CAPITAL STEWARDSHIP CAMAPIGN DAILY DEVOTIONS
Here are some samples of the devotions used with the capital stewardship campaign in the first year of fund raising.
Day 1 They Simply Walked Away
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Mat.4:19
Imagine the shock on everyone’s face when they heard that Jesus had come by and said to Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew to quit their business and follow Him. People must have talked about that decision for years. Imagine, a stranger says to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” and they did. If someone came to you today and asked you to give up everything you have and follow him would you do it? Really!
These were hard working fishermen who knew they needed to catch fish to survive in their economy. Successful
fishing required experience gained from long hours and surviving poor working conditions. They had been fishermen for years. Yet, these men did not even question what Jesus meant when he said “fishers
of men”. They were fishermen who sold their daily catch. Fishing was their livelihood. They needed to fish just to survive. They simply dropped what they were doing and followed after Him - amazing!
Imagine, without a second thought, Peter and Andrew immediately stopped what they were doing and followed Jesus. Think for a moment on their action and the re-action. Immediately, without consulting anyone, without checking their retirement savings plans, without selling their homes, without consulting anyone, without a concern for their livelihood, without discussing their decision with family, without a thought or concern for their future, they cast aside what they had been doing for years to follow Jesus.
Their commitment was instant, it was life-changing, and it was without question, without any research and it was total. When Jesus called, they went and they never looked back with remorse over what they had walked away from to follow Jesus. They never expressed disappointment with their decision to follow Jesus nor did they grumble or complain. They made a commitment and a commitment is a call to action.
Who knows the impact your decision and commitment to follow Jesus will have upon others in your community.
Billy Graham knelt in a hallway in an arena during a crusade and his commitment has had a major impact on our society and the lives of millions of people throughout the world. Now you can read about his influence on a number of the President’s from Truman to George Bush. This is because we serve a big God with big ideas and big capability. Imagine, for just a moment, what He could do with you!
There are other Christian hero's who have made an impact upon the lives of thousands of people and they have no recognition. They just quietly go about the Kingdom work without hesitation and without reward. It is a good thing that the Lord is no respecters of persons. He loves all of us.
Imagine! Your commitment to support the building of a new church can have a significant impact on the lives of people for generations. It is like planting a tree under which you will never sit. You can be sure that your commitment to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can have the same impact in your church as it did for the apostle Peter provided you are willing. Are you?
Day 2 Peter Did What?
“But straightway Jesus spoke unto them saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
And Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the waters.”
Mat.14:27 -30
What was Peter thinking? He was a fisherman who had much experience in various degrees of rough water.
He knew Jesus, he traveled with Jesus, he ate with Jesus and when he hears Jesus speak, he says, “if it be thou, bid me to come unto thee”. How could he be that close to Jesus and not recognize it was Jesus speaking to him? If he didn’t think he was talking to Jesus why would he ask “bid me to come”. Jesus did not need any time to think on His response to Peter, He just said, “come”. Yet, Peter knew it was impossible to walk on water. Why would he get out of the boat?
His commitment and trust in Jesus to be able to do the impossible was soaring. He knew that Jesus commanded
miracles and if Jesus called him he could walk on the water. So, Peter gets out of the boat. What do you think the rest of the men in the boat were thinking as Peter gets down onto the water? Imagine how their faith began to soar as they witnessed Peter walking on the water.
While Peter was successfully walking on the water, he begins to consider the circumstances around him. Moreover, his circumstances begin to overtake him. When his faith begins to wavier, he begins to sink. His response is immediate. “Lord, save me.” Yet, it was Peter who dared enough to get out of the boat and that required huge faith. Faith is not a static experience but something that is constantly being tested and challenged.
Sometimes we are called to get out of the boat and place our faith in Jesus. We will overcome our struggles and obstacles as long as we continue to focus on Him. Once we get our eyes off Jesus, our trials begin to overtake us.
Your commitment to support your church building project requires you to get out of the boat to walk on the water. Many times, you may think it is impossible and you will never reach your goal. Nevertheless, with your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, with your faith soaring like an eagle, you need to get out of the boat because you will see miracles and accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible. Luke probably said it better than anyone:
“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
We are told to “be of good cheer” and “be not afraid”. Therefore, step out, trust Jesus and watch for miracles as He works through our obedience to Him. If Peter walked on the water why shouldn't’t we do the same?
