“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…”
Psalm 24:1
Why Christians Give
First, it must be said that Christians believe that everything is owned by God in the first place and that we are simply managers of his resources, called to direct them toward that which aligns with his will. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…” (Psalm 24:1)
Secondly, Christians trust that God has generously given us His son, Jesus, and through Him has already met our deepest needs.
In light of these truths, Jesus himself makes it clear to his followers that spirituality and generosity are inseparable. “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)
Likewise, God has ordered the world in such a way that He works through the sacrifice and generosity of His people to meet the needs of others and, in particular, to fuel the mission of His church.
When such spiritually connected generosity gets lived out the end results are beautiful. Entire communities are blessed, the local church is well equipped, and the Christian giver glorifies God who delights in our willingness to give toward the needs of others and to depend deeply upon Him.
Tithings and Offerings
For thousands of years, Christians have talked about two ways to give within the local church. The first is a “tithe” and the other is an “offering.”
TITHE is an ancient word which simply means, “tenth” reflecting the belief that giving should be Proportionate to what God has entrusted us with, that it should be planned, and that it should be offered consistently. The word tithe isn’t mentioned nearly as much in the New Testament, but, expressions such as cheerful, first fruits, and proportionate are used repeatedly by our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Remember, giving isn’t just a duty, it should be a delight! Consider the words of 2 Cor. 9:7 which says: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” The right motive is love; because each of us are merely stewards, entrusted with life and life’s resources and given the privilege of responsibility and joyfully managing them.
OFFERINGS are gifts given specifically, over-and-above a tithe, to special projects or endeavors. An example of an offering would be a gift given for a specific purpose as an expression of your faith, or an over-and-above gift designated for a special ministry or need within your Trinity family.
How to Give at Trinity
- GIVE ONLINE – It’s secure, it’s simple, and it ensures consistent giving. Trinity can receive monetary gifts online by credit card or by withdrawal from your bank account. Likewise, you can choose to give a one-time gift or to establish a recurring gift at an interval of your choosing. Simply follow the simple instructions to below to get started. An online account is required; this enables us to send you an end-of-year tax receipt and allows you to manage and monitor your giving.
- GIVE IN-PERSON – Bring cash or check to any of our Sunday worship services at 8:00 and 10:30. You can drop your gift in the offering plate, please use your designated offering envelopes when possible.
- GIVE BY MAIL – Mail a check 4795 N. Highway 94, Orchard Farm, MO 63301. Make out your gift to “Trinity Lutheran Church.” If you wish to give to a specific fund or area of ministry, please make a note on the memo line.
*For information on giving at Trinity, or to give stock, securities, or other non-cash donations to the church, contact Brit Trudo, Treasurer: trudox4@gmail.com