1

Gateway 200

The Habit of Prayer Page 2 The Habit of Bible Study Page 7 The Habit of Assembling Together Page 12 The Habit of Fasting Page 17 The Habit of Generous Giving Page 21

Gateway Church September 2009

2

The Habit of Prayer

Prayer is perhaps the most important activity a Christian can engage in.

John Wesley once said, “God does nothing except in response to prayer.” This is made even more

encouraging by what James 5:16 says: “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish

much.” (New American Standard is used throughout this material). The Chinese translation of the

English Bible puts James 5:16 this way: “The energy put forth by the prayers of a righteous man

brings mighty things to pass.”

The Greek word for “effective” is energeo and here describes the effective work of a siege machine

pulling down a stronghold, or a medicine coursing through the body combating disease. Both work

secretly yet powerfully, underscoring the fact that prayer is a strong weapon which always makes a

difference to the situations it is directed towards – even when we can’t feel or see any!

There are five truths we can emphasize as seek to cultivate the habit of prayer.

1. Make a Time for Prayer The findings of two recent polls are shocking. According to the first, 45% of Christians admitted that they

prayed only when moved by the Holy Spirit. This probably explains the findings of the second which

discovered that pastors pray on average only three minutes a day and laymen only five minutes per week!

The habit of prayer begins when we make time for it. All the great men of God had a time to pray.

� Wesley prayed from four to six in the morning. One writer says of him ”He thought prayer to be

more his business than anything else, and I have seen him come out of his closet with a serenity of

face next to shining.”

� His Methodists followers prayed from four to five in the morning and from five to six in the evening.

� John Fletcher of Madeley, one of Wesley’s contemporaries, was reputed to have stained the walls

of his room by the breath of his prayers. Sometimes he would pray all night, always with great

earnestness. His whole life was a life of prayer. ”I would not rise from my seat,” he said, ”without

lifting my heart to God.” His greeting to a friend was always: ”Do I meet you praying?”

� Martin Luther said used to say: ”If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets

the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours

daily in prayer.”

� D.L. Moody spent time in prayer over the noon hour during his evangelistic meetings in the 19th century.

3

Each of these men scheduled prayer into their day. Jesus takes for granted that his disciples would have

a regular time for prayer. When he teaches them the Lord’s Prayer He begins His lesson with “When

you pray, say…” (Luke 11:2).

What is your time for prayer? There is no right or wrong time – just whatever works best for you. Some

find that early morning is the best time, before the hustle and bustle of the day. Others find the evening

better, when the activity of life has died down and there is peace and quiet. Others pray in the night

watches – Jesus Himself observed this practice (Luke 6:12). The “when” of prayer is negotiable – but to

establish it is not.

Group Discussion: Take time now to consider when is the best time is for you to spend in regular

prayer. Discuss with your group what tends to interrupt or interfere with the times you set aside for

prayer. How can you combat those interruptions?

2. Make a Place for Prayer In teaching His disciples on prayer, Jesus said, “but you when you pray, go into your inner room,

shut the door and pray…” (Matt. 6:6). Jesus does not necessarily mean this literally, but was urging

them to have a place where there would be no interruption to prayer or anything to distract from it.

Spurgeon prayed in his rocking chair. David Brainard walked the forests of Massachusetts and prayed.

Daniel Rowland talked quite naturally to God in the open fields and hedge bottoms of Wales. A friend of

mine at college would retreat to the broom cupboard in order to find a quiet place to talk to God.

Group Discussion: Is there a place you can get away to pray, winter or summer? Perhaps some in

your group can share about a place that has been helpful for them to pray. Perhaps others can share

what has frustrated them from finding a private place. Who might you need to speak with to ensure of an

uninterrupted prayer time with the Lord?

