Share!
                              It's One of Our Core Values
I am so glad that "Share" is one of the Core Values we embrace here at Isle of Hope UMC. I believe this really gets at the heart of what it means to be like Christ. No question love is the primary foundational principle of the Christian life. However, how significant or real would love be if it did not find expression through sharing? The most familiar verse in the New Testament describes God as a "Sharer" or "Giver". John 3:16 not only speaks of the saving grace and deep love of God but provides a portrait and a pattern for how we can be more like our Heavenly Father. God is love. No doubt. Yet, God expresses love through giving. So when we think about living into our 4th
Core Value, if we would be more like our Heavenly Father, John 3:16 can be our guide.
1st  Our Sharing or Giving Should be Motivated by Love:  "God so loved the world that He gave..."  The motive for God's extreme generosity is love. As our love for God and others grows and deepens, we should become more and more willing to share our time, talents, gifts, service.
 
2nd Our Sharing or Giving Should be Measured by Love:  "His only begotten Son ..." This was not a token gesture on God's part. God is an extravagant giver. There are stories in the Bible of extravagant generosity that I believe are included in the sacred record because they reflect the attitude of God on this subject (the boy with the loaves and fishes, the widow and her coin, etc.).  "Share!" is not just a Core Value of Isle of Hope UMC, it is a Core Value of heaven! And we are never more like our Heavenly Father than when we are willing to share and give. 

A few weeks ago I wrote and spoke to you about my beliefs regarding Church Finances and Kingdom Economics. Remember the two foundational principles found in Jesus' teachings on the subject.
 
First, Matthew 7:7 where Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you;" By asking God our Father to supply our needs we demonstrate humility, trust, and faith. So, we came together as a Church family one Sunday night in our sanctuary and asked. I know this honored the Lord and blessed us. Now in light of our present focus on our 4th Core Value as a Church, we have the opportunity to apply Jesus' second foundational principle.

Secondly, in Luke 6:38 Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you." The concept of giving in challenging times, especially in challenging times, is throughout the Bible. The sacrificial, extravagant generosity of God the Father, revealed in John 3:16, finds its truest expression in and through God's people (i.e. 1Kings 17:7-16; John 6:5-13, for example).  Asking and giving always produce a great harvest of blessings!  We have prayed and asked. Now let's give. LET'S DECLARE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3RD, PRAYER HARVEST SUNDAY! On that Sunday, let's take the opportunity to demonstrate our faith and generosity in a tangible way by sharing, giving a special gift, above and beyond our regular tithes or offerings. Be sure to keep this gift separate from your regular tithe. Designate it PRAYER HARVEST OFFERING. Let it be motivated and measured out of love for God and love for this Church and its mission! What an exciting opportunity.
Praying We Excel In Sharing,
Mike