Promises Kept by First United Methodist Church of Dallas

prayers

promisesâ&#x20AC;&#x160;kept presence

gifts

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love is FirstChurch

About Promises Kept Promises Kept is more than a study guide. It’s more than a sermon series. And it’s certainly more than a pledge card. Promises Kept is an opportunity for FirstChurch to explore together how becoming a covenant people will enable us to create disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. That’s no small task, but great things are possible when a faith family enters into covenant with God and with one another. The next six weeks present an opportunity for each of us to: Understand what it means to be a member of FirstChurch and fully realize the expectations of membership Enhance our prayer lives Discover “presence” is about more than warming a pew on Sunday Learn to elevate giving from business transaction to spiritual exercise Commit to serve others in the image of Christ Reaching these goals together as a congregation will enable us to bear witness through action—living into the covenants of our membership. Together, we will guarantee FirstChurch is able to provide vibrant ministry in Dallas and the world for generations to come.

How to Use This Study The Promises Kept study book is designed to fit into the busiest of schedules. Most weeks are divided into three devotionals and all are accompanied by simple activities and thoughtful questions to help each of us understand what it means to be a covenant people. You will find commitment cards in the back of this book and online at firstchurchdallas.org/promises. After prayerfully considering your commitments to God, to FirstChurch and to yourself for the coming year, we will join together in a commitment service during worship on Sunday, October 26.

Week One

Promises, Promises Genesis 12:1-9 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb.

Day One

In the beginning, God created ... a people. Yes, that’s right, a people. After whirling stars, nebulae in motion, the ocean depths and even the rocky mountain majesty, God selected one man, one woman and a nomadic band to respond to God’s will. But God was not at a distance. God does something that God had not yet done from the very beginning: create a relationship. This relationship was the covenant: “You will be my people, and I will be your God.” So, Abram, Sarai and their nomadic band go. Their first response is with their lives. They follow the will of God and God’s providential care follows them. This is not unlike our covenant with God today. We make a covenant with our lives and our families for this group of people called FirstChurch. Our membership is how we live out our covenant with God. We make a promise to the church … and the church makes a promise to us. Over the coming weeks, each of us will explore our covenants with God, with FirstChurch and with ourselves. Just like Abram and Sarai, we will begin a conversation on commitment. By living out your commitments, you have made a difference and together we will make an impact through our promises kept.

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Activity

Pray the Covenant Prayer by John Wesley. I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Reflection

What does God’s covenant: “You will be my people…and I will be your God” mean to you? How have you experienced God’s promise in your life?

When you joined the church, you made a commitment to participate in the ministries of the church through your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Take a moment to consider each one. Which of these promises seems to come easier for you to fulfill? Which is harder?

Day Two

Being a covenant people enables us to imagine together who we are to be and what we are to become. The next time you step through the doors of 1928 Ross Avenue, take a look around. You are seeing what it means for a covenant people to turn their imaginations into reality!

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FirstChurch is a living, growing body of Christ-followers who are full of imagination for what the days, months, years and centuries ahead hold. We are a people who embrace Christ’s love and who work tirelessly to show this love to each other and to the community and world around us. In so many ways, FirstChurch is Love…and Love is FirstChurch. Let’s challenge ourselves to spend the day—the next six weeks, in fact—imagining. Take a moment to imagine how being a covenant people (more specifically, being a covenant person) will ensure FirstChurch can be a living, breathing, thriving part of Dallas, Texas for generations to come.

Activity

Create two word clouds—one of all of the things (words and ideas) FirstChurch should aspire to be to Dallas and to the world, and one of all of the things we should aspire to be to FirstChurch.

Day Three

In the coming weeks we will each have opportunities to renew past covenants or to enter into entirely new ones with God, with FirstChurch and with ourselves. Let’s take this moment as a congregation to lay the foundation for an incredible recommitment by making this promise: We will fully engage in the next five weeks of study—to open our hearts and our minds to what it truly means to be a covenant people.

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Week Two

Prayer Luke 11:1-13 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” 5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for[e] a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit[f] to those who ask him!”