3. Learn a Language of Prayer

Prayer is not something that comes easily or naturally but is a skill that needs to be learned. On one

occasion the disciples came to Jesus after watching Him pray and said, “Lord teach us to pray like

John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). This tells us that prayer is a skill that needs to be learned like

riding a bike or driving a car; and, finding prayer awkward or hard only means we are untaught, not

unspiritual. In response to this request Jesus offers The Lord’s Prayer – which was not intended to be

recited but used as a model or template of prayer.

Let’s analyze this and see what ingredients Jesus wanted His disciples to cover. Matthew’s text (Matt.

6:9-13) provides a fuller version of what was said: "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in

heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in

4

heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our

debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom

and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”

a. Worship

“Pray then in this way, ‘Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.’”

Jesus begins by urging His followers to focus on God and meditate on His character and goodness.

When King Jehoshaphat was attacked by the triple alliance of Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites, he

called a prayer meeting and told God “we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming

against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” He replaced the vision of a big

problem with the vision of a bigger God. David did the same when he went out against Goliath. All the

other Israelites could see was the size of Goliath’s biceps, but David saw the size of God’s power.

To begin our prayer time with worship does the same for us – it allows us to focus on a God who is bigger

and stronger than any issue that we want to bring to Him. Worship puts things in perspective and helps

build faith.

b. Petition

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

This is the asking part of our devotions. One of the mysteries of prayer is that we are commanded to tell

God what He already knows and ask Him to do what He already wants to do. But this deliberately

includes God in the burdens and problems of our lives and is a means of transferring the weight of them

from our shoulders and onto His.

In this stage of our devotions we can mention to Him family members, church leaders, political figures,

estranged friends, backslidden church members and prodigal children. The sky is the limit. Big or small,

people or situations, personal, national or international – it doesn’t matter.

5

c. Provision

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Jesus makes space for asking God to provide for specific material needs. This fits right in with His

portrait in the Sermon on the Mount of a heavenly Father who clothes the flowers of the field, feeds the

birds of the air, knows the things we need even before we ask Him and loves to give good gifts to His

children. God’s desire and ability to provide for His children is a theme that pervades the whole Bible. In

the Old Testament, His covenant name is Provider; and He is as good as His name giving bread, water

and meat to a rebellious and ungrateful nation every day during their years in the wilderness. In the New

Testament, Jesus promises “whatever you ask in my name, that will I do” (John 14:13) – and does so

“pressed down, shaken together and running over” (Luke 6:38). Indeed, “God will supply all our

needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19).

d. Repentance and Forgiveness

“And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Notice how our receiving forgiveness from God is interwoven with our giving forgiveness to others. This

is the time in our devotions when we clear our debts with God and remit others’ debts against ourselves.

As Protestants we don’t have a good theology of confessing sin – even to God (beyond the confession

made in the Sinner’s Prayer) but Jesus recommends we do it regularly.

e. Protection

“But deliver us from evil and lead us not into temptation, for Yours is the Kingdom and the power

and the glory, forever. Amen.”

This is a request to be kept safe from our enemy who “prowls around like a roaring lion seeking

someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8) and to be kept from those trials that will cause our faith to fail. God,

who “commands his angels concerning you, to guard you” (Ps. 91:11) and also personally covers us

(Ps. 91:4), can keep His people safe, so “none can pluck them out of His hand” (John 10:28).

Group Discussion: How about pausing in order to pray through the Lord’s Prayer together as a group?

The Cell Group Leader can help to lead you through each part outlined above.

4. Develop a Posture in Prayer This is a posture of faith – to actually believe that our prayers make a difference and that God hears and

answers them.

� “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received

them, and they will be granted you.” (Mark 11:24)

6

� “But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, ‘Do not be

afraid any longer, only believe.’” (Mark 5:36)

� “if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here

to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” (Mark 17:20) Prayer is not a charm or a talisman that can magically change whatever situation is in introduced into.

John tells us “whatever you ask… in my name that I will do” (John 14:13-14; 15:16) – “in My name”

means according to My will. This leads to our final point on prayer.

