1. Honoring God Through Our Giving

2. To plan the work we will undertake To inform the congregation of financial responsibilities To remain faithful in our stewardship before God.

3. Ephesians 4:28 – “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has needs.”

4. Paid ministers cost money Staff costs money A building costs money Benevolence costs money Utilities cost money Insurance costs money

5. This Year’s Budget A to Y Advertising -- $5,300  Audio Visual -- $900  Auto -- $5,500 Benevolence -- $4,000 Building and Grounds -- $12,860  Capital Expense -- $12,600

6.  Education -- $2,900   Gifts -- $350  Insurance (auto, building, health) -- $26,390   Missions -- $15,000  Office Supply -- $12,600   Outreach -- $6,000  Pantry -- $700  Parsonage Upkeep -- $1,000

7.  Payroll -- $134,128  Repairs -- $1,500  Taxes (Employees) -- $10,261  Utilities -- $35,420   Women’s Ministries -- $600  Worship -- $2,500  Youth -- $1,500

8.  Total 2015 budget -- $292,009   Weekly required budget -- $5,615.56   Last year’s shortfall – $14,000  Improvement over previous year’s $53,000 shortfall  Better is not yet good, though!

9.  Will you put God first?  Malachi 3:8 – “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.”  Giving less than we should is robbing God – then and now.

10.  Least God ever asked for was a tenth of all.  Our cheerful, bountiful giving commanded  2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

11.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you…you may have an abundance for every good deed….Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality….

12.  Proverbs 11:25 – The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.

13.  Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

14.  Ways we can save:  Eat at home  Live frugally.  Save utilities  Give up sodas and expensive drinks  Lower expectations  ???????