Page 84 - Ecclesiology Textbook Masters

Consider this. According to an article in Relevant Magazine:
• $25 billion could relieve global hunger, starvation and deaths from preventable diseases
within five years.
• $12 billion could eliminate illiteracy globally within five years.
• $15 billion could solve the world’s water and sanitation issues, specifically at places in the
world where 1 billion people live on less than $1 per day.
• $1 billion could fully fund all overseas mission work
•
That would only leave the church a paltry $37 billion dollars for additional ministry expansion at a local
level. However, would the church cope on such small change?

It’s time for the church to put its money where its mouth is — literally. The Church talks so much about
changing the world and transforming peoples’ lives. Well, it turns out, it has the financial means to
actually carry out this mission. However, it’s not going to happen until the institutionalized church
surrenders its desire to build its own kingdom at the expense of God’s Kingdom.

10.4 Let’s Practice…

1. According to Christianity Today, how much of the total church budget is spent in total on NON-
mission activities or giving. %

2. What do you see wrong with the above statistic?

3. What percentage of church spending in the US goes toward spreading the Gospel in the world
(from Christianity Today?)

4. Why is this statistic so alarming?

5. Explain how the church in the US could modify its spending priorities and change the world.

10.5 Let’s Personalize this Lesson…

If you are involved in a church, make it a project this week to find out your church’s priorities in
spending. Fill in the information below with the percentages your church spends on the listed
activities. Then evaluate the results in the blanks provided.

% total church salaries
% church facilities (mortgage, upkeep, new construction, etc)
% church programs (Sunday School, choir, youth programs, etc.)
% missions (evangelism, missionary support, giving)

Evaluation:

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