Group Discussion: If your faith needs strengthening, discuss what practical things a person could do to

strengthen their faith. Examples might be reading a book filled with testimonies of people being healed, or

watching a faith-filled DVD series on faith. If things can happen that weaken our faith, what sort of ways can

we counter act that?

5. Develop an Attitude in Prayer This is to be persistent. Luke tells us the point of one of the parables of Jesus was “to show that at all

times they ought to pray and not to lose heart…” (Luke 18:3). And when He instructs His disciples on

prayer in the Sermon on the Mount He says “Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on

seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7,

Amplified Bible). There is an attitude of persistence, diligence, doggedness and determination about

prayer that is good, godly and Biblical.

When the angel spoke to Zachariah about his wife’s imminent conception of the child who would grow up

to be John the Baptist, he told him that “his prayer had been heard” (Luke 1:13) The Greek word

means the petition of a lifetime. This was not something Zachariah and Elizabeth had just begun to ask

God for – they had been praying for decades and now their answer had come.

It is said that D.L. Moody had a list of people he prayed for throughout his life that they would come to a

saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He lived to see all but two become Christians and the remaining two

were converted at his funeral! His resolve paid off.

Prayer is an activity we can engage in on both a personal and a corporate level. The former is the daily

discipline of a Quiet Time and the latter is one of the powerful times the whole community is mobilized to

do warfare or seek the face of God for a specific need.

Group Discussion: Is there anything you have been personally persisting to pray for that is yet to be

answered? Perhaps your Cell Group can join you in praying for that in a corporate way. How about

taking time to share requests and to pray for those things?

7

The Habit of Bible Study

At the coronation the King or Queen of England, the new Monarch is handed a Bible and the Archbishop

of Canterbury says “To keep your Majesty ever mindful of the Law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for

the whole life and government of Christian Princes, we present you with this Book, the greatest treasure

that this life affords.”

The habit of prayer is complemented with the habit of Bible Study, so balancing the subjective and

objective aspects of our devotions.

The Bible is a book like no other. Paul told Timothy that “All Scripture is God breathed and profitable

for teaching, reproving, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16), and the writer to the

Hebrews tells “the word of God is living and active, sharper than a double edged sword it

penetrates even to the dividing of soul and spirit, bones and marrow, it judges the thoughts and

attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

Scholars have described the Scripture as inspired and inerrant.

To describe the Bible as inspired (or verbally inspired) means that the original autographs of the texts of

the Scriptures as they came from the pens of prophets and apostles were directly overseen and guided

by the Holy Spirit so they contain the words and phrases that God Himself desired to be on those pages.

This process was done in such a way that the cognitive faculties of the writers themselves were fully

intact and went un-violated and un-trespassed.

To describe the Bible as inerrant means that when all the facts become known, they will demonstrate

that the Bible in its original autographs and when correctly interpreted is entirely true and never false in all

it affirms, whether that relates to doctrine, ethics, social, physical or life sciences.

We want suggest five ways to handle the Scriptures and relate to it. The Navigators ensure that we

remember these skills by using the illustration of the human hand.

8

1. Listening This was how we came into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in the first place: “So faith comes

from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).

And it is also one of the ways in which we grow. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine

and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24).

Notice, Jesus moves from merely listening to God’s Word to hearing it and acting upon it. In Luke 8:18,

Jesus urges us to “take care how you listen,” and then goes on to explain that it is those who act on

what they hear who will be given more! Only a few verses later, Jesus says, “My mother and My

brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:21). The Greek words for “hear”

and “obey” are almost the same, “obey” meaning to literally “hear under.” Thus the goal in listening to

God’s word with our ears is always with a view to obeying it. We can hear it in our hearts and obey it in

our lives. The object is always transformation not simply information.

One of the most productive ways to listen to God’s Word is to regularly sit under the preaching and

teaching ministry in the local church, as well as accessing the almost unlimited resources there are online

in the archives of teachers like Chuck Swindoll or Jack Hayford.