Day One

Prayer can be simple. Prayer can be daunting. And the idea of assessing our prayer life can be simply daunting! Prayer is simple in the fact that many of us have been doing it all our lives, right? As children we learned how to pray. At mealtimes, we learned to fold our hands, close our eyes and recite, “God is great, God is good…” and at bedtime, we would again fold our hands, close our eyes and recite, “Now I lay me down to sleep…” Somehow, over the years, those words that once seemed comforting may seem childish and out of touch with reality. In the face of a reality that is all too real, we may find ourselves wondering how to pray and, more significantly, wondering IF we should even bother. Prayer can be daunting because there is so much that is not right with the world, where do we even begin? If peace and joy are so fleeting, is God truly all that great? Isn’t prayer supposed to make things better—or at least change things?

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Well. Truth be known, prayer does make things better and it truly does change things. Often, though, our fixation on what needs to be changed hinders us from experiencing the hope that God truly longs for us to know and embrace. James Mulholland, in his excellent book, Praying Like Jesus, points out that many of us pressure ourselves into worrying about how or what we should say when praying, but what is most important when praying is not our words as much as our attitude. “The proper attitude,” he states, “is not a matter of posture or eloquence; it is a matter of humility and trust.” Ouch! There’s the rub. Humility and trust are emotions we share in only the most intimate of friendships. There are only a few, if any, who know us— and whom we know—well enough to truly be ourselves around. The good news, however, is that God desires to be known as much we do. As we focus on prayer this week, we are invited to discover (or perhaps rediscover) how great and good God really is.

Reflection

Does prayer come easily or more difficult to you? Does anything hinder your prayer life? Perhaps it’s finding a place free of distraction. Perhaps it’s finding time in your day. Consider what it would look like to set time on your calendar to spend time in prayer. Schedule time on today’s agenda. Go easy on yourself if this is new. God awaits with open arms to listen and to be heard.

Activity

To help overcome any fear of failure in prayer, perhaps a true understanding of prayer is in order. Prayer is not some spiritual contest in which we’re seeking to win a trophy. Prayer is all about building a relationship with God. The key to every healthy relationship is communication. Many of our prayers to God focus on us. In this exercise, you’re invited to focus more on God. As you do so, you may discover a deeper sense of God’s presence and desire to be more fully known to you. Find a quiet space free from distractions (and if that is not possible, know that a busy place with distractions is OK too!). Read Psalm 46. If possible, read it aloud.

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Now spend some time focusing on one specific line. Spend time focusing on that line in full, contemplating the fullness of the invitation that’s extended. And then, after a few moments, focus on the passage again, but delete a word at the end of the reading. Repeat without rushing as you contemplate the fullness of who God is, and who you are in assurance of God’s presence with you. Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am Be still and know that I Be still and know that Be still and know Be still and Be still Be And then build the verse back, adding a word each time as you center yourself on who God is, and who you are to God.

Day Two

James Mulholland states, “As a child, I would pray for toys. ‘Dear God, give me a G.I. Joe and roller skates.’ In December, I addressed my requests to Santa Claus; the rest of the year I petitioned God.’” The most central aspect of prayer is one that each of us would do well to keep uppermost in our minds: Prayer isn’t about me; it’s about God. Many times, we can be so wrapped up in our immediate world—our own needs—that we lose out on one of the greatest gifts that prayer provides: the reminder that we are not alone—and what God desires for us is the same for all of God’s children. Reflection

It is not out of a sense of guilt that we approach changing our prayers because we have gotten them wrong. No prayer is “wrong.” To believe so would be to believe that God does not listen to our pleas. Consider, then, not out of guilt but as one receiving an invitation—to begin expanding your prayer life to incorporate a fuller conversation with God. Think about the issues that have filled your prayer life, then make a list of them below.

It’s a natural tendency to have our prayers filled with our most personal and pressing concerns while the concerns of others go unmentioned. Make a list now of some concerns that others have in their lives. Consider adding them to your daily prayers as well.

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Activity

We recite the Lord’s Prayer on such a regular basis that many know it by heart. As we recite it together in worship, there is something powerful when we hear our voices blended together. We may be so familiar with the prayer that we say it in rote. Let’s explore the deeper meanings of this model prayer. Spend time today reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer—and approach it in three different ways. You may choose to do this all in one sitting, or perhaps spreading this exercise out over the course of the day. Step 1. Pray the words of the Lord’s Prayer out loud, just as you would on a Sunday morning. Do you find yourself following a certain rote pattern of speech? Spend time repeating this prayer with different inflections, or different emphases on words. Make note of any new insights you gain about this familiar prayer. Share your insights with a friend, loved one or pastor. Step 2. Now try reading the Lord’s Prayer as if you’re reading it for the very first time. As you read through it, take time to think about each line and, perhaps, each word. What does it mean? How would you pray this line given your present circumstances? How might you word this prayer in your own words? Reflect how your prayers might be different if they were modeled, not by simply reciting these words, but by personalizing and embracing these concepts? Step 3. Pray the prayer, either in its familiar wording, or as you have personalized it. This time as you pray, take time to listen attentively. Allow yourself to not only speak these words to God, but to be attentive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as you listen for ways God is calling you to think of your needs and the needs of the world around you. Day Three

As you deepen your commitment to prayer, keep these ideas in mind: Rather than looking at prayer as an inhibiting or daunting task or responsibility, see it as an opportunity to not only speak to but also listen to, and learn from, your closest friend. At the same time promise to go easy on yourself. Give yourself the freedom to experiment and find different ways to enter into the conversation. Sometimes the needs are too daunting for words. Just as you would find the comfort of a friend who understands you even when you can’t find the words, your loving God is there for you. Abide in God’s presence. Receive the gift of God’s presence. Finally, don’t allow your daily “Amen” (“So be it”) to be the last word, but allow it to be a part of a continuing conversation that becomes a pattern in your daily way of living.

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promises kept People who fulfill their covenant to prayer: Spend time reflecting, and listening for God’s guidance. Pray at times with their eyes closed in silence. Pray at times with their eyes wide open, in community with the world around them. Celebrate what is good and right in the world around us. Ache as God aches for what is not good and right to be transformed. Seek to live in partnership with God and one another as God’s transforming agents of love and peace in the world. Keep in mind the needs of others—the world, its leaders, our church, those who suffer, who struggle and who are in need of knowing the presence of God in their lives. Seek first the Kingdom of God, knowing that all other needs will be added.

As members of FirstChurch, we covenant to be in prayer for one another, for our church, for its mission, for the world around us, and for God’s will to be known and revealed through our lives. Our prayer life connects us as individuals to God and God’s will, and it helps strengthen the bonds of Christian community as we pray with and for each other. Now, take a moment to commit yourself to a renewed prayer life. Please record your promise to pray for the coming year on the enclosed card.

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Week Three

Presence Hebrews 11:29-12:2 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,[a] because she had received the spies in peace. 32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of[d] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Day One

A preacher shared this story: He rushed to the hospital to be with a family whose son had been in a major accident. The doctors took them back to a room and told them that their son was dead. The preacher tried to provide comfort. He didn’t know what to say or what to do. He left wondering if he had done a good job caring for them. Years later, the father of the son came to see him. “I want to thank you for helping us make it through that time,” he said. The preacher shared that he didn’t think he did much. “I don’t remember what you said, or what you did,” the father said. “I remember that you were there, and that you cried with us.”

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This is the ministry of presence. It is being with another and it is as simple as showing up, knowing people by name, sharing a meal with them, listening to their stories, and sharing your own stories, too. God chooses to be present with us. The Gospel of John begins with God-with-us: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” God is no longer ‘up there.’ God has come right here to us—and Jesus shows us how we are to be present with others. Jesus discovers the needs of each person. He meets them where they are; he doesn’t wait for them to come to him. He asks questions and listens to their story. He reaches out and touches those who are sick. He gives and receives hospitality. He sees each and every one as a beloved child of God—and he treats them that way. The ministry of presence begins with God. We have a God who chooses to be with us—in all times—and because we are made in God’s image, we are able to reflect God’s presence when we are with others. May we pay attention and receive God’s presence in our lives—and then, may we be a way through which God’s presence is made known to others.

Reflection

Who has offered ‘the ministry of presence’ to you? How were they present with you? How did you receive their presence?

What is hard about being fully present with God? With others?

Consider the promise of the Holy Spirit in John 14 and Jesus’ words, “We will make a home with them.” Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles reflects that we are drawn in and loved like family. God’s love is home and we live there. How do you live in God’s love? How can you be more aware of God’s presence in your life and more open to receiving God’s presence?

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Activity

Try this Prayer of Presence suggested by Marjorie Thompson in Soul Feast. Find a posture that allows you to be relaxed and alert. It helps to have your neck and spine aligned. Close your eyes and breathe deeply several times. Consciously release any muscle tension you become aware of. Breathe in peace, breathe out tension. Relax your mind. If particular thoughts keep returning, gather them up and give them to God to hold for you during this time. You can take them back later if you want. Turn your attention to God’s presence. Let yourself be fully aware of the mystery of divine love that continually surrounds and upholds us. God is breathing life into you at each moment; take in the gift. Let God’s presence fill your consciousness, and simply rest in this presence—just as you might with someone you love dearly and feel no need to speak to, just to be with. Let yourself be like a child cradled in the lap of a wonderful parent or grandparent, or perhaps gently supported in an ocean of light; or enfolded in a peaceful warmth. Let yourself be held in God’s tender embrace; rest and soak up the love that holds you. Close your prayer by thanking God for any gifts received in this time. You can return to this communion of presence whenever you choose to receive it.

Day Two

Walk into any restaurant and you will likely spot a couple sitting at a table with their heads bent down looking intently at their smart phones. What does it mean to be present with another? Showing up is good, but being fully present with someone involves looking them in the eye, putting aside distractions and distracting thoughts, and actively listening to them. The more present we are with one another, the more stories we share, the deeper our knowledge and love grows. This is true for our relationship with God, too. The more present we are with God, the more our knowledge and love of God grows. One way we are present with God is through our engagement with the church. Deepening our relationship with God requires consistent, committed effort to be present with God through participation in the mission and ministries of the church.

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promises kept People who fulfill their covenant to be present: Attend worship regularly; worship is a priority for them. Fully participate in worship by asking themselves, “What is God saying to me through worship today?” and singing, praying, greeting people, and intentionally opening their hearts and minds, expecting God to enter in. Make space in their lives to participate in the ministries of the church: they say “yes” to taking classes, being in small groups, doing service inside and outside of the church. Do not take the spiritual life casually; they make critical decisions to deepen their relationship with God. Regularly invest time with others: in the church, in their family, and in the community in order to be present to their friends, neighbors, and those in need.

Reflection

How has the covenant to be present impacted your faith? Consider a time in which you felt fully present with God. How does being present help us to grow in our relationship with God and others?

Consider the list above. How are you fulfilling your covenant to be present? What are some ways you can be more present?

What are the opportunities our church offers for you to fulfill your commitment to be present? What might you say “Yes!” to?

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Activity

Try this Life-Centered Prayer suggested by Marjorie Thompson in Soul Feast. This is a way to help you to integrate the life of prayer into every moment of your life, a way you can open yourself up to God’s presence and your call to be present with God and others. Gather the day. Identify the ten or twelve major events of your day, including prayer, particular conversations, meetings, meals, work and other activities. List them. Review the day. Reflect upon each occurrence listed, without judging yourself, avoiding feelings or making excuses. This is the actual substance of your daily life. Give thanks for the day. Thank God for each part of your day, for your life and for God’s presence in the midst of it. Confess your sin. Acknowledge your faults in thought, word and deed toward God, your neighbor and yourself. Seek the meaning of the events. Reflect on the larger significance of each event in your life, asking yourself such questions as, “What is God saying to me? What am I being called to do? How is this connected to the rest of my life?” Write down what comes to mind.

Day Three

Growing an Engaged Church by Albert Winseman uses insightful research by The Gallup Organization to identify three types of congregants: Engaged: These congregants are driven by their sense of belonging in a congregation. They are loyal to the church and more present and committed to participate in its mission and ministries. They are more likely to invite and to give more of their time and money to the work of the church. Not-Engaged: These congregants are part of the “crowd” who come to worship when it is convenient for them, but are not actively building relationships in the church. They give little of their time, talents, or financial resources. They are satisfied or dissatisfied with the church depending on what the church provides for them. Actively Disengaged: They attend infrequently; they are on the membership roles and see themselves as “members” but do not engage in the life of the church. Those who are engaged members of the congregation have a deeper spiritual commitment and experience greater spiritual growth: their belonging leads to believing.

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Reflection

Do you consider yourself an engaged, not-engaged, or actively disengaged member? Has this changed for you over the course of your life? Why are you where you are now in your level of engagement?

What is preventing you from being more engaged in the church? How can you and our church help our non-engaged or actively disengaged to become more engaged?

Activity

The covenant to Be Present is a commitment to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes!â&#x20AC;? to building relationships, learning and growing in the faith, and integrating your faith into every moment of your daily life.

promises kept Here is how you can expect our church to Be Present: We will be present with you in joy and sadness. Our ministers and Congregational Care team will be with you to pray, to offer a word of encouragement, to sit with you, to listen. Contact us and we will be present with you in life-giving ways. We will provide a variety of ways for you to learn and grow and build relationships with others. There are Sunday school classes, FirstChurch University classes, small groups, shortterm and long-term mission opportunities, and so much more! We always want to hear and work with new ideas and ways we can create more opportunities for engagement. We will meet with you one-on-one to get to know you and your current needs and interests in your spiritual journey. We will help you to discern the next step in your faith walk. Contact a minister on staff today!

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promises kept Here is how you can Be Present at FirstChurch: Attend worship regularly; make it a priority for you. Be fully present by singing, greeting those around you, and being open to receiving Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace through our time together. Participate in at least one group in the church in which you can regularly build relationships and learn. Offer your presence with others inside the church and outside the church. You are also ministers of our congregation. The presence you have received: give to others!

Reflection

What is your experience with how the church fulfills its commitment to Be Present?

How do you fulfill your commitment to Be Present?

How do you feel that God is leading the church and you to be more present in this next year?

Please record your promise to be present for the coming year on the enclosed commitment card.

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Week Four

Gifts Mark 12:13-17 Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.” 16 And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.

Day One

Now, Jesus has done it; he’s meddling with people’s ideas of money. Jesus doesn’t stop at the critics’ own change purses, but goes to critique how money is used, and even abused. Jesus knew the truth: money is power. Upon first inspection, it seems that Jesus is affirming the power money holds over people and systems. Rather, Jesus is trying to reassign from whence the power really comes. Power ultimately comes from God. Thus, our interactivity with money (and power) is both God’s business and a spiritual discipline. As a covenant people, we respond to God’s good gifts by sharing them for the work of Christ in the world. In Scripture, the people of God are taught the spiritual discipline of the tithe. A tithe is a portion of one’s earnings; the Biblical tithe is ten percent of one’s income. This tithe was often called ‘first fruits’: setting aside the portion we return to God through sharing with our neighbors through physical, mental, social and spiritual engagement. As United Methodist Christians, we see our giving as an extension of our priorities and values. As a faith family, we have a tremendous opportunity for growth! When we strive to give in a way that makes obvious our commitment to children, youth and adults; when we strive to give our first fruits to the church; when we strive to give in a way that represents personal sacrifice; when we strive to give in these ways, we prime ourselves to see tremendous spiritual growth.

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And when we give of ourselves in a way that we grow spiritually, FirstChurch is able to live into its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. For 168 years this group of Christians in Dallas, Texas—the one we so affectionately call FirstChurch—has never failed to live into the call to strive to give.

Activity

Robert Schnase identifies many reasons why giving matters: Giving helps congregations thrive. Giving aligns us with God’s purposes. Giving changes us inside. Giving mirrors God’s nature. Giving fosters a healthier relationship to money. Giving encourages intentionality. Giving deepens our relationship with God. Giving honors Christ’s sacrifice. Many people wonder: why become more generous? Consider your answer to that question by sharing your understanding on the reasons above.

Which of the above reasons is a new idea to you? How does it deepen your understanding of why we give?

Who first taught you to give? Why are they are a model of generosity for you?

How is giving to the church a part of our spirituality?

