As a church we encourage the giving of monetary funds designated to be used in the development of our Church ministries both locally and touching other geographical areas.
You can be a part of this through either of the following means:
Online: Postgiro 440 80-0; Bankgiro 420-1687.
SWISH: 123 588 1644 (mark with Smyrna International)
Designate your gift to: Smyrna International
Frihamnen Church building project: SWISH 123 564 0073
Offering: During our main services we invite you to give a cash gift if you want to and can leave it at the information desk.
What We Believe Regarding Giving!
Giving is the nature of God who gave His only begotten son Jesus Christ to save and redeem us and has given us all things for life and godliness. As we grow in the knowledge of God, this becomes our lifestyle. However, before we get there we have to keep training at it as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Giving is a powerful biblical principle that has been encouraged both in the old and new testament. It is not optional but is expected and required of us from God through Jesus Christ when He says in Matthew 6:2, “when you give” not “if you give”.
There is a freedom and joy that is found in giving to God as well as a divine benefit. Both Jesus and Paul emphasize this benefit when they point out the relation between our giving to the Lord and the Lord’s giving to us. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:6 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Jesus adds on in Matthew 6:3-4, “When you give . . . ; your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you”. A giving person will never lack!!!!
Giving is both in tithes and offerings.
A tithe is the first fruits which is a 10% of your income (often monthly). An offering is an amount given for a specific reason such as thanksgiving offering, praise offering, faith offering, love offering etc.
Giving can also be in kind.
This is not financially but in goods, service or time.
We see in Acts 2:42-45 that the first believers had everything in common; they sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need… they ate together with glad and sincere hearts…
Summary
Why should we give?
- To honor God with our wealth (Proverbs 3:9)
- Learn to trust and depend on God
- Assist in paying the ministers of the word
- Contribute in helping the needy through charities around the world (Matthew 6:2-3)
- To bless others.
- As a thanksgiving offering to God
How should we give?
- Cheerfully
- Extravagantly
- With the right motive (Matthew 6:1)
- Willingly (2Corinthians 9:7)
- By faith
What should we give?
- The first fruits 10% of our income.
- That which costs us
- An offering
- Our hearts, our time, our service, our love…our ALL!
Generosity is a Godly virtue that is encouraged throughout scripture. It surely takes God’s grace of giving to have the desire to be generous and the means to be generous. This is confirmed in 2 Corinthians 8:2-4, where it says that, “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people… see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
Giving is an act of worship and a step of faith that pleases God!
Let us do it cheerfully and extravagantly to the glory of God.