Group Discussion: Our difficulty in hearing God’s Word is often due to the time we spend listening to

many other things and the satisfaction we get from those things. Is there anything in your life that you

believe you are spending so much time listening to or getting so much satisfaction from that you have

little time or appetite to listen to God’s Word?

9

2. Reading Reading is another way we can learn God’s Word. The Old Testament prescribes regular Bible reading

for the future Kings of Israel. “Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom,

he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It

shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his

God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes” (Deut. 17:18-19).

Ezra, the priest, stood hour after hour reading the Scriptures to the returning exiles who were “attentive

to the book of the Law” (Neh. 8:3) and wept “when they heard the words of the law“ (Neh. 8:9).

The Ethiopian was returning to his homeland reading the prophet Isaiah when Phillip came upon him and

brought him to salvation (Acts 8:27f). Paul urges Timothy to “give attention to the public reading of

Scripture” (1 Tim. 4:13) and the Apostle John tells us “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear

the words of the prophecy” (Rev. 1:3). Although he is specifically speaking about the book of

Revelation, there is a truth here for all of Scripture.

This is a regular habit all followers of Jesus will find profitable to cultivate. Reading is not an in-depth

skill, but it is merely working through longer sections of the Bible to familiarize ourselves with its general

content. Biblical illiteracy is widespread, even in the church, where members often gather without even

bringing their Bible or a notebook.

In order to accomplish this, we recommend following a Bible reading schedule such as The One Year

Bible or the Life Journal (the latter being available in the church office).

Group Discussion: We generally make plans for things that matter to us. What sort of Bible reading

plan are you using? Is it random, left to chance what or how much you will read? Or have you set plans

or goals to help you to persist in your reading of God’s Word? If anyone in your group has read according

to a plan, perhaps they could share how this has helped them.

3. Studying

Paul urges Timothy to “study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need

to be ashamed…” (2 Tim. 2:15, KJV and NKJV).

Study is reading taken to a deeper level and will involve using tools beyond the Bible itself. A good Bible

dictionary (such as The New Bible Dictionary, IVP), a set of commentaries (such as The Bible Speaks

Today – avoid a single volume commentary, as they are rarely helpful), and a good concordance (such as

Strong’s or Cruden’s) are an excellent tool kit to begin more serious Bible study. There are also many

excellent electronic resources, some of them free! E-sword is probably the best available online and is

free for most features (see www.e-sword.net). There are also online correspondence courses that can be

10

valuable in giving study direction (such as King’s Online Bible School (KOBS), which is our own online

Bible School and provides excellent study resources).

Group Discussion: Many find it difficult to make time to listen or to read God’s Word, let alone study it!

If this is new for you, what would be a realistic time allotment you could set aside for this? Can some in

your groups recommend any study tools that they have found helpful?

4. Meditating

Although this sounds transcendental, it is in fact a perfectly Biblical practice. “This book of the Law

shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it by day and by night, so that you

may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way

prosperous, and then you shall act wisely” (Josh. 1:8).

“One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple” (Ps. 27:4).

“I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways” (Ps.119:15).

The Hebrew word for “meditate” means “to mutter” or “to murmur as of one pondering a matter or

rehearsing truth.” It is, indeed, talking to oneself about the truth of the Scripture and contemplating its

implications, challenges, blessings and warnings. Meditation is setting aside time to think about a

passage or a word of Scripture and asking the Holy Spirit how it applies to my own life.

Group Discussion: Can someone in your group give an example of when this practice was helpful to them?

5. Memorizing Dr. Howard Hendricks of Dallas Seminary once made the statement that if it were his decision, every

student graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary would be required to learn one thousand verses

word perfect before they were given their degrees.

Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, “Bible memorization

is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual

life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it

needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in

your mouth? Memorization.” (“Spiritual Formation in Christ for the Whole Life and Whole Person” in Vocatio,

Vol. 12, no. 2, Spring, 2001, p. 7)

Chuck Swindoll wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically

speaking, than memorizing Scripture… No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your

11

prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes

and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and

assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.” (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life [Grand

Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], p. 61)

What benefit does this produce? John Piper suggests several benefits:

a. Being changed into the likeness of Christ Paul says, “we all, . . . beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from

one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18). If we would be changed into Christ likeness we must see Him

consistently. This happens in the Word. “The LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the

LORD” (1 Sam. 3:21). Bible memorization has the effect of making our gaze on Jesus steadier and clearer.

b. Triumphing over sin The Psalmist says “How shall a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your

word. Your word have I treasured in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:9, 11). Paul

said that we must “by the Spirit... put to death the [sinful] deeds of the body” (Rom. 8:13). The one

piece of armor used to kill is the “sword of the Spirit” which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17). As sin lures

the body into sinful action, we call to mind a Christ-revealing word of Scripture and slay the temptation.

c. Triumphing over satan

When Jesus was tempted in the desert, He defeated the enemy not by debate but by quoting the

Scripture. Three times He said, “It is written…” (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10).

d. Bringing comfort or counsel to people we love The times when people need you to give them comfort and counsel do not always coincide with the times

you have your Bible handy. Not only that, the very word of God spoken spontaneously from your heart

has unusual power. Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of

silver.” That is a beautiful way of saying, When the heart full of God’s love can draw on the mind full of

God’s word, timely blessings flow from the mouth.

e. Bringing someone to Christ

Opportunities to share the gospel come when we do not have the Bible in hand. Actual verses of the Bible

have their own penetrating power. And when they come from our heart, as well as from the Book, the

witness is given that they are precious enough to learn. We should all be able to sum up the gospel under

four main headings (1) God’s holiness/law/glory, (2) man’s sin/rebellion/disobedience, (3) Christ’s death

for sinners, and (4) the free gift of life by faith.

Group Discussion: What verses could you use to communicate the four headings of 5.e.? Are you

ready to commit four such verses to memory?

12

The Habit of Assembling Together

One of the mantras of the postmodern era is “You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian!” But is

this true?

Granted, there is an emphasis on individualism in the Bible.

� We are individually created: “you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my

mother’s womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Ps. 139:13-14)

� We are individually culpable (liable, guilty): “The soul that sins, it shall die…” (Ezek. 18:4)

� We are individually converted: “…unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of

Heaven” (John 3:3)

� We are individually judged: “…for the Son of Man is going to come with His angels… then He

will repay each person according to what he has done.” (Matt. 16:27)

But there is an equal (if not greater) emphasis on corporeity (being in community). In fact, almost every

image used in the New Testament for the church is plural.

� We are an assembly (Ps. 107:32; Heb. 10:25)

� We are a flock (Ps. 95:7; John 10:11-16)

� We are a nation (Ex. 19:5-6; 1 Pet. 2:9)

� We are a kingdom of countless subjects (Rev. 1:6; 5:9)

� As a building made of many living stones (Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Pet. 2:5)

� As a family (Deut. 32:6; Matt. 12:48-49; Eph. 2:19; Gal. 4:6)

� We are a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 5:10)

� As a body (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14f)

� As many who are unified (John 17:11; Eph. 4:1-6)

This is how John Frame puts it: “The gospel... is not just a message for individuals, telling them how to

avoid God’s wrath. It is also a message about a kingdom, a society, a new community, a new covenant, a

new family, a new nation… God calls us to build a city of God, a New Jerusalem.”

And this is what John Stott has to say on the issue: “We are not only Christian people, we are also church

people. We are not only committed to Christ, we are also committed to the Body of Christ… The Church

lies at the centre of the eternal purposes of God… it is not a divine afterthought… ‘Christ died for us not

only to redeem us from all wickedness but also to purify for Himself a people that are His very own,

eager to do what is good’ (Titus 2:14).”

The writer to the Hebrews lived during times when it was dangerous to attend Church meetings but he

still exhorts his audience in this way: “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good

13

works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and

all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25).

Group Question: Why is this necessary? What purpose does assembling together meet? And what

does it look like?

1. Assembling together is a place to be built up In Colossians 2:19, Paul told the Colossian church that the reason they had drifted into heresy was

because they had failed to “hold fast to the Head”. He then goes on to explain how the life of the Head

is infused into the individual members of the body – by them being “nourished and knit together

through... joints and ligaments”. Sounds rather ethereal and a little spooky, but Paul simply means

that when we meet together as Christ’s followers we are mutually fed, nurtured, and strengthened. When

we meet together, each of us benefits from the life of Christ in the others and we all “grow with a growth

that is from God.”

Spurgeon was once asked by a reluctant church-goer why it was necessary to be part of a congregation.

The great preacher didn’t seem to hear and, and instead of answering the question, went to his coal fire,

removed a brightly burning ember and placed it on the hearth. The conversation went in another direction

and it was some time before the man asked his question a second time. “Why it is necessary to attend

church?” This time Spurgeon did answer – by pointing to the ember... now cold, black and dead. Being a

regular part of a congregation keeps the fire of God burning in us.

Being together is the natural way to obey the many “one another” verses scattered throughout the New

Testament (for example, “love one another” (John 13:34), “pray for one another” (Jam. 5:16), “bear

one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2), etc.).

Group Question: See the bookmark provided. From the list on that bookmark, what is the way you most

appreciate being “one anothered”? What is the way you most readily “one another” others?

2. Assembling together is a place to use our gifts In writing to the Corinthians, Paul uses the image of the body to describe the Church and tells them quite

plainly, “You are the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27). In this body there are many members, each of

which has a specific gift (Rom. 12:6). And though these gifts are diverse, they operate in a

complementary way for the common good (1 Cor. 12:7).

In 1 Cor. 14:26, he describes a typical meeting – body ministry with full participation from each member.

“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a

tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.” The gathered church is not a

14

dead organization but a living organism and a place where the Holy Spirit can move and minister through

the saints in ordered power. Jesus still walks among the candlesticks that represent His church (Rev. 1:13).

1 Cor. 12:8-10 Paul lists the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, which is one of the ways the members of the

body can participate in worship and building one another up. These gifts fall into three categories: gifts of

utterance: tongues, interpretation and prophecy; gifts of power: faith, miracles and healings; and gifts

of revelation: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge and the discerning of spirits. From this we can deduce that a gathering of a New Testament local body was a time of active participation

in supernatural and varied gifts for the instruction, edification and inspiration of the members of that group.

Paul unashamedly urges the Corinthians to “eagerly desire the spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 14:1).

One gift in particular, however, is singled out to be specially desired – the gift of prophecy... “eagerly

desire..., especially that you might prophesy” (1 Cor. 14:1). The reason for this is so that through

inspired yet intelligible speech the entire congregation can be ministered to (1 Cor. 14:4-5).

But this is not to say that the more ecstatic gift of tongues should not be operated, for this can be

combined with an interpretation to bring edification (1 Cor. 14:5) and is in itself an evangelistic tool for

Paul states that it is “a sign to unbelievers” (1 Cor. 14:22).

Group Question: Are you aware of the spiritual gift you bring to your Cell Group? If not, are others in the

group able to tell? We will help people identify the gift mix God has given them in Gateway 300.

3. Assembling together is means of corporate witness and evangelism Jesus told his disciples “you shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). The pronoun is plural and His meaning

is “you [together, not just you as individuals] shall be my witnesses.” We often understand this to be a

reference to many individual witnesses, but the Book of Acts also reveals how this must be a reference to

how we can reach out evangelistically as a Body as well.

Such a witness might come through the church living out its life of care and compassion. In the Upper

Room Jesus told his followers that “all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love

for one another” (John 13:35). And this powerful testimony was borne out in the early chapters of Acts

where Luke tells us “...all who believed were together and had all things in common...” The result?

