Act of Grace

A minority of Christians give 10 percent or more of their income to churches and missions, supporting the bulk of church work done today. If more people give, the possibilities will be breathtaking--but first we must change the way we think. Jim Petty wants to revolutionize your view along scriptural lines. Our money is for giving; it is an exciting, tangible means for showing love and mercy to others. Petty traces this perspective through the stories of Old Testament saints, our Lord Jesus, and the early church. He also evaluates Christian giving throughout history, showing how and why it has fluctuated over time. Although talking about money feels taboo to many of us, God doesn't have the same reservations, and Petty shows how we can responsibly plan our own finances, including retirement, and encourage greater generosity by educating others in a church context. God himself is a giver, not a taker, and he calls us to imitate him.

About the Author :
James C. Petty (MDiv, DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary) is emeritus director of the Children's Jubilee Fund.

Review :
A sea change in our thinking about money is in order. Being financially generous for the cause of the kingdom is not something that anyone drifts into. A person must make a conscious resolution to act as if his money is not his but the Lord's. In Act of Grace, Jim Petty makes the case, from Scripture and history, for why we should make that resolution.--Andrée Seu Peterson, Senior Writer, WORLD Magazine I am searching for words to describe what an incredible work of art this book is, and I can't find them. Jim writes so elegantly and persuasively. Both the portions on the Bible and the "real world" sections are superb. He has opened up a new way for me to read Scripture, which was a real "paradigm shift" for me. God is the great giver! If this book receives the readership it deserves, then the church should look very different as a result.--William Edgar, Professor of Apologetics, Westminster Theological Seminary Jim Petty's book is exactly what you would expect from him--gospel centered, full of practical wisdom, and missional. When conviction comes--and it does--it is followed by encouragement. When he takes us through biblical history and then church history, his insights are on point and convincing. And when he concludes his study, you will love Jesus more and care more about continuing his mission on earth. I wish every aspiring pastor I've ever taught and every member of my congregation would read it and read it again until gospel giving becomes the norm in their hearts and in the practice of their lives.--Michael W. Honeycutt, Senior Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, South Carolina Look around and you will soon see that the church is in desperate need of money sanity. That sanity will only ever be found in the pages of God's Word. This is why I am so enthusiastic about this book by Jim Petty. I know of no other book that digs more deeply into what Scripture has to say about money than this book. Petty plumbs the depths of the Old and New Testaments to give us a rich and expansive gospel understanding of money. I can't think of anyone who would not benefit from the wealth of money wisdom that Petty offers. I know I will go back to this book again and again to root myself again and again in the money sanity that comes only from God's Word.--Paul David Tripp, Author, Redeeming Money: How God Reveals and Reorients Our Hearts Our relationship with money is complicated, as we all know, and so we all need clear guidance. Jim's book provides that clear, wise guidance. It includes the revealing story of money and giving throughout Scripture, a history of giving in the Christian church, and next steps we can take in our own giving. You will find it compelling and hopeful.--Ed Welch, Counselor and Faculty Member, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation This book has the potential to wake up the "sleeping giant" of the Western church. We have been entrusted with financial resources that could change the world through our generosity. But sadly we fulfill only a small fraction of our potential. Jim Petty presents a thoughtful, inspiring, and compelling vision of how we can use our resources to love and bless others and to fulfill the Lord's purposes in the world. With faith and joy (and without legalism), he describes how individuals and churches can be transformed to "excel in giving."--Ron Lutz, Former Pastor, New Life Presbyterian Church, Dresher, Pennsylvania This is a special book. I'm familiar with much writing on generosity, but I've never seen anything like this book, which surveys the entire Bible on generosity as well as church history down to our current day. I hope that every Christian reads this book and is inspired.--Paul E. Miller, Executive Director, seeJesus; Author, A Praying Life and J-Curve