The Generous Life :: Some Sermon Audio

The past three weekends our family has had the privilege to drop in on three different church communities: Stilwell United Methodist, FirstLight United Methodist, and Jacob's Well. On the first two visits, I was invited to preach on generosity and stewardship, the subject of the devotional guide I wrote, published in May.

I have uploaded the sermon audio from FirstLight United Methodist Faith Community here. You can right-click and "save as" to download the audio. Alternatively, on the click it might play directly in your browser.

Pay attention to the URL. The audio file was creatively titled by a good friend of mine, who will remain unnamed.

I gave a very similar message at Stilwell United Methodist, and here is a link to the audio. The sermon is dated November 4. I was a little more comfortable preaching this material the second time around, so if you're choosing either/or, I'd go with the FirstLight audio. If you give it a listen, feel free to let me know what you think.

I enjoy preaching, though I don't get the opportunity all that often. Thanks to the people at Stilwell and FirstLight for inviting me to join them in worship. Each occasion brought me great joy, and it is my prayer that God would lead you to be increasingly generous, so that I might join you in thanksgiving for what God has done.

As for our visit to Jacob's Well, it was a joy to be present in worship with my family. My son slept soundly, my daughter enjoyed her time in Sunday School, the people were hospitable and friendly, and it was good to chat with a good friend following the service. Molly and I are always blessed when we visit mid-town Kansas City.

In another two weeks, Molly will return from maternity leave to Resurrection West, and we'll be establishing new rhythms with a newborn. I hope to find some space to write and create (more about this later), and to enjoy the winter months in De Soto, as I commonly do. If there are topics you'd like me to touch on, feel free to leave a comment, or drop me a note using the feedback form at right. Conversation is more fun than monologue.

2013 looms; new ventures must begin. I'm hoping for much new life in the coming year.

Speaking This Sunday. You're Invited.

This Sunday I'll be visiting the people of FirstLight United Methodist Faith Community, May 6 at 6:00 p.m.  Your'e invited.

The event will be held at 138 E. Main in downtown Gardner.  You can read more about the event here.

I'll be speaking about my first book: Committed to Christ: 40 Devotions for a Generous Life.

I'm looking foward to seeing some old friends and making some news ones.  My presentation will be followed by a brief question and answer period.

See you there!

Brief Book Review :: The Ancient Practices Series: Douglas LeBlanc's Tithing: Test Me in This

Belief and practice should fit together like hand and glove, and Thomas Nelson Publishing continues to remind us of this very fact through their Ancient Practices Series.  In Douglas LeBlanc's Tithing: Test Me in This, we have yet another helpful installment chronicling a spiritual exercise in the Christian tradition, that of giving.  As noted within the book, the tithe is a Christian spiritual practice commonly regarded with disrepute in a similar way to fasting, and thus is often tragically neglected.  Despite this, LeBlanc seeks to make the case that tithing remains a vital practice in need of recovery, and seeks to demonstrate through storytelling the type of difference tithing can make in the development of Christian character.

When picking up this book, don't expect an expository guide to the practice of tithing, or a theological treatise on why tithing is a standard Christian practice.  Rather, in this book you'll find a catalogue of modern saints marked by generosity.  In this respect this book has a fantastic implicit message, being that we only learn how to be virtuous by looking to those who are virtuous.  In the most extreme case of generosity, all Christians look to Jesus, who withheld nothing in making possible the salvation of humankind.  But the reality of Jesus becomes more real as we look at those who follow after Christ living the life made possible through him.  Thus LeBlanc's case studies in generosity prove immensely helpful.

As a biblical studies and theology enthusiast, I was a little disappointed that this book did not address the relevant passages of Scripture and corresponding developments in church history relevant to the practice of tithing.  Other books in this series have given some attention to the biblical and theological roots of the ancient practices, providing a firm foundation that runs deep.  While I was deeply impressed with the case studies provided, and was given some insight when those personal testimonies included a textual or historical basis, direct attention to primary sources would have enhanced the overall quality and utility of this particular book.

The bottom line: this is a good, quick read with some helpful examples, but I would've found a fuller, multi-dimensional approach to tithing more helpful, particularly considering that so few people understand the theology behind the tithe and the critical need for a generous spirit to bring about the most good in the world.