“...the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (Acts 2:43, 47).

Another way of corporate evangelism is through the preaching of the Gospel. While this can be an

individual activity (such as Philip explaining Christ to the Ethiopian), it can also come out of the corporate

life of the church, just as on the Day of Pentecost when Peter delivered his sermon, he was “standing

with the eleven” (Acts 2:14). And the next phase of expansion came out of Peter and John standing

together and preaching at the Gate Beautiful which resulted in “many who... heard the word believed

and the number of men came to about five thousand” (Acts 4:4).

15

Group Question: Looking back on past examples of Bethlehem LIVE!, which is a great example of

corporate witness, how many different roles were covered by the people in your group? Each one of

those roles was an aspect of reaching out evangelistically as a Body, and accomplishing far more than

we could as individuals!

4. Assembling together is a place to pray

The Acts of the Apostles is an account of a church under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and on mission.

Corporate prayer is both an expression of this and a means of fuelling it, demonstrating the truth of what

Jesus taught when He said “if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for

them by my Father in Heaven” (Matt. 18:19). With that in mind consider the following:

� The Holy Spirit was poured out on a group of people who were “with one accord were devoting

themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14).

� After the Sanhedrin threatened to harm the Apostles if they preached in the name of Jesus, we read,

“they lifted up their voices to God and... prayed” (Acts 4:24, 31) – and as a result “they were all

filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

� When Peter was imprisoned, “earnest prayer was made for him by the church” (Acts 12:5) as a

result of which “an angel of the Lord stood next to him” (12:7), “his chains fell off his hands”

(12:7), “the iron gate opened of its own accord” (12:10) and Peter was restored to the saints

(12:13-16).

Group Question: If agreement in prayer is a powerful expression of faith, why is it that we don’t see more

participation in corporate prayer in the 21st century North American church? What gets in the way of greater

participation?

5. Assembling together is a place of encouragement

The atmosphere of the gathered church in New Testament times was one of encouragement and exhortation.

� So Paul deliberately sends Tychicus to Colossae “for this very purpose... that he may

encourage your hearts” (Col. 4:8).

� He writes to the Thessalonians “therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18).

� And again “encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11).

� In this same vein he reminds the Corinthians that the purpose of the prophetic gift – used in their

corporate gatherings – is for “upbuilding, encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor. 14:3).

Group Question: Is anyone in your Cell Group able to share of an example of when the Body of Christ

was an encouragement to you in a particular way during a difficult time?

16

6. Assembling together is a place of feeding, reading and study The Scriptures had a central place in the early church (of course, by Scriptures we mean our Old

Testament – though later on some of Paul’s letters circulated among churches, too).

� So, we read of the church in Jerusalem, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles'

teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

� Again, though threatened by the Jewish authorities, the apostles continue to teach on a daily basis!

“And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and

preaching Jesus as the Christ.” (Acts 5:42)

� Regular corporate teaching seems to have been part of the template for other churches, too. “Paul

and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many

others also.” (Acts 15:35) � And Paul’s charge to Timothy in Ephesus was “devote yourself to the public reading of

Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (1 Tim. 4:13). And again “preach the word; be ready in

season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and

teaching.” (2 Tim. 4:2)

Group Question: In a place and time when self-study has never been easier, learning from the Word of God in

a corporate context has become less of a priority to many. Amidst all the online study tools and mp3 sermons,

why do you think it’s still valuable to feed, read and study from God’s Word together with other believers?

Finally, let’s mention what it looked like when the early church gathered together. In Acts 2:46 we see

that they were “day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes...”

And again we read, “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease

teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:32). This was the larger and the smaller aspects

of corporate gathering. The Temple was like a mall in which sizeable rooms could be hired for meetings,

gatherings and celebrations. This would be like our congregational gathering. And the flip side of that

were smaller more intimate gatherings in homes – like our Cell Groups.

