who left Jerusalem and were living among the Gentiles.

Sum it up:
LIVE YOUR FAITH - DON'T BE HYPOCRITES!!

Next Sunday

We will be picking back up with our study of James next week. More info to come!

Notes from Sunday (4/27)

Principle #7

Tithing is a metter of stewardship for God.

• What is the most generous thing anyone has ever done for you?
• How did their generosity make you feel?
• How does your generosity make you feel?

2 Corinthians 9

• We are to give/tithe out of a humble and loving heart. (vs. 5-7)
• We reap in proportion to what we sow. (v. 6)
• We are to individually decide what to give. (v. 7) But a 10% was their starting place. And a tithe is a minimum or starting place for New Testament Christians.
• God still rewards those who give. (vs. 9-11)

Principle #8

Giving should be a result of our relationship with God and not a way to earn His favor. (We aren't buying God's love!)

The motivation behind generosity is sincere thankfulness.

What happens when we give to God first and cheerfully?

1. Our hearts are drawn closer to the heart of Christ. (Matthew 6:21)
2. We develop character.
3. We invest in eternity. (Matthew 6:20)
4. We are blessed. (Acts 20:35, Proverbs 11:24-25)