BUILDING A CULTURE OF GENEROSITY

 

            What is culture?  I found a definition online of “the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group: Synonyms included society, way of life, lifestyle, customs, traditions, heritage, habits, ways, mores and values.

            What is generosity? It is defined online as “the quality of being kind and generous.”

            So together; culture of generosity could be translated as “a way of life, ways, mores and values of being kind and generous.”

            That is what we should be doing as “the” church, and what we should be doing in every local church: learning how to build a culture of generosity. How do you build that?

• ·         Help our folks understand how to best use their time
• ·         Giftedness
• ·         Financial resources
• ·         Voice

            We have to embrace discipleship and spiritual formation, inviting people to experience a journey of spiritual growth, allowing them to utilize all the resources they are managing FOR God. It won’t be easy. It will require a new way of thinking and doing.

            Remember this: building a culture isn’t to create something that people DO, but something that people ARE. Being generous has to be part of who we are as God’s people. Why? Because:

 

Please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org if you’d like to discuss how to build a culture of generosity in your church.