Community of Christ

Explore ENDURING PRINCIPLES with Adults
How does Grace and Generosity guide my discipleship?

KEY CONCEPTS

God’s grace, especially as revealed in Jesus Christ, is generous and unconditional.
Having received God’s generous grace, we respond generously and graciously receive the generosity of others.
We offer all we are and have to God’s purposes as revealed in Jesus Christ.
We generously share our witness, resources, ministries, and sacraments according to our true capacity.

SCRIPTURES

Our understanding of Grace and Generosity will grow through the study of these scriptures.

John 4:1–29
Jesus asked a Samaritan woman to get him water, ignoring social convention. He ministered to her, but she also ministered to Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God...”

1 John 4:10
We love because God first loved us.

Mark 12:41
When Jesus saw that the widow gave two copper coins, he said, “...this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.” The widow gave out of her poverty.

Mark 14:3–8
When the woman who anointed Jesus’ head with oil came under criticism, Jesus said, “...you will not always have me...”

John 6:5–13
A child generously shared a few loaves and fishes, which Jesus blessed, and God’s abundance was shown to the 5000 who ate “as much as they wanted.”

Malachi 3:10
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”

2 Corinthians 8–9
An attempt to organize an offering for the Christians at Jerusalem in which the apostle Paul again and again used the word charis, a Greek word variously translated as “grace,” “generous undertaking,” “goodwill,” “favor,” “blessing,” “privilege.”

Luke 6:38
“...give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

Mosiah 1:49–54
A call to respond in generosity. “…when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God.”

Unless otherwise noted, Bible passages are quoted or adapted from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Scripture and Theological Study
Responsibly interpret and faithfully apply scripture for insight into discipleship. Study Community of Christ theology.

Understanding Grace
What is grace? What do we mean when we say we are saved by grace? How do we know that God is gracious? The Christian life is rooted in the radical grace of Jesus Christ. Study chapters eight and nine in Anthony Chvala-Smith’s book Understanding the Way (Revised Edition) to explore these ideas about grace and more.
Connecting Grace and Generosity
Doctrine and Covenants 163:9 links grace with generosity: “Eternal joy and peace await those who grow in the grace of generosity that flows from compassionate hearts without thought of return.” What connects these two? How do we link them in our corporate church life? In our private life?
Expressions of Divine Grace
The New Testament has many references to God’s grace as revealed in Jesus Christ including many references in writings by or attributed to the apostle Paul: Acts 20:24, 32; Romans 3:24; Romans 5:15–21; Ephesians 1:5, 2:5–8; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:7; 1 Peter 4:10. The Book of Mormon also has many expressions of God’s divine grace. Read the following texts: II Nephi 7:42; II Nephi 11:43–44; Ether 5:41; Moroni 8:3; Moroni 10:29–30. Compare the expressions of divine grace found in both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon. What are some common themes?
Lifestyle of Generosity
Community of Christ for many years interpreted the temporal part of generosity to mean giving 10 percent of income that remained after “just wants and needs” had been deducted. The counsel given in Doctrine and Covenants 162:7c shifts the focus from “bookkeeping” to lifestyle. (Sharing in Community of Christ, 2^nd Edition, 33–36.) What does it mean to affirm that stewardship and discipleship cannot be divided? How will you respond out of that framework?
When the Church of Jesus
Read the text of HS 445 “When the Church of Jesus.” What is the admonition? What is the challenge? What will be your response?
Unconditional Grace

Everything Belongs: the Gift of Contemplative Prayer
by Richard Rohr,
Crossroad Publishing Co., 2003,
ISBN: 9780824519957

We often struggle to understand God’s unconditional love and forgiveness, which we call grace. In our humanness, we think or feel at some deep emotional level, which we have to be good or do good to “earn” God’s forgiveness or “earn” God’s love. Author Richard Rohr in his book Everything Belongs: the Gift of Contemplative Prayer writes:

“The Gospel says ‘you will know the mystery of salvation through the forgiveness of sin’ (Luke 1:77). ‘Fore-given’ means being given to beforehand—before you earned it, were worthy of it, or maybe even asked for it. So, forgiveness breaks down the entire world of meritocracy and the notion of deservedness. Our logic of quid pro quo is useless in the realm of Spirit. Instead, if we are open to it, we will be led into the realm of mercy and grace—the unique world of God” (p. 131).

