Offering

We debated when we were starting The Bridge as to whether we would have an official offering time during service.  Looking at scripture there did not seem to be any precedent or demand for it to be done there.  With that in mind we looked into what offerings and tithes were all about - is it only about getting the support for the church?  If that is all then maybe having drop boxes for people is all we needed.  As we dug into it though it seemed that offerings were so often much more than just supporting the ministry.  It was an act of worship and trust in God.  As we meet in corporate worship at our weekend connections we are singing songs to God and about God stating our love and trust of Him and hearing a message from His Word to apply to our lives.  Where better to put action to our words and show our love, trust and buy-in to His ministry than during the service.  Our concern was that in our community churches are looked at as some money making scheme so we did not want to talk about money much.  What we found was that by not addressing the concept of 10% giving, first fruit giving and giving cheerfully we would be stunting peoples spiritual growth.  We decided to include an offering time during the services and to make it clear that their giving was between them and God - to only give as they felt led and to do it cheerfully.  We have a standing 90 day challenge for givers that want to step up to the Tithing plate - giving 10% of their income trusting that God will provide enough that they can make it on the other 90%.  This challenge is to try it for 90 days straight and if you can't see God working in your life and providing enough just tell us to give you your money back.  We will give you back you full tithe that you gave over that 90 days with no problems.  We trust that God will work such miracles in your life that you will be excited to drop that offering in the basket each week.  We believe we can not out give God and told us to test Him in this.  My God is bigger!