This week I've decided to go out of sequence and jump down the list to Principle #7: Christian giving can be stimulated by friendly competition.

Before I get into the next principle of Christian giving, I thought I'd review a bit for those who might have missed one or more of the previous articles.  Why are these articles being written?  As Christians, we need to understand the importance and purpose of Christian giving.  I began the series writing Christian giving is all about Love.  God so loved us that He gave His Son, Jesus.  Jesus commands us to imitate that love.  Christian giving is one expression of love.

The Church of the Brethren has historically advocated a self examination for any unconfessed sin, unresolved anger or resentment toward another prior to prepare ourselves for Communion.  The early Church had Deacons visit each member prior to Communion to pray and help them work through any sin, anger, or resentment, i.e., prepare them for Communion per 1 Corinthians 11:27-28.   "So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.  That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup."  

As in Luke 19, we are stewards of that which God has entrusted to us: our selves, our families, our finances, our time and talents.  Our church will be reaching out, more and more, to involve each of us in areas of church function.  This is aiming to make each of us a "vested partner" in the way that the Painesville Church of the Brethren fulfills Christ's Great Commandment (Matthew 22: 35-40) and Great Commission (Matthew 28: 19-20).  This is what the church is all about: a group of people with different skills, interests and resources, pooling their efforts to make a difference in this world, through and for Jesus Christ. This can't be done by any one of us, or even a group; we need the involvement of each person in the congregation contributing a little or a lot, depending on talents, time and resources, to develop this church function.  It is important that the aims of the Painesville Church of the Brethren of 50 years ago be continued into these next years, and built up to the full potential, to the glory of God.

It can be difficult to deal with and overcome the obsticales life hands us when we try to do so by ourselves. For this reason, Denny Palmer took the time to present an Overcomer’s Program. Overcomer’s is based on a 12 step program as well as trust, friendship, small groups, and most importantly the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible.