Rooted In Giving• 38If you give to others,

you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated. Luke 6:38 (CEV)

Luke 6:38 (Amplified Bible)

• 38Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.

†We make aliving through

what we get; wemake a life

through whatwe give.

Winston Churchill

Ron Blue

† You can’t fakestewardship. Your checkbook

reveals all that you really believe about stewardship. A lifestyle

could be written from a checkbook.

Dr. Stephen Olford

† Giving satisfiesthe soul, edifiesthe church, andmagnifies the

Lord.

Dan Reiland

† Giving protects us fromselfishness. Giving ensuresthat our needs will be met.Giving reminds us that we

are stewards of all we have.(1 Timothy 6:17-18)

Billy Graham

† God has given us twohands-one to receive withand the other to give with.We are not cisterns made

for hoarding; we arechannels made for sharing.

The Three Forms Thereof

Biblical Giving

What We Learned Last Week

3. ALMS

The giving of Alms is crucial to the well-being of the Church’s ministry.

Alms are used to exemplify God’s Kingdom

Demonstration/proof, to prove beyond doubt, to make evident to exhibit…

2. OFFERINGS

Yet the giving of offerings is also crucial to the well-being of the Church’s ministry.

Offerings are used to expand God’s Kingdom.

Expand/to open up, unfold, enlarge-to develop in detail

1. TITHEThe tithe should be the foundation of the Church’s financial health. Tithes are used to

maintain God’s House.

Maintain/ to deepen in an existing state, to continue in…

Macedonian Models of Giving

(2 Corinthians 8:1-9)• 1. They gave willingly.• 2. They gave beyond their ability.• 3. They gave enthusiastically.• 4. They gave their best.

This Week: Tithing

• 8You people are robbing me, your God. And, here you are, asking, "How are we robbing you?“ You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that belongs to me. 9That's why your whole nation is under a curse. 10I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house.

This Week: Tithing

…Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing. 11I will also stop locusts from destroying your crops and keeping your vineyards from producing. 12Everyone of every nation will talk about how I have blessed you and about your wonderful land. I, the LORD All-Powerful, have spoken!

Source: “Clergy and laity disagree about tithing and charitable giving,” Lifeway’s Facts and Trends, Ellison Research, March 2, 2002On-line: http://www.ellisonresearch.com/releases/20060302.htm

Clergy and laity disagree about tithing and charitable giving

Ellison Research &Facts & Trends, Lifeway

Source: “Clergy and laity disagree about tithing and charitable giving,” Lifeway’s Facts and Trends, Ellison Research, March 2, 2002 On-line: http://www.ellisonresearch.com/releases/20060302.htm

The Disagreement Data

• Most Protestant ministers believe Christians are supposed to tithe – or give 10 percent of their income – to their local church.

Source: “Clergy and laity disagree about tithing and charitable giving,” Lifeway’s Facts and Trends, Ellison Research, March 2, 2002 On-line: http://www.ellisonresearch.com/releases/20060302.htm

The Disagreement Data

• Unfortunately for these ministers and churches, most people in the pews of the local church do not agree with them.

• In the study, 56 percent of all clergy say Christians are under a biblical mandate to tithe 10 percent of their income to the local church.

Source: “Clergy and laity disagree about tithing and charitable giving,” Lifeway’s Facts and Trends, Ellison Research, March 2, 2002 On-line: http://www.ellisonresearch.com/releases/20060302.htm

…Another 12 Percent

• of clergy feel Christians are under this 10 percent mandate, but the gifts do not necessarily have to go to the local church.

• Twenty percent believe there is a biblical mandate to give, but not any specific amount or percentage.

Source: “Clergy and laity disagree about tithing and charitable giving,” Lifeway’s Facts and Trends, Ellison Research, March 2, 2002On-line: http://www.ellisonresearch.com/releases/20060302.htm

Protestant church attendees:

• only 36 percent feel there is a biblical command to tithe 10 percent to their local church.

• while another 23 percent believe there is a biblical mandate to tithe, but not necessarily to the local church.

Source: “Clergy and laity disagree about tithing and charitable giving,” Lifeway’s Facts and Trends, Ellison Research, March 2, 2002On-line: http://www.ellisonresearch.com/releases/20060302.htm

Protestant church attendees

• Twenty-seven percent feel the Bible commands Christians to give, but not a set proportion or amount, while 10 percent believe Christians are under no mandate to give anything.

Tithing Biblical Context

• In the King James Version, “tithing” (“tithe,” “tithes,” “tithing”) occurs 40 times in the Bible, 32 times in the Old Testament, and 8 times in the New. In the New Testament, 5 of the 8 occurrences are found in Hebrews 7:5-9, which are referring to the “tithe” of Abraham to Melchizedek in the Old Testament. Two of the remaining 3 occurrences occur in Luke. In Luke 11:42 we find a parallel text to the one remaining text (Matthew 23:23).

Tithing Biblical Context

• Here, Jesus accuses the Pharisees of tithing in the small, inexpensive, things (mint, dill, cummin), but neglecting the weightier matters. Thus, Jesus does not condemn tithing, but says that there are more important matters.

Tithing Biblical Context

• In Luke 18:12 we see the self-righteous Pharisee, boasting about his tithing as a proof (in his mind) of his righteousness.

• Paul implied statement on tithing: 1 Cor 9:13: “Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple … the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”

Tithing Biblical History

• 1. Abraham Commenced It (Genesis 14:18-20)

• 2. Moses Commanded It (Leviticus 27:30)• 3. Malachi Confirmed It (Malachi 3:8-10)• 4. Jesus Commended It (Matthew 23:23)

Matthew 23:23 (Contemporary English Version)

• 23You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things you should have done, though you should not have left the others undone either

W.A. Criswell, a well-known pastor,

tells the story about another pastor who was asked, “How many church members do you have?” The answer was “One hundred fifty.” The pastor was then asked, How many of them tithe?” The pastor replied, “One hundred fifty.” In astonishment, the inquirer exclaimed, “What! All one hundred fifty — the entire church — are tithers?“ Yes, indeed,” said the pastor. “About fifty of them bring tithe to the storehouse, and God collects it from the rest.”

…In the end

• “we do not cheat God,” concludes Dr. Criswell. “I can either give it to Him in a deeply spiritual act of worship, or He can collect it. In either case, God gets His own.”

Malachi’s Historical Background

• The temple was completed under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Haggai, and Zechariah in 516 B.C. But almost 100 years had passed, and whatever reforms had been instituted were being ignored and spiritual apathy had set in. The people were disregarding the priests and the temple, they were not bringing their tithes and offerings and there was intermarriage with foreigners and divorce taking place.

• Malachi is sent to rebuke the people for their sin.

Seven Blessing of Tithing

Malachi 3:8-13

1. Personal Revival

• “If I will not open you the windows of heaven” (verse 10). The windows of heaven always deal with revival. The Lord promises to revive every person who obeys Him.

2. Pour Out Blessings

• “And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (verse 10). Think about it! God Almighty declares clearly in His Word that the tither will be prosperous—so prosperous, in fact, that there will not be room enough to receive the prosperity and blessings God has in store for the one who obeys Him.

3. Paralyze The Devourer

• “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes” (verse 11). rebuke, means “to cripple” or “to paralyze.” God Almighty will actually cripple the enemy on your behalf when you tithe. The tithe is so important to the Lord that He promises to paralyze and cripple the enemy so that he will not be able to touch your life!

4. Production Continued

• “He shall not destroy the fruits of your ground” (verse 11). This means that the enemy, whom God has crippled on your behalf, will not be able to touch your finances. The “fruits of your ground.” The enemy will not stop you from producing!

5. Premature Delivery Stopped

• “Neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts” (verse 11). It is remarkable that in John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches.” The vine, therefore, means the family, and God gives this amazing promise to the tither when He says that the enemy will not touch your family, if you obey the Lord.

6. Prominence of Life

• “All nations shall call you blessed” (verse 12). In this most amazing blessing and promise, God will bless and prosper you so that the nations of the world will see the blessings of God upon you. In other words, you will be a mighty witness of the power and blessings of God.

7. The Pleasant Delight

• “Ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts” (verse 12). Delightsome means “highly desired.” As you obey the Lord with the tithe, God will so highly desire you that He will use you.