Guest speakers, Lana Miller and Evelin Gonzales, from Everence brought the message this morning on the theme of Stewardship.

Some notes from message:

1. Spiritual Discipline - Practices and experiences that are designed to help us grow in our faith as we submit to the transforming power of God. As a discipline, it helps us in developing a "lived faith" - a deeper relationship with God.
2. Stewardship is the active and responsible management of God's creation for God's purpose.

It is organizing our lives in such a way so God can give us away. It is everything we do after we say, "I believe." it is a journey to the heart of God.

Stewardship is what we believe. Generosity is the spiritual discipline we practice.

Questions we must answer: Is what I do with my money the same as what I believe? Does your checkbook and credit card statement reflect what you believe?

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." NOT.. where your heart is there your treasure will be. Where we give out time and money is where our treasure is.

MATTHEW 6 - DISCIPLINES

• verse 2 - it says when you give - it doesn't say if you give - motivated by our relationship with God
• v. 5 - when you pray - not if you pray
• v, 16 - when you fast - not if you fast. Giving, praying, fasting - expected disciplines
• v. 19 - Don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth - this is counter-cultural. - What do you trust in? Where is our trust? Our treasure must be with God.
• v. 21 - What you do with your treasure will be the evidence of what you believe.
• v. 22-23 - We can't compartmentalize what we do in one part of our lives and not expect it to impact our whole being.
• v. 24 - We cannot serve 2 gods. Money can become god to us. How will I live knowing all belongs to God? God and His purpose must be first.
• Generosity is how we practice stewardship. It is not what the rest of the world is doing.
• Stewardship and generosity is Jesus centered - not self centered.