"Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver."
2 Corinthians 9:7
Giving to Village Church
We love Annandale and surrounds, the Inner West and all of Sydney as well.
But our heart is one that bleeds. Of the 10,000 people living in Annandale- let alone the five million people living in Sydney, very few know the love of Jesus and the hope that he offers everyone.
Village Church came about because we wanted to change that. The vision of our church was never to see a small group of like-minded individuals get together just to share a common interest. It was a big vision- an ‘out there’, ridiculous, bold vision:
“To see God glorified by thousands of people committed to honouring and trusting Jesus in Annandale, the Inner West, and beyond.”
This is a huge vision. A crazy, insurmountable, impossible vision. The kind of vision that you need God to turn up for if it’s ever going to become a reality! But that’s what puts fire in our bones. It takes money to do this; a vision like this needs resourcing, but we have a God who does the impossible. And trusting him, we’d love to share with you, how you can worship God, be spiritually enriched, increase your joy, and partner with us in growing God’s kingdom- all through the simple act of being generous with the money he has so graciously given you.
In this short verse Paul tells us four things about giving money:
1. Each person
Paul encouraged everyone in the church to give. He wrote ‘each of you’. Like Paul, at Village we encourage ‘each person’ who is a member of our church to be generous and give financially to the work of the ministry (as people who desire to participants and beneficiaries of our ministry).
2. Decide in your heart
Paul encouraged his readers to consider in advance how much they would give. Many churches still pass round a basket for the offertory. While there is nothing wrong with this, it can sometimes lead people to give in a reactionary way, and thus only give what’s in their wallets, rather than in a considered and thoughtful way. At Village we encourage our members to give via direct debit (details below). This ensures that they have an opportunity to ‘decide in their hearts’ before giving.
3. Not reluctantly or under compulsion
The point here was not that they should feel no reluctance in their own hearts. After all, sometimes it is the act of giving despite our natural tightfistedness that helps us to grow in sacrificial generosity. Rather, the point Paul is trying to make is that God doesn’t want people to moan and groan about having to give their money to him. ‘Reluctant giving’ does not please God. For this reason, we discourage our members from giving if they can only do it reluctantly, and we encourage and spur a desire to grow in generosity (in view of God’s generosity to us)! All of our members are able to participate and benefit from our ministries regardless of whether they financially support us or not.
4. Cheerfully
The final thing Paul urges his readers to do is give cheerfully. We believe that if we have our hearts captured by Christ and his purpose, then we’ll actually want to give all of ourselves toward work of his Kingdom. We therefore encourage our members to ‘give cheerfully’ and remember how much God has been generous to us, knowing that God desires to see cheerful, joyful generosity in his people.
How much should I give?
In the Old Testament, God’s people were instructed to give a tithe (10%) of their income back to God, but the New Testament never names a specific amount that we should give. Rather than holding forth a ‘law’ or ‘ruling’ on how much we should give, the New Testament puts forward a new idea of ‘sacrificial generosity’- generosity as a response to God’s grace shown to us in Jesus Christ.
At Village, we see a tithe as the springboard for generosity. For this reason, we invite our members to consider tithing their income to support the work of the gospel at Village, as well as encouraging our church to grow in generosity by giving above and beyond this (at Village and also to other causes).
How do I give?
As you become a member of Village Church and you consider how you can support Jesus’ work here, we’d love for you to fill in a Pledge Form, or give a one-off gift. Our members make an annual pledge each November, allowing the church leadership to make wise, informed planning decisions about our church’s financial future.
Name: Village Church
BSB: 062 102
Account No: 0090 1407
Reference: “Your name” (not essential, but helpful- particularly if you make a pledge)
All giving information is kept private. Our Operations Manager and Bookkeeper have access to this information. Additionally, there are tax-deductible giving opportunities at Village; for more information on this, scroll to the bottom of this document.
If you would like to talk more about giving or ask a question, please contact our bookkeeper on 9660 2444 , or via accounts@villagechurch.sydney.
What will my money be used for?
All money given to Village Church will be used for the growth of God’s Kingdom. This may include staffing, ministry operations, property, mission giving, and/or anything else that we believe will advance the cause of the gospel.
For more resources on giving and generosity, check out these bible talks below.
WHY SHOULD PEOPLE GIVE FINANCIALLY TO CHURCH?
There’s lots in the Bible about financial support for Christian ministry. Here are a few of the motives for giving:
GRATITUDE When Paul is urging Christians in Corinth to give ‘generously’ to an appeal for the poor in Judea, he reminds them of how much they themselves have received from God. He writes: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor 8:9) Everything we have we owe to grace, and grace teaches generosity.
PARTNERSHIP In writing a thank-you letter to the Philippians, Paul thanks them for “sharing” in his ministry and the way in which they supported him financially, He calls this ‘Partnership in the gospel’ (Phil 4:15, 1:5). It is a stunning thought to think that the church were legitimate partners with the apostle to the Gentiles! As our church and network ministry grow (as we prayerfully hope they will), we can expect each year’s operating cost budget will be a new challenge to our financial generosity and faithfulness.
FAITH When we give sacrificially we are putting into practice our confidence that God will provide for our needs and for our eternal joy and happiness, far more reliably and lavishly than money ever could. Paul writes to Timothy: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim 6:17). Jesus says: “I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. ... Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26).
SPIRITUAL BENEFIT Paul writes to the Corinthian church and motivates the church to support their ministers saying that it is a right and proper requirement to materially provide for ministers who serve the church spiritually: “If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?” (1 Cor 9:11).
OVER THE TITHE Before Christ God’s people often gave a 10% of their flocks and harvests to God. Since Jesus this law has been done away with. However many Christians choose to give over and above the Old Testament 10% because they are even more grateful than the Israelites were for God’s gift of Christ. This is grace-motivated’ not law motivated!
LOVE The ultimate reason for giving is not law but love. We give because we have experienced God’s love, because we love him, and because we love each other. Love for others will include a concern for their material and gospel needs. Therefore our love will have impact in the practicalities of our fi nances. So Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians, what we do with our money is an expression of the sincerity of our love for Jesus and for others. “But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of other” (2 Cor 8:7-8).
WHAT MINDSET SHOULD I HAVE ABOUT FINANCIAL GIVING?
How can we put those principles above into practice in our own giving. The New Testament offers principles for how to give:
CHEERFULLY (2 Cor 9:7) Give till it feels good. Not grudgingly, out of obligation but gladly.
CONSISTENTLY (1 Cor 16:2) As a part of a life that is structured around generosity. Not just sporadically and on a whim.
SACRIFICIALLY (2 Cor 8:1-5) Beyond our budgetary ability, not our of our financial leftovers. “We want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. ... And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will” (2 Cor 8:1-5).
WISELY (2 Cor 8:18-20) Being concerned that money is handled and accounted for with integrity, in a way that gives glory to God, not naively.
PRACTICALITIES OF GIVING We prefer our members to give via the direct debit method (form downloadable here).
This has several advantages: it is considered, consistent, unseen (except to the bookkeeper who keeps the information private) and it allows the Parish Council to budget properly. This method allows you to plan the amount you give and should you miss church one week automatically make up your payment. When you have finished filling in the form please put it in the perspex box by the door. You may also choose to give by regular internet bank transfers.
Name: Village Church
BSB: 062 102
Account No: 0090 1407
Reference: “Your name” (not essential, but helpful- particularly if you make a pledge)
All giving information is kept private. Our Operations Manager and Bookkeeper have access to this information.
If you would like to talk more about giving or ask a question, please contact our bookkeeper on 9660 2444 , or via accounts@villagechurch.sydney.