Finish the work: the response forms
A response form turns our best intentions into action, helps the church gauge pledges and respond to requests for information. It’s our piece of the jigsaw.
In 2 Corinthians 8:11–12, Paul gives two really practical bits of advice that help explain why using response forms can be such a useful part of a church’s stewardship programme.
Complete the doing
First, Paul tells the church at Corinth to “complete the doing”. Today we’d say, “finish what you started.” That’s verse 11. Finish the task they were eager and willing to do in the first place. It’s not enough to be willing or to feel generous. Generosity is for our hands as well as our hearts. That’s where response forms come in. They capture our commitment, on paper or online, and help turn good intentions into real action.
From what we have
Second, Paul reassures us that we give from what we have, not from what we don’t have. That’s verse 12. What we give to God is always in proportion to what we have received from God. Our response forms have a range of increased giving pledges. It’s not one size fits all because we are all different. So we give from what we have; not what we don’t have. If some are in real financial distress there’s no pressure - and our response forms make that clear.
Heart, hand, home
So, to put it another way, for Paul, we give willingly from our hearts; we finish what we started with our hands and we give from what we have at home. Paul calls this kind of generous giving ‘acceptable’ and at first it sounds like faint praise but this is not a throwaway word. Paul uses the same word for God’s saving work (2 Cor 6:2) and for his own apostolic ministry (Rom 15:16,31). So, it’s pretty strong language. My response form is my piece of the church jigsaw. It helps me grow into acceptable, generous giving.
Getting started
Click to the Making the Ask resources page for easy to use, customisable response form templates. They are designed in Canva and, of course, feel free to create your own responses forms. Paper is good, but if you want to go digital there’s a little guidance available also. Download the short guidance document: Finish the Work.
Heart, hand, home
Response forms help us connect the generosity we feel called to, our practical decisions to give and the circumstances from which we give.