For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
- Matthew 6:21
We Are Generous
At Open Life we are generous. We believe that giving has nothing to do with what God wants from you and everything to do with what God wants for you. In fact, we experience God’s best when we operate from a place of generosity. Considering the needs of others above ourselves is key in experiencing a life that is truly worth living.
Every week we give people an opportunity to practice generosity during our gatherings. If you are anything like the majority of the world today, you don't carry a checkbook or cash, so giving online or via text may be the most appropriate and convenient way for you to follow through with this prompting to be generous.
Online giving is a great option. Whether you’d like to give a single gift, schedule ongoing donations, or view your giving history, you can do it all online. It’s quick, easy, and secure. By texting an amount to 84321 you will be prompted how to give as well. It's the same system as going online, you are just accessing it by way of text.
Every week we give people an opportunity to practice generosity during our gatherings. If you are anything like the majority of the world today, you don't carry a checkbook or cash, so giving online or via text may be the most appropriate and convenient way for you to follow through with this prompting to be generous.
Online giving is a great option. Whether you’d like to give a single gift, schedule ongoing donations, or view your giving history, you can do it all online. It’s quick, easy, and secure. By texting an amount to 84321 you will be prompted how to give as well. It's the same system as going online, you are just accessing it by way of text.
How To Give
Giving digitally needs to be secure, quick and simple which is why Open Life has partnered with Planning Center Giving. You can give one time as a guest, or set up a giving login so you can quickly give again in the future. Simply click the link below select your email or enter it if this is your first time. You will be sent an email with a temporary login. This is your two-step verification process. Just follow that link and set up your desired giving method.
"We believe that giving has nothing to do with what God wants from you and everything to do with what God wants for you."
Want to take the next step for your life of generosity?
Generosity takes process and we have done our best to help you simplify this process below in order to move beyond giving as a momentary act of inspiration towards developing a lifestyle of scriptural generosity.
We believe that the journey to generous living is just as exciting as the destination, and like any journey, it takes planning.
We believe that the journey to generous living is just as exciting as the destination, and like any journey, it takes planning.
WHERE ARE YOU AT?
To get anywhere we first have to understand where we are at. We have broken down giving into 5 categories. By finding where you are it will help in knowing your next step and how to commit to getting there within the next 90 days.
To get anywhere we first have to understand where we are at. We have broken down giving into 5 categories. By finding where you are it will help in knowing your next step and how to commit to getting there within the next 90 days.
I've never given to Open Life
Giving for the first time can be a mental act of faith. Most of us don’t just have a tree growing extra money on it in our backyard, so how do we even begin giving when we are already living beyond our means? This first step can take some planning and intentional budgeting. “Mint” is a great free app, or website, that will help you manage your finances. If you fail to plan you plan to fail, so take the time to sit down and determine where you can create margin in order to begin giving.
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? – Luke 14:28
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? – Luke 14:28
I'm an occasional giver
You have given for the first time and are inspired to give when at Open Life, but have yet to plan an intentional strategy for growing in your generosity. Maybe you feel like you tip God when you are at church. We want you to discover the rewards of intentional generosity. Again, this might mean you need to do some intentional planning first. Some great tools for budget planning and taking more control of your finances can found at daveramsey.com/blog.
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty – Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty – Proverbs 21:5
I'm a consistent giver
You have taken the next step beyond giving when something is in your pocket, and have been giving intentionally either a dollar amount or maybe even a percentage of your income. Your giving has been making an impact, but you know the challenge of God to give 10% and beyond and yet you are nervous because it’s so much money. The next step for you may be giving by percentage. Again, this is intentional giving, maybe even automated online.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! – Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! – Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
I'm a generous giver
This is where you have chosen to surrender your finances to God. You realized it’s all his and that you are just a steward of what is 100% his. Managing 90% of your gross income is not too bad of a deal and the promises that come with tithing have been rewarding to you. The next step for you might be giving above and beyond 10%…leaving margin to be inspired to give to a strategic partner, a community organization or non-profit. You are living generously, but have a longing to be even more generous above and beyond the tithe.
“Truly I tell you” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” – Luke 21:3-4
“Truly I tell you” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” – Luke 21:3-4
I'm a legacy giver
You are giving your tithe faithfully even when not in attendance. You want to be informed of ways you can give above and beyond 10% that would make the most impact within the church’s vision and mission as well as within the community. You are experiencing the rewards of being faithful to the call of generosity that lives beyond you and long to be challenged with additional opportunities to move the gospel forward, building a legacy.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. – Romans 12:6–8 (NLT)
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. – Romans 12:6–8 (NLT)
What does that mean?
GIVING
Simply means you are giving money towards an objective. In the case of the church when you give to the category “Giving (tithe/offering)” you are supporting the everyday expenses of the mission of Open Life. 10% of everything given goes back into the community through strategic partners locally and globally. Without the consistent and sacrificial giving of those who attend Open Life renting schools, buying school supplies for schools, having an app, and even having a staff (just to name a few things) would be impossible.
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. – 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NLT)
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. – 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NLT)
Tithing
The word tithe means tenth, and very early in scripture, we see the example of God’s people setting aside the first tenth of their earnings to support the work of God’s church. Tithing is an act of obedience and worship where we return 10% of our gross income to support the work of God through our church home. We think if you have reached the place in your giving where you are giving 10% of your gross income you begin to experience the rewards of generosity.
20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered. – Genesis 14:20 (NLT)
30 “One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy. – Leviticus 27:30 (NLT)
20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered. – Genesis 14:20 (NLT)
30 “One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy. – Leviticus 27:30 (NLT)
Offerings
When you reach the place in giving where you want to give above and beyond your 10% act of obedience and sow into the vision and mission of the church to further the work locally and globally. This is that gift towards one of our strategic partners, an annual project like the Community Big Give, or an Easter offering. The church operates off of the tithe, but the church moves forward off of the generous offerings of those who are moved to give above and beyond.
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. – 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. – 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)