Why do you believe it is difficult for some people to accept this kind of radical forgiveness? What implications does this have when looking at the world through God’s eyes?
Responding to God’s Grace
Our response to God’s grace flows out of our thankfulness for God’s mercy toward us. With grateful hearts we respond to God’s generous love by sharing our witness, resources, ministries, and sacraments.
1. Think of a time when you experienced God’s loving presence. How did you feel? What was your response? What might you have done differently if you had responded generously according to your true capacity?
2. In what areas will you look for opportunities to be generous with your time, talents, and money?
3. Search the Internet to learn about Larry Stewart who shortly before his death allowed his identity as a generous “secret Santa” to be uncovered. In what way could his life of generosity be interpreted as his response to God’s grace?

Missional Encounters
Apply a Christ-like response to the needs of humans and creation.

Hospital Volunteers
During times of health crisis, caregivers, families, and friends often find themselves spending long hours in hospital waiting rooms. Contact your local hospital and volunteer to assemble and give baskets of current magazines, tissue packets, snack bars, and other supplies for the intensive care, pediatric, or cardiac waiting rooms. Ask your friends and family to give supplies or deliver baskets.
Get Involved
Locally, get involved in those agencies that promote development and justice through generous donor response, either response through gifts, time, or talent. Such organizations include Habitat for Humanity, Harvesters, Red Cross, animal rescue agencies, environmental initiatives, and more.
Spending Your Time and Money
On one of your walls, post categories for how you spend your time and money during one week. Place a sticker under each category to represent your use of time and resources. Look for areas of excess. For example, buying seven cups of coffee from a coffeehouse. Challenge yourself to save that money, instead of using your resources to excess. Identify a total amount of money that could come from such stewardship, and challenge yourself to meet that goal by the end of the month.

Personal Spiritual Practices
Closely connect with the Divine through spiritual disciplines.

Pros and Cons
For every “con” (negative aspect), you can think of for a situation, write a “pro” (positive aspect) to counterbalance it. Is it a “con” to rake leaves? Or, are there positive aspects to raking? If you are grateful for it, the idea of raking leaves can change from a dreaded chore into a personal spiritual practice!
Give Thanks
Be grateful! Pray a short prayer of thanksgiving every time you answer the phone, send an e-mail, or interact with a person at a store, in traffic, or at your job.
Practice Generosity
Practice generosity and a Disciple’s Generous Response as a personal spiritual practice. Many resources are available including “Living a Life of Generosity—with a grateful and joyful heart” by Ken Schnell.
Growing a Gracious, Generous Heart
Open your heart to God’s grace and generosity with a breath prayer. Let your breath slow and deepen. Be aware of God’s breath moving in and out of your heart in the center of your chest. Spend several minutes focusing on breathing in God’s generous gifts. With each breath, silently name one gift for which you are thankful. “God, I breathe in the gift of ______ with thanks.” Let your heart expand to contain God’s gracious outpouring. What is your generous response? With each breath out, name one gift you want to share out of the overflow of your heart. “Eternal joy and peace await those who grow in the grace of generosity that flows from compassionate hearts…”—Doctrine and Covenants 163:9.
Gratitude and Generosity Prayer of Self-Examination
Generosity is our grateful response to God’s abundance. Sit in a quiet place in your home or outside. Ask God to open your body, mind, and spirit to the abundance surrounding you. Prayerfully reflect with the questions: “How am I seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, breathing in God’s abundance this day? In what moment of the day have I been most grateful for God’s gifts?” Offer a brief prayer of gratitude and praise. Enter another period of silence. Become aware of the patterns of generosity in your life. Ask: “When and in what ways am I most generous? What specific acts of generosity is God inviting me to complete in the day or week ahead?” Pray for blessing to act on what you have discovered.
Generosity Capacity
Spend time meditating on the act of giving an offering. Begin by asking God for the spirit of generosity. Pray and reflect with these questions. How do I feel when I bring my offering to a worship setting and share it? What deep reasons motivate me to give? What is my best understanding of a “disciple’s generous response”? Considering my financial circumstances, do I feel I am giving to my “true capacity”? In other words, am I giving the amount I can give without risking the needs and well-being of my family? Is God asking me to be more generous? How will I respond?

Community Spiritual Practices
Closely connect with the Divine and one another through spiritual disciplines.

Breath Prayer
Open your heart to God’s grace and generosity with a breath prayer. Let your breath slow and deepen. Be aware of God’s breath moving in and out of your heart. Be aware of God’s breath moving in and out of those around you. Spend several minutes focusing on breathing in God’s generosity. With each breath, silently name one of the people around you for whom you are thankful. Thank God for their gifts. If you have time, do the same with another in the group.
Creator’s Offerings
Sit quietly with your group. Absorb every moment of the Creator’s offerings. Whatever the Master Chef prepares, enjoy with smacking lips. When we’re mindful of what life offers, it’s easier to share. Call out in your group all the things you are thankful for. Sound a chime and meditate on all these things. Sound the chime again and meditate on all the ways you could share your blessings.
Plan Your Giving
Give generously to Mission Tithes. Using a financial planning guide to make a plan to give in a steady and generous way to effect real change in yourself and in the ministries of the church. Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University is one such tool, but there are other stewardship and money management programs.

Personal Relationships
Develop one-on-one relationships for sharing and accountability as disciples.

Unlikely Friends
Share grace and generosity by developing a relationship with a most unlikely “friend”—someone from another country, socioeconomic class, region, religion, or culture. Perhaps a child or youth, an elderly person, a person who is physically or mentally challenged, or someone who is ill. How is the relationship one of mutuality (giving and receiving from both of you)?
Moving from “I Should” to “I Choose”
Sometimes our choices are framed in “shoulds” and “ought to’s.” This attitude is sometimes connected to our generosity and grace in relationships, for example, “I should go visit Sabina who is sick.” “I ought to give more to the church.” God intends that our generosity and grace be joyful, life-giving experiences. “Should” and “ought to” drain the life-giving opportunities of generosity and grace. When you catch yourself using an “I should…” phrase try changing it to “I choose to…because…” and see how it transforms your attitude. For example, “I choose to visit Sabina because I enjoy her company.”
Broader Understandings
The Enduring Principle of Grace and Generosity in Community of Christ means that, having received God’s generous grace, we respond generously, and graciously receive the generosity of others. How this is different or the same as “stewardship” or “first fruits giving” or other ideas the church embraces? How does this Enduring Principle give a broader understanding of God’s response to us, and what God offers to us? Read Evangelist David Brock’s article, “Grace and Generosity” in the Enduring Principles series. Engage in the suggested discernment activity written by Donna Sperry.

Shared Experiences in Community
Experience fellowship and build relationships in Christian community.

Generosity and Hospitality
How do generosity and hospitality fit together? As a group, study and practice hospitality. Giving hospitality to others as a practice of discipleship is more than just preparing a meal and opening the doors to our home or church. Hospitality is a more challenging discipline. You can find a good resource to learn more about hospitality on the Practicing Our Faith website.
Community Civic Project
Join with others in your community to complete a civic project related to making your village, town, or city a better place to live. For ideas, visit your local government agencies, or contact non-government organizations (NGO) in your area.
Celebrate with Sharing
To celebrate special events such as birthdays, in a gracious and generous way, ask guests to bring canned goods or non-perishable food items instead of gifts. Thank the guests and donate the items to a pantry.
Car Maintenance
Organize a group of volunteers to do car maintenance for those in need.

Witnessing and Storytelling
Hear, tell, and live the sacred story. Share personal and communal stories of God’s grace. Invite others to share the peace of Jesus Christ.

Youth Camps
Sponsor a child for a youth camp. Invite people from your congregation who attended the camp to share their camp stories with you and the congregation.
Experiencing God’s Grace and Generosity
Keep a journal of how you have experienced God’s grace and generosity. Expand your writing and send in for possible publication in the Herald Magazine or Daily Bread.
Share Your Story of Generosity
Read stories of generosity then write or tell your personal story of generosity. When and how have you been blessed by giving or receiving generously? Offer your story as part of the Disciple’s Generous Response portion of a worship service.

Lifelong Learning
Deepen discipleship through specific instruction and training.

Create a Plan
Create a plan to continue to grow in generous and responsible discipleship by enrolling in a course, such as “Financial Peace University” created by personal money management expert and author Dave Ramsey.
Becoming a Generous Disciple
Teach a congregational class or small group using the book, Becoming a Generous Disciple. Commit to live out these principles in tangible ways. Share commitments in a journey of accountability.
Generosity Stories
Guide a youth or young adult in understanding and supporting World Mission Tithes. Share the generosity stories from around the church.
The Sacraments
Take or lead a class on the sacraments in your congregation. Discuss how each sacrament might be viewed through a lens of generosity.
Basic Beliefs
Read Community of Christ Basic Beliefs or Sharing in Community of Christ (2^nd Edition), pp. 14–16. How is grace explained in these statements? In what way does this have an impact on and help you as a disciple? Share your reflections with another disciple for discussion and community formation.