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Day Two

FirstChurch has a rich history of valuing children, youth and adults as they affirm the call of Christ in their lives. The invitation for our members this year is to celebrate our legacy by living into the spiritual discipline of tithing. For some of our members, they are giving as much as they possibly can; God honors this gift. For some of our members, they are not able to give to the church at this time; God honors these gifts of prayer, time and energy. For some of our members, the tithe is an invitation to build on. The tithe is a way of honoring God’s promise to us and our promise to God. Yes, all of this we understand. But, remember that pesky Jesus? Jesus introduced the spiritual and practical power of money. Only 56% of our congregation casts a pledge.

promises kept How much do we give? Amount Given in a Year

Number of Families

572

$1 – $499

194

$500 – $999

$1,000 – $1,999

105

$2,000 – $4,999

205

$5,000 – $9,999

$10,000 – $14,999

$15,000 – $24,999

$25,000 – $49,999

$50,000 – $99,999

$100,000 +

Imagine how FirstChurch can live into its holistic vision for ministry if each member were to commit financially at any level. Imagine again how vibrant this ministry can be if all of us who currently give to FirstChurch contributed an additional 1% of our annual income. And imagine the spiritual fulfillment and the tremendous ministry FirstChurch would be equipped for when every member strives to reach tithe-level giving in the coming years?

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To put these goals in perspective, a group of non-givers becoming givers and current givers committing an additional 1% of their earnings translates into roughly $300,000 in additional funds to support program ministry—things like VBS, small-group fellowship, children’s and youth ministries, and music and arts—that directly affect how FirstChurch is able to impact our lives and minister to Dallas and the world. The FirstChurch finance committee is a faithful group of lay leaders working diligently to be good stewards of every dollar pledged toward ministry at FirstChurch. Their 2015 proposed budget of $3,368,184 funds ministry at level which represents our congregation’s current giving.

promises kept FirstChurch 2015 Budget Overview Missions* $428,900 Worship $109,241 Music $344,475 Communications & Media $258,009 Connectional Ministries $97,860 Congregational Care & Spiritual Life $157,579 Discipleship $433,370 Administration $694,782 Building $816,142 Denominational Support $166,825 2015 FirstChurch Budget

$3,368,184

* 2015 Missions Budget Includes $139,000 in Rise Fund giving, which is not included in the 2015 FIrstChurch budget total.

But when we look past the current level of ministry and programming at FirstChurch and vow to live into our covenant to give to God what is God’s—to make a commitment to give if we have never given before, to increase our giving by 1% of our income, to strive to reach tithe-level giving—imagine how we will be able to live into God’s dream for us!

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Reflection

When we dream together and strive to match these dreams with new commitments ... An older adult will have strengthened connections to the church through mailed communication, valet parking for Sunday morning worship, pastoral care, and programming which is focused, vibrant and relevant. A middle-aged adult will be able to deepen his or her relationship to God through focused Bible studies, engaging retreats, and the types of community-building service activities that serve not only to strengthen one’s personal relationship with God but act as catalysts for transforming entire cities. Young adults will benefit from holistic parent education, opportunities for spiritual growth and personal transformation, developmentally appropriate childcare while they engage in community-building events and small-group ministry. A teenager would benefit from service and learning opportunities, specialized curriculum for spiritual and personal growth, and life-transforming mission and outreach opportunities. A child would benefit from participating in full-week arts and music summer camps and would learn about Christ in immersive, engaging and relevant facilities. Supporting all of these programmatic opportunities with our membership and the broader community is the upkeep and maintenance of the Church-house, the interconnection with our denominational responsibilities and the salaries of our faithful staff members. It will take all of us to respond to the power of God through an individual and family commitment to sacrificial giving and covenant to live into that commitment. But “all of us” is a goal more easily reached than it may sound. A covenant people starts with a covenant person. It is through your faithfulness that we will be able to respond in bold new ways to the needs of our members, our community and our world. Now is the time for FirstChurch to dream together and to give together.

Activity

Consult the chart printed on the facing page. Are you at a tithe? If you are not, you are not alone. Many of us are working on tithing! Let’s all try to grow our giving by one percent of our annual income this year. What would that mean for you? “All things belong to God.” How do you understand and feel about this idea? How does giving transform the giver and draw a person closer to God?

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$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$125,000

$150,000

$175,000

$200,000

$250,000

$300,000

115

173

144

115

101

231

192

154

135

115

288

240

192

168

144

120

346

288

231

202

173

144

115

Middle-Range Giving

Lower-Range Giving

$15,000

Annual Income

404

336

269

236

202

168

135

108

462

385

308

260

216

173

138

123

519

433

346

303

260

216

173

138

104

Upper-Range Giving

577

481

385

337

288

240

192

154

115

10%

Tithe

How much do we give? Giving levels per week based on income.

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692

577

462

404

346

288

231

185

138

12%

865

721

577

505

433

361

288

231

173

115

15%

Beyond a Tithe

Day Three

promises kept People who fulfill their covenant to give: Make giving to God’s work through the church their first priority. They do not give leftovers but give from a “first things first” mentality. Plan their giving. They give in a disciplined, spiritual way to remember from whom all blessings flow and to help the church fulfill its mission. Tithe or are actively working to tithe. They have identified what percentage of their income they give and they are working to grow one-percent in their giving every year until they reach the tithe. They give sacrificially. They change their lives so that they can give more. They enjoy giving. They see how they can be a part of God’s work by giving and they experience joy from being a part of what God is working to accomplish.

The church responds by: Acting as faithful stewards of the congregation’s pledges. Adapting its ministry programming to meet the spiritual needs of the congregation. Ensuring each dollar is spent in the name of creating disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

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Reflection

Of the characteristics of people who fulfill their covenant to give, which ones are part of your practice of giving?

Which ones not yet a part of your practice of giving?

Consider the idea that the material things in your life ultimately belong to God. We manage them for God’s purposes. When we tithe, we give back to God what belongs to God already. How is this perspective counter-cultural?

Giving causes life. How have you experienced this in your life? What difference does generosity make in our lives, in the church, in the world?

You will find two commitment cards in the back of this study guide—one to record your financial gifts and another to renew your covenants to pray, be present, serve and bear witness. Our lay leadership identified three giving goals for 2015: 1. If you don’t currently give to FirstChurch, discover the joy of giving by making and fulfilling a pledge in any amount. 2. If you currently give, increase your giving by 1% of your income. 3. Continue annual increases in your pledge and identify a long-term goal for reaching tithe-level giving. Prayerfully consider your commitments to FirstChurch for the coming year and complete the enclosed cards. We will submit these as a congregation during worship on Sunday, October 26.

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Week Five

Live to Serve 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. 3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; 6 nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, 7 though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. 8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

Day One

In the movie Pay it Forward, a social studies teacher gives an intriguing and unusual assignment to his junior high school class to think of a practical way to change the world for the better, then put it into action. When one young student, Trevor, creates a plan for “paying forward” favors, he not only affects the life of those close to him, but he sets in motion an unprecedented wave of human kindness. And that changes the world. While our consumer society misleads us into thinking that we were created to consume resources, that ‘the one with the most toys wins’, and to “grab for all the gusto”, God created us to make a difference with our lives; to add life to this earth, not just take from it. As disciples we are encouraged to grow deeper in love with God and others and to spend our lives loving and serving, making the world better by sharing and caring for God’s world. We gather each week as the church to be reminded of God’s amazing love for us. That grace—God’s abundant love—surrounds us, lifts us up and fill us so much that we are compelled to pour it out. When we celebrate communion we share the cup, a sign of Christ’s life poured out for the world. That’s not only the work of God, the work of Christ, it’s our work; to pour ourselves out for the world. “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are

promises kept

the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” — Teresa of Ávila These ancient words express the power of our lives in Christ. Pray these words and consider what it means for FirstChurch to be the body of Christ in our community. And consider how you can be Christ’s body for others.

Reflection

How does the church serve you? List the ways the church offers you support and encouragement as a disciple.

List the challenges you face in making a commitment to serve. What’s holding you back from serving inside or outside the church?

Ask for God’s guidance in making room in your life to “pay it forward”. What are you willing to change in your routine to allow more time to serve God through the church?

Day Two

Many people think “church work” is for pastors, preachers, priests and missionaries. But God gave us the church so that everyone in the family of faith would be encouraged and strengthened to minister. In the Bible the word servant and minister are synonyms, as are service and ministry. So, if you are a Christian, you are a minister. And when you’re serving, you’re in ministry. That means God has a ministry for you in the church and a mission for you outside the church.

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promises kept People who fulfill their covenant to serve: Are aware of the many faithful people giving of their time, and appreciate the many hours needed for the ministries to flourish. Take time to learn about the many ministries of the church, and look for opportunities to be involved and to serve. Make time to serve a priority both inside and outside the church. Continually explore new opportunities to serve in order to grow in their own faith and understanding.

