90-Day Tithe Challenge
February 2012 through April 2012

GOAL: We want to challenge you to start tithing and see God begin blessing your life as you commit to healthy financial stewardship.

How? We’re asking you to commit to give 10% of your total income for the next 90 days and give it to God through the church. If not a full tithe, then just give something to get started.

[Matthew 22:34-40]

The religious leaders of Jesus' day had classified over 600 laws. It is a head-scratcher to think that God gave us 10 Laws (or ten words) to live by and human beings have to complicate it by adding to the list. Anyway, there were so many "man-made" laws that even they couldn't figure out which ones were most important. One day one of the "experts of the Law" asked Jesus to identify the most important law. Jesus responded by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 and said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."

But how can that be proven? How can a person demonstrate that he or she loves God with everything they have? Who would really know? How is this lived out? Where is God that I can feed Him, or clothe Him, or hug and kiss Him? How do I tell Him that I love Him? How could I EVER demonstrate, quantify or qualify my love for Him? So before the "expert" could walk away or even ask his next question, Jesus cleared up the mystery of loving God and said, "And the second [commandment] is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." And so there would be no confusion, Jesus said, "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Here is the commandment for how to live your life today, tomorrow and every day going forward: Love God and love others. It might also by stated this way, "Love God BY loving others."

What God wants for our lives is as simple, and complex as this.

[A long post but worth the time!]

From Pastor Jimmy – Wrap Up AND Ramp Up
Happy New Year Rocky River Church! I am so excited about the New Year and what God has in store for each of us in the upcoming year. Are you? Sure you are! The real question is, “Are you PREPARED to receive all that God has for your life?” Are you prepared to GROW?

Wrap Up 2011 And Ramp Up To 2012

I am on the "Breaking The Top 3 Growth Barriers" tour across Texas with Nelson Searcy and Scott Whittaker. Currently we are in Fort Worth, Texas. It is amazing how much God speaks and how clearly I can hear Him when I'm away from the everyday grind and responsibilities back home. Of course, I miss Karen and the kids though. :)

Anyway, here are a few quick learnings God has spoken into my life over the last couple of days.

1. What others do against you for evil, God turns it into good. That's not always immediate though; often it takes time to realize. Read through the stories of Joseph and his brothers in the latter chapters of Genesis. What Joseph's brothers meant to destroy his life, God used it for his own good. Joseph went from being a slave to the number two man in Egypt - the most powerful nation on the planet at the time.

2. In a giving contest between you and God - He wins! You simply can't out-give God. We've been trying to at RRC but can't! Try it and see for yourself!

3. Purity in your life leads to maturity. Remember from last Sunday, you become what you focus on. If you focus on filth, guess what you'll become.

4. God will never hitch His vision and blessings for your life to the people in your life who are trying to walk away. Truth is, sometimes you need to "get shed" of some of the people in your life. It may be painful to watch them go, but pruning usually is painful. But pruning today makes future growth tomorrow, possible. (PASTORS, BELIEVE ME ON THIS ONE).

Anyway, just some thoughts I've been having and things I'm learning. Hope they encourage you! God bless!

Jimmy

==> 90 Day Tithe Challenge <==
November 2011 through January 2012

We want to challenge you to start tithing, and see God begin blessing your life as you commit to healthy financial stewardship.

How? We’re asking you to commit to give 10% of your total income for the next 90 days and give it to God through the church.

Who? Tithing is God’s plan for every follower of Christ. However, the 90 Day Challenge is for individuals or families that have not been tithing in at least the last two months. Tithing is 10% of your income, not just regular or spontaneous giving in the church offering.

Why? The only thing in the Bible that God says to test Him on is tithing. At Rocky River Church we believe in this so strongly that we want to give you the opportunity to take God at His Word. God promises to take care of your financial needs when you trust Him by giving Him the first 10% of your income.

Why now? For sure, it would be easier to do something like this after the first of the year once Christmas is over, and who knows, the economy might be a little better too. The leadership of our church feels very strongly that with the holidays approaching it is the perfect time for us to be reminded of what is important – and Who – and also that it is God we trust for provision and not the stock market, the economy or even ourselves. Instead, we trust in God for provision and resources.

Then What? We understand that giving away 10% of your income can be a big – and often frightening – commitment! That’s why we created the 90-Day Tithe Challenge. It’s more of a dare than anything else. We dare you to put God to the test on His promise in Malachi 3:10-11. We are challenging you to believe that God will meet your needs and beyond.

[A personal note from Pastor Jimmy]
I really hope you’ll join us in this 90-Day Tithe Challenge. It’s really more of a 90-day journey of spiritual growth and faith than it is anything else. Stewardship is discipleship. Jesus called us to follow Him and be His disciples. Well, stewardship is discipleship. This is not just a matter of trying to get money out of you. It’s really about helping you to grow in your relationship with God by trusting Him to provide for you and your family. Jesus said in Luke 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The challenge here is to put your heart, your treasure and your trust in God.

Oh yeah, and at Rocky River Church we are practicing what we preach. While we have always done a great job at helping those in our church and community in need, we are taking our giving to the next level. Over the next 90 days (and beyond) we are giving the first 10% – our tithe – to further the Gospel by helping new church plants and missionaries in our community and around the world.