Day 3 The Key to Success Is To
“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Ps.37:5
Have you ever noticed that committing your way and trusting the Lord is easier said than done? Trusting the Lord requires a serious commitment on our part. There is no halfway measure here. We either trust the Lord or we don’t. We either commit our way to Him or we don’t. We either follow Him or we don’t. We either live by His principles or we don’t.
To go it alone is a course of action which fills us with anxiety and worry. People are filled with anxiety because they want success so much they begin envying the ungodly who seem to prosper. We are a society driven for success and most of us can’t even define success. So, how will we know when we have success if we don’t know what it is? We envy others and what we think is success. We are warned about looking with envy at other people and this illustration reminds us that the grass for a time turns dormant each year.
“Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away. Ps. 37:1,2
At the very best, success is temporary. Why is money the measure of success in our society? Prosperity is always measured in monetary terms. People who have been successful financially tend to be admired and envied. Yet, the people who raise Godly children and have a successful marriage are often ignored and not considered successful.
Equating success with money just leads to more frustration and ultimately to many sorrows and much pain because people never seem to get enough money. People spend millions on lottery tickets each week, hoping they will win the big prize, believing that money is the answer to their problems. The Bible tells us it is “the love of money that is the root of all sorts of evil”. This “love for money” causes us to wander away from the Lord and when we wander away we get into trouble because we are living for material things instead of spiritual things.
“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from
the faith and pierced themselves with many grief's.” 1Tim.6:10
Yet, the message seems to be quite clear. We are told, “Commit your way to the Lord”. He is not a part-time God; He is a full time a God who is always there for us, always loving us, always providing for us, always protecting us, always healing us, always guiding us, always teaching us, always listening to us and always encouraging us because He is committed to us. He is our role model. Jesus was so committed to our future that He suffered a horrible death on the cross to benefit each of us today. What an amazing gift! So, this begs the question, what can you and I do for Jesus?
Day 4 The Greatest Rewards Belongs To Those Who
“Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual
service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Rom. 12:1,2
Years ago, someone wrote a story about how Jesus longed to meet with us each morning and He would wait for us in our family room. He was there early each morning, just waiting. The story went on to tell us how the occupant of this beautiful home would rush downstairs, grab his cup of coffee and make a mad dash for the front door. As this individual would pass by his family room, he would see Jesus waiting for their morning meeting.
Since this person was late for a meeting at work, he would tell Jesus that he would meet with Him tomorrow.
Each morning Jesus would wait and each morning this individual would pass by the door, promising to meet tomorrow. Jesus would wait and wait and wait. Has this individual conformed to this world? Has he made a full-time commitment or a part time commitment or any commitment at all?
His focus here was on the business meeting and not upon his previous commitment to meet with Jesus. Unfortunately, this individual missed out on a fabulous opportunity to learn from the greatest teacher of all time. Imagine the excitement and learning that would take place at the feet of Jesus. Imagine the wisdom that would be gained by meeting with the Lord day after day and week after week. Think of how he would have been transformed by the renewing of his mind, so that he may prove what God’s Will is for him.
The truth is, commitment is a matter of choice. We can choose to be a part of something or we can choose to stand apart. The greatest rewards seem to belong to those who decide to participate in an activity. A team will only win if everyone on the team has the same degree of commitment to winning.
Just like the individual rushing off to a business meeting, you have a choice. Your choice will have a profound
effect on you and the future of your church home.
A commitment to the stewardship program results in great spiritual growth in the church. Future leaders are developed and, frequently people see small and large miracles because they expand their thinking and capabilities. When the Lord has a place in your finances, He has a place in your heart.
"Do not lay up for yourself's treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
You can order your copy of the Capital Stewardship Campaign Manual and these important spiritual gifts will be sent to you immediately so you may use them in your church fundraising campaign.
All this "Key" Resource Information
is available to you for only:
$179.00 USD Includes Printing Plus Shipping & Handling
OR
Have the manual sent to you by email and save!
Only $129.00 USD
Payment can be made through our secure shopping cart operated by PayPal,
using VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card or echeck.
.
| Home | Do-It-Yourself ||Site Map |
| Contact Us | Policy Statements | |