Group Question: This section/lesson began with the statement “You don’t have to go to church to be a

Christian!” How would you answer the person making that statement now?

17

The Habit of Fasting

Some people believe that fasting was only for Bible times. Others think it is for today, but only to be

tackled by monks, ascetics or the super-serious. But the Bible is very clear that this is something for

everyone.

1. Fasting – a fact of life

Throughout the Old Testament period, fasting was practiced by individuals and communities alike.

� The whole Nation of Israel fasted regularly on the day of Atonement (Lev. 26:26-32; also Acts 27:9).

� Moses fasted on the mountain of God (Ex. 34:28).

� Hannah as she prayed for a child (1 Sam. 1:7).

� David fasted for the life of his and Bathsheba’s child (2 Sam. 12:16).

� Jehoshaphat fasted when he was attacked by a triple alliance of his enemies (2 Chr. 20:3).

� Elijah after his victory over Jezebel (1 Kings 19:8).

� Ezra fasted before setting out to return to Israel (Ezek. 8:21-23).

� Nehemiah fasted in hearing about the ruins in his homeland (Neh. 1:4).

� Esther fasted when God's people were threatened with extermination (Esther 4:16).

� Daniel fasted (Dan. 1:12, 16).

� The people of Nineveh fasted to prove their repentance (Jonah 3:6-7).

� The Pharisees fasted (Matt. 23:23), and chose to do so on Mondays and Thursdays which were

also market days, thus increasing their potential audience!

The practice continued into New Testament times.

� John the Baptist fasted (Matt. 11:34).

� Anna the prophetess fasted as she awaited the Messiah (Luke 2:37).

� Jesus fasted during the time he was in the wilderness (Matt. 4:2).

� In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, “When you give… when you pray… when you fast…”

(Matt. 6:2, 5, 16), and assumes that these three disciplines will be a regular part of the life of all of

his followers.

� Paul fasted according to his own testimony before the Corinthians (2 Cor. 6:5).

� The early church fasted as part of its rhythm of devotion (Acts 13:2).

Fasting for the Christian is a pursuit of Christ by the power of Christ. It is an aching and yearning “for

more and more of all that God is for us in Jesus… Not because we haven’t tasted the new wine of

Christ’s presence [and are fasting to find it], but because we have tasted it and long, with a deep and

joyful aching of soul, to know more of his presence and power in our midst” (from A Hunger for God, by

John Piper, 1997, pp. 48-49).

18

Group Question: Is fasting a fact of our lives? Discuss with your group why you think that fasting has

become one of the most forgotten disciplines of the North American church? How about in your own life?

2. What is a fast?

We could define fasting as choosing to abstain for spiritual reasons from any legitimate thing in our lives.

In the Scripture there are examples of many types of fasts.

� Moses fasted both food and drink (Ex. 34:28)

� Jesus fasted from food (Matt. 4:2)

� Daniel fasted from meat, rich food and wine (Dan. 1:8)

� Jesus wanted his disciples to fast from sleep (Matt. 26:41)

� Paul refers to married couples fasting from sex by agreement and for a season (1 Cor. 7:5)

John Piper defines fasting as “the hunger of a homesickness for God.” In other words, it’s a loss of our

appetite for earthly things due to how much we hunger for God (Piper, p. 14).

But fasting is also about intentionally combating the earthly appetites that compete against our hunger for

God. God knows how great our appetite is for the many good things he has blessed us with, such as

food and coffee and TV and internet and reading and shopping. He knows that “the riches and

pleasures of this life” can easily choke out the seed He has planted in our hearts (Luke 8:14). So at

various times, He invites us to set aside those legitimate pleasures – anything that has the potential to be

a substitute for God – so that we can focus our desires on Him (see Piper, pp. 15-16).

“Therefore, when I say that the root of Christian fasting is the hunger of homesickness for God, I mean

that we will do anything and go without anything if, by any means, we might protect ourselves from the