Philosophy of resources

Generally with respect to how we think about all God-given resources (money, assets, and people) for the ministry of the church, we seek to optimize the tensions between three theologically-derived principles; mission, stewardship, and blessing.

Money, Assets, and People

Money refers to spending the available financial resources (available cash, future income projections, debt financing) that God provides to advance the purposes of the church. Assets provide the opportunity to employ and manage three types of tangible resources; physical property, real property, and intellectual property. People are our most important area of stewardship of our resources. We have to consider:

  • The time and capacity of the church's leadership: what ministry priorities and initiatives should we work on, and when? 
  • The time and capacity of the church's congregation: what would we ask our people to do, and when? What should we communicate to our body?

Mission

Valuing mission compels us to dream big dreams and to be creative, innovative, and even risk-taking in our boldness to live the gospel in our lives, and to present the gospel to the world. This is reflective of the theological convictions that God entrusts us with much for Him to work through us. His desire is that we accomplish much for His name and His glory with what He has entrusted, and our greatest joy is in serving Him as we do so (Matthew 25:20-21). He graciously works through us and the resources He entrusts us to direct as a means of accomplishing His purposes, for His glory (Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:13).

Stewardship

Valuing stewardship helps us to be wise and foresighted in operating within God-given constraints, while continuing to strategically grow in our effectiveness in this mission over a sustained period of time. This is reflective of the theological convictions that God resources His plans while He wisely limits ours. In His wisdom, God uses His provision of resources to enable the best plans for our activities (Acts 17:26-27). In His wisdom, God uses His provision of resources to establish the best limits to our activities (Proverbs 16:9).
Specifically in regard to facilities, we don’t think that permanent buildings are always the right solution, just like we don’t think that temporary ones are either. Instead, using our philosophy of resources, we seek to optimize the tensions between three theologically-derived principles; mission, stewardship, and blessing.

Blessing

Considering the value of blessing reminds us along the way that we serve and bless others because we serve the God who has given us everything. Because of the infinite reserve that God possesses of all that is good, we have been given an apportionment that is an abundance to graciously share with the body of Christ in our church and with the world around us so that the name of Christ would be worshiped. As a church staff, we are related together in the family of God, not employees and employer engaged in a transactional relationship. We are shepherds and flock, not hired hands working under compulsion and out of duty alone. This is reflective of the theological convictions that:
  • The abundance of God is ours in Christ. In Christ, we are heirs to all that belongs to God, and there is no scarcity and no end to the abundance of God’s riches (Luke 15:31, Ephesians 1:3)
  • The independence of God underscores His grace to us. God does not need us or our resources for everything is His, yet He generously entrusts us with everything we have (Psalms 24:1-2, Acts 17:24-25)
  • God’s people have a joyful role in generosity for His purposes, for it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35, 2 Corinthians 9:8-8)

Foundational Truths

The Abundance of God is Ours in Christ

In Christ, we are heirs to all that belongs to God, and there is no scarcity andno end to the abundance of God’s riches...
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine isyours...'  -  Luke 15:31  (ESV)
 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed usin Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.  -  Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)

The Independence of God Underscores his Grace to Us

God does not need us or our resources for everything is His, yet He generously entrusts us with everything we have.
The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those whodwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it uponthe rivers.  -  Psalm 24:1-2  (ESV)
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven andearth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by humanhands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankindlife and breath and everything.  -  Acts 17:24-25  (ESV)

God Entrusts Us with Much

His desire is that we accomplish much for His name and His glory with what He has entrusted, and our greatest joy is in serving him as we do so.
And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talentsmore, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made fivetalents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into thejoy of your master.’  -  Matthew 25:20-21  (ESV)

God Works through Us

And He graciously works through us and the resources He entrusts us todirect as a means of accomplishing His purposes, for His glory.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it tocompletion at the day of Jesus Christ.  -  Philippians 1:6  (ESV)
For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.  -  Philippians 2:13  (ESV)

God Resources His Plans

In His wisdom, God uses His provision of resources to enable the best plansfor our activities.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in gloryin Christ Jesus.  -  Philippians 4:19  (ESV)
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, alwayshaving all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.  -  2 Corinthians 9:8  (ESV)

God Wisely Limits Ours

In His wisdom, God uses his provision of resources to establish the bestlimits to our activities.
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live yon all the faceof the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of theirdwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way towardhim and find him. Acts 17:26-27  (ESV)
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.Proverbs 16:9  (ESV)

God’s People have a Joyful Role in Generosity for These Purposes

God uses the faithful and joyful generosity of all of His people to providethese resources for the mission, stewardship, and blessing of the church,and to provide benefit and blessing in the joy of giving (Acts 20:35, 2 Cor.9:6-8).