Tax-Effective Worship
I love the logic of Romans 12:1: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” The most important word in that sentence is ’Therefore’ at the start. ’Therefore’ refers back to all the beautiful gospel truths of Romans 1-11. That undeserving as we are, Christ died for the ungodly. That we by faith alone we have peace with God and the Spirit of God. ’Therefore, because of all this, ‘in view of God’s mercy’, we ought to give our whole lives over to God in worship.
The order matters:
Gospel first. Offering our lives to Him second.
Salvation first. Response of gratitude second.
God’s mercy first. Our response of wholehearted holiness second.
We can never earn the first by doing the second.
It is worth reminding ourselves of that before we think about our tax-effective giving this financial year. Should we decide to give, it must come from gospel hearts — hearts that have been changed and transformed through Jesus; hearts that are ready to give in worship. Of course it is nice to get some money back in your tax refund, but that is secondary to our desire to worship God.
There are two funds you can give to: the Building fund and the School Scripture fund (Religious Education Fund). The electronic banking details are as follows — add your name to the reference field if you want a receipt. Or you can use an envelope on Sunday — again, labelled with your name so the treasurer can send you a receipt.
Account Name: Dapto Anglican Church Building Fund
BSB Number: 032686
Account Number: 162472
Account Name: Dapto Anglican Church Religious Education Fund
BSB Number: 032686
Account Number: 301495
Praise God for the saving work He has been doing among us in our buildings! We’ve seen 9 decisions to follow Jesus among us in these first months of 2026!
Praise God for planting many seeds in children’s hearts through these funds allowing Sarah, Micah, and the team to teach Scripture in schools!
Grace and peace,
Mark
PS: Please don’t give to this instead of your regular giving to the church general fund. Maintaining a steady income for our general expenses is essential.