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Churches Don't Cost - They Pay

MythUnderstanding

Tom LundeenJune 12, 2022

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Passage: Matthew 5:13-16

In this message our focus in on an oft-repeated claim...that local churches end up costing communities money. We'll dig into how Jesus followers actually provide benefits and blessings to the communities and people around them. 

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Churches Don't Cost - They Pay

Pastor Tom Lundeen

 

As we've seen, there's a lot of  about the Church Jesus bled, died, and rose again from the dead to create. 

Today our focus is on an oft-repeated claim...that local churches end up  communities money. 

 

Jesus declared that His followers and family actually provide  and blessings to the communities and people around them (note Matthew 5:13-16).

 

1. Do  Churches Cost or Pay?

 

Partners for  Spaces

The  Effect = the  benefits local churches bring to local communities. 

 

Average Annual Economic Halo Value Per Congregation = $1.7  ($ million if you take out 9 highest and 9 lowest churches in the study). There's:

  •  spending
  •  spending
  • Our  ministries...all supplement other community services (both governmental and private)
  • Children and Student ministries offer great additional help...
  • A study from the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics (University of Nevada - Las Vegas) showed houses within a half mile of a larger church experience % increase in property values...
  • ...and that a church with over 1,500 attendees can easily draw  new families to relocate and be closer
  • Urban stats going from present day back to the 1920's shows the higher a city's church membership rate, the lower it's burglary, larceny, robbery, assault, and homicide rates (which lead to lower  rates and other costs)

 

2. Why Do Churches Pay and Not Cost?

 

While Jesus followers have their  citizenship not in any nation, but in heaven (note Philippians 3:20), we are also to be , contributing parts of society.

Note Jeremiah 29:4-5, 7

 

Note Acts 4:18-20, 5:29

Note 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-17

 

MYTHUNDERSTANDING:

  • While Jesus followers and churches are not perfect in this life, when they are  on the Holy Spirit to help them become more like Jesus, when they are  on following Jesus' Great Commandment (note Luke 10:27), and when they are committed to fulfilling Jesus' mission of helping lost people become found people and depopulating , everyone benefits in multiple ways. 
  • If you really want to make a difference in people's lives and in your community and in this world, the  is clear: 
  • Say 'YES!' to Jesus as Lord and become an active participant in the one thing in this world that will last forever, .

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