Reflection

How does serving help you grow in your relationship with God and others? Can you identify a time when you served and it touched anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life in a way that you sensed Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love entering that space to transform the experience to something much greater?

What are your gifts or talents that you believe God has given you to serve the church and others?

Day Three

As part of the covenant between you and the church, the church offers itself to build you up as a disciple by continually creating places to serve inside and outside the church. Consider how and where you might serve the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministries and missions to build up this body of Christ. FirstChurch needs your unique gifts of service.

promises kept

promises kept Here are a two ways the church will help you: We will continually invite members to be involved in a variety of service opportunities, including Sunday school teachers and officers, Vacation Bible School, choirs, prayer and caring ministries, greeters, ushers, ministry area councils, Crossroads Community Services, and local partnership agencies that engage with the needs in our community, mission trips, and many more. We will meet with you to get to know you and where you might consider serving. Contact a staff member today!

Here’s the church’s expectation for you to serve: Ask another church member or a staff member to share some opportunities. Participate in at least one area inside the church where you can offer yourself, your gifts and talents to a ministry. Offer your presence outside the church to engage in the world by putting your faith in action and paying it forward.

Activity

May the chorus of this familiar hymn be your daily morning prayer this week as you ask God for help in discerning how you are uniquely called to serve: Here I am Lord / Is it I Lord? / I have heard you calling in the night / I will go Lord / If you lead me / I will hold your people in my heart. List two areas of ministry inside the church where you will prayerfully consider serving. Where do you see needs in the church, where you can offer your time and talent?

List two areas outside the church where you will prayerfully consider serving. Where can you serve outside the walls of the church through the church’s opportunities to grow in your discipleship?

Please record your promise to serve in the coming year on the enclosed commitment card.

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Week Six

Witness Joshua 1:1-9 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. 5 No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. 9 I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The promise of God was to be with us wherever we go. The movement of ministry at FirstChurch has been a testament to God’s providential care for this church. In many ways, we ‘have made our way prosperous’ and ‘we have been successful’. Now, it is time to be strong and courageous as a church . . . no, a movement. There is something to a people being on the move. Joshua was moving the people Israel. Jesus was moving his disciples. The Spirit moves the Church. FirstChurch has the potential to live into God’s faithful promise through the faithful witness of our giving. We are a people on the move. Our mission field is far too vibrant a place for us to stagnate. Our neighborhood is wrought with so much potential for us to stand still. Our members are far too talented, active and engaged for us to sit idly by and wait. So, where is God calling FirstChurch? God is calling FirstChurch to show and share God’s Love. Through our faithful practices in worship, prayer and study and through our faithful practices of service and witness, we can show and share all that God has promised. Generations of families have sensed God’s promise through the witness of the church. What we do together today will affect the many tomorrows for FirstChurch. God will never leave us: that is God’s promise.

promises kept

Reflection

Think back over your time at FirstChurch and the people who have played vital roles in your formation as a disciple of Jesus Chris How can you take the next step to being a part of someone else’s discipleship journey? Now, make a list of people in your life that might not have a faith family. Choose people from a variety of places like a book club, neighbor, gym partner, work colleague, relative or a parent in the PTA. What’s one thing you might do or say this week to take the first step towards one of the people on your list?

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs. Today, live into this mission by stretching yourself to reach out and touch the life of a future disciple of Jesus Christ. Post the following status on your social media page, email it to a friend that might not have a church home or write a letter to a neighbor close by that might not have found a faith family. “For my Dallas/Richardson/Lake Highlands (choose your city) friends, it’s an exciting time at FirstChurch Dallas (Downtown Dallas at the corner of Ross and Harwood). You may have visited or attended in the past. Maybe you’re looking for a church family. This Sunday is the perfect time to join us for one of our traditional worship services (8:45 and 11:00) or to check out one of our awesome small group Sunday schools (9:45). Email me or message me if you would like to meet there on Sunday. You can sit with me or I would be happy to just show you around! I hope to see you there!” Please affirm your promise to bear witness in the coming year on the enclosed commitment card.

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Thank you, FirstChurch, for opening your hearts and minds to what it truly means to be a covenant people. May 2015 be a glorious year of Promises Kept!

1928 Ross Avenue

Dallas, Texas 75201 214-220-2727 firstchurchdallas.org/promises Dr. Andrew C. Stoker, Senior Minister