Skip to main content

Using Money Matters To Mature Christians

Using Money Matters To Mature Christians
 
            Maturing new Christians is a very important part of establishing congregations.  Most adults who become Christians here in Brazil have many things to change in their actions and attitudes to be salt and light to the world around them.  I really enjoy studying the Bible with people and seeing the joy in their eyes when what they have heard most of their life about Jesus and what they are now reading in the Bible intermix and truth is found, their eyes opening, seeing, and believing.  But what about after they are baptized?  How do they proceed from there, learning to walk in this new life of service to God? 
One of the areas of life that most people have a hard time being salt and light is financial, an area lurking in the shadows, which no one talks about much.  The truth of the matter is that Jesus talks about money as one of the two masters that we will either serve or hate in Matthew 6.  I have begun to teach couples in the church some principles that I have read and heard from Dave Ramsey.  I am teaching these couples that living debt free makes sense, that it is possible and they will be able to help others, by giving, supporting Brazilian evangelists and helping establish new congregations as well as traveling to visit and help in campaigns, etc.  It may not seem like the most exciting thing to do but actually it is exciting.  You can see joy in their eyes when they see the possibility of growing spiritually and helping others.  It is not the same joy as when they understood better what Jesus did for us all but it is still exciting to be a part of helping others grow, learn and become more mature.  Thank you for your prayers.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"What About Baptism?"

Edda and I went to a nearby city to study the Bible with a family, Genilda (who is already a Christian), Ana, Mariana, Luiza, and Jefferson. While we were reading God's Word, Ana's husband, Silva, came in and sat down, and then blurted out: "What about baptism?" It took me by surprise because he has barely studied with us, but, most certainly, is already thinking about spiritual matters. Our Bible study then took a lot of detours, answering this question or that. Silva said he still has a lot of questions, and we pray that the Lord will use us to answer them, bringing him to understand the Good News!

One More Goodbye

This year has been rough for Borges's family. They lost a pillar in their family, his wife's mother in February. Now her brother has passed, buried today. He was diagnosed with prostrate cancer 18 months ago. A policeman, used to taking care of the family, he had to settle with being taken care of by the family as his body gradually shut down when the cancer metastasized to his bones. Borges and Geilza have spent every free moment taking care of Demilson's needs, and it has been torture watching him slowly wear away. His colleagues in the Military Police carried his casket, played taps on a trumpet, presented his family with a Paraiba flag, and thanked his family for supporting him in defending society for nearly thirty years. It was a nice gesture, but the event that gives us believers hope in the face of death is Jesus winning over the grave. He is our certainty that a grave is not the end.

For the Kids, Part III

    In the USA, there are two special days during the year that children love: birthday and Christmas. Brazil adds one more: Children's Day. On this day, children receive a present and since it coincides with Our Lady of Appeared Conception, Brazil's patron saint, it is also a national holiday.     Each week we get kids from the Castelo Branco neighborhood together at the square in front of Dona Terezinha's house to talk about Jesus. For Children's Day, we invited the parents to watch the kids perform a play of the "Prodigal Son," then each kid receives his or her fill of cotton candy, cake, and a sack full of goodies. The parents who came received a Today's Portuguese New Testament and an invitation to the weekly Bible study at Terezinha's.     Lori Hagewood has organized this activity for three year with the help from Terezinha, Joseph, and Michel (from the China Taiwan restaurant). Michael, Ashton, and Tif...