I believe that over the next 90 days we are going to have great testimonies about how God has shown Himself to be faithful in providing for those who trust Him. IN FACT, we are ALREADY hearing stories about what God is doing in the lives of those who are trusting God with the first of their income.

So, will you take the Tithe Challenge? Will you take this 90-day journey of faith and growth? More than 70 families in our church have signed up to say, “WE ARE IN!” Will you? If you will, shoot me an email that says in the subject line: “Tithe Challenge.” Include in the body of the email your name and address so we can support and encourage you over the next 90 days. My email address is Pastor@RockyRiverChurch.com.

God bless you!
Jimmy

Jimmy Britt, Lead Pastor
www.RockyRiverChurch.com

PS. You can give ONLINE right now at http://www.rockyriverchurch.com/give.

PSS. Click here http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=malachi%203&version=NIV1984 to read Malachi 3. This is one of the many great promises of Scripture.

I have been dealing with some BIG things in my life over the last year to 18 months. Specifically, I've journeyed to and through Gastric Bypass surgery. I've lost over 100 pounds. And that alone has made for some big changes. But there are more changes coming...

I am learning (and I've heard this for years but it is like I'm hearing recently like it is a brand new concept) that my number one job as a pastor is to stay connected to God. Sounds like a no-brainer doesn't it? But I have started to realize over the past few weeks and months that I am more connected with people who attend Rocky River Church and people who follow me on facebook and Twitter than I am to God. I'm realizing that my priorities as a pastor/Christian, husband, dad, and so on...are just out of whack. Maybe even out of order!

So, I'm working on reordering those things and my life so that I can be more connecting to God than other things and other people.

When I get this sorted out I'll let you know my plan...

[Mission / Purpose / Calling]
- When it comes to miracles, God wants me to be PROACTIVE and ask Him to send me (and you) on “miracle missions.” God’s miracle agenda for me is primarily my responsibility to fulfill by the power of His Holy Spirit. I was born (and so were you) to partner with Heaven on miracle missions.

[Growth / Leadership]
- You can’t go to the “next level” until you’ve mastered the level where you currently are. By “master” I mean that you have to learn the lessons at your current "level." Those lessons are what prepare you to succeed at the next level.

- At every new level there are new devils (next levels mean new devils - TD JAKES). Specifically, there are three different kinds of devils (obstacles / opposition): Spiritual devils (“we wrestle not with flesh and blood”), strategic devils (such as logistical or systems problems), and relational devils (chemistry / people problems).

[For Pastors]
- What would you “do” with the people you are asking God to send you? What do you want FOR the people you are asking God to send you way. Stop looking at people for what you can get FROM them.

For example: When you teach on Stewardship (finances), don’t think of it as what you can “get from” people. Instead, you teach on stewardship because giving financially to the church is a discipleship issue. So you teach on finances because your job is to grow people, not just so you can grow your ministry. If you focus on growing people, your ministry growth will take care of itself.

Obedience is not a word we like so much. But as we follow Christ, it is an extremely important word to live out.

As I have been preparing my “Christmas @ Rocky River Church” messages this year I have been struck by the obedience of Joseph - Jesus’ earthly father. He often gets lost somewhat in the story of Christmas but his faith in God and his immediate obedience are very impressive.

When the angel appeared to Joseph in Matthew 1:20 (NLT) with a message from God he said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” So that is exactly what he did! “When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife” (Matthew 1:24 NLT). He didn’t hesitate he just did it. He obeyed the message of God immediately. It is really an incredible move of faith and obedience.

All of the busyness of “this time of year” has a way of zapping the energy out of us. But if you want to experience the real joy and excitement of Christmas in your life this holiday season, begin living in obedience to God - and do it now. Living in immediate obedience to God is the kind of life that breathes with excitement, joy and expectancy that God will do something spectacular and supernatural in your life. For example, can you imagine being Joseph and having a front row seat to what God did that first Christmas? Joseph got “that seat” because he was willing to live in immediate obedience to God - even if it didn't all make sense at the time.

Immediate obedience to God is a difference maker in our faith life. Stop procrastinating and do what God is telling you to do. Waiting only makes it harder to be faithful.

So, what is God calling you to do? Is it to make a phone call that is way over due? Is it to ask for, or give, forgiveness? Is it to invite someone to join you at church this Sunday? Is it to give your best gift ever to the church? Whatever it is, do it now!

I'm in my hotel room looking out over a beautiful San Diego morning. I love any place that has palm trees.

Anyway, I've had some things I've been thinking about lately in my own life and I would like to share them with you to think about for your life. I think these questions are worth some time, thought and action. Here goes:

1. What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?

2. Why are you doing what you're doing right now? Job, home, city, etc...

3. What do you want to see God do in your life?

4. If you knew exactly what God wanted for your life, would you do it?

5. Are you waiting on God, or is He waiting on you?

6. What keeps you from living in your sweet spot? Men, let me tell you this. It is not your wife and kids that hold you back. It's probably you!

7. Is anything holding you captive? Like fear....

8. Who are the people in your life that discourage you?

9. What discourages you? A person is measured by what discourages him or her.

10. What do you want to see God do in the world?

11. Where do you see God working in the world?

Anyway, these are BIG and important questions. Think about them! My bet is that you're not living up to your God-given potential. I'm not either but I'm working on it. Maybe we can help each other. God bless you!

Jimmy