Welcome to Spirit & Truth Ministry Financial Stewardship Class
Managing Our Finances God's Way for 2011!
Along with the group sessions and e-mail communication, this blog is designed to be of additional group support while we go through the eight-weeks outlined by Crown Financial Ministries. Although not meant to take the place of our regular class meetings, (it is vital to the group that we support and pray for each other by on-going face-to-face fellowship) it is a necessary tool for follow-up and encouragement.Weekly assignments along with Key Verses to mediate upon will be here for continual commitment. At the end of each posted blog message you'll have the opportunity to leave a comment, offer insight, or edify the class as you sense the Spirit of the Lord directs you to do. Take the time to visit the video bar on the bottom shelf below or visit the resources link to the right for additional tools. Check in often and discover God's principles to managing his resources and to becoming financially free.
FYI and Heads Up. When we meet, what to expect? The following has been taken from the Foreword of the Study Guide Workbook outlined by Chris Goulard, Pastor of Stewardship, Saddleback Church here is the following expected end for each Sunday meeting:
- Catching Up: We will open each meeting with an opportunity for everyone to check in with each other about how you are doing with the weekly assignments. Accountability is key to success in this course!
- Key Verse: Each week we will find a key verse or Scripture passage for the group to read together.
- Video Lesson: There is a twenty minute video lesson for the group to watch each week.
- Discussion Questions: Each video segment is complemented by several questions. Please don't feel like you have to answer every single question. The material is meant to be your servant, not your master. If you don't get through all of the discussion questions, that's okay.
- Living on Purpose: In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren identifies God's five purposes for our lives. They are worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism.
- Prayer Direction: At the end of each session, we will pray together. The power of prayer is indispensable. Praying together is a great privilege of small group life--don't take it for granted!
- Putting It into Practice: This is where the rubber meets the road. We don't want to be just hearers of the Word. We also need to be doers of the Word (James 1:22). There will be assignments to be completed before the next class meeting---We will not ask you to share your financial information with each other, but we will ask you to keep each other accountable to do the work and follow through with your commitments.
Facilitators' Notes:
Sunday-January 30, 2011: Each class participant was given an Introduction letter and a brown envelope marked RECEIPTS. Please start putting ALL receipts into this folder for the next 30 days. If you didn't get one, please use a Ziploc bag, a brown paper bag, or a white business envelope to get started. We will have "Receipt Folders" available at the next class meeting. Don't forget, we meet for our first class Sunday, February 13, 2011 right after service in the overflow 's "cafe" corner. See you all there!
i thought that i was doing good since i am a consistent tither, faithfully give to the building fund and regular free will offerings. after class on sunday reality hit me like a load of bricks. i realized that i had not given God control of my $$ like i have in the other areas of my life.even though i gave Him his portion i was not as mindful as i should have been with the 90% that i had left. i repented and have committed to letting God be in charge of my $$$ and being a good steward over everything God provides me.
ReplyDeleteprayerfully yours, sis jo
Introduction:The Big Picture...and now sis jo, the journey begins.
ReplyDeleteYou I am seeing certain things changing becasue of this class. Not just in areas of finance. Different areas of my marriage are being awakened that have never really been active or operating before. I guess not just becasue of this class but this class in conjunction with the covering. However there are areas where I do feel like nothing is changing. Is it normal to expereince this?
ReplyDeleteIs it normal what you're feeling -- seeing activity awaken in one area in your life and slumber in another? Yes!!!!! And the fact that you are able to recognize "change" and "a new place" is right where God wants you to be. Right in the center of desiring ALL that belongs to you and your husband. Keep moving forward. Keep delighting yourself in the LORD. Keep getting up every morning and speaking TRUTH over yourself and your husband (the excellent head of your household, the mighty man of valor who walks in the way of wise counsel, a blessed covering who loves his wife as Christ loves the church) in such a way that puts the enemy on notice all the while praises our Heavenly Father. In a season or two, you will begin to see the changes you weren't able to see or feel before. Remember, we walk by FAITH and not by sight---don't be moved by what you feel, but be moved by the WORD.
ReplyDeleteLastly, soak up and enjoy all you gleaned from The Covering. Absorb and accept everything that God proclaimed over you Saturday during the Women's Breakfast and from what Min. Zakiyyah Hill spoke into your spirit. Don't be moved by feelings Princess!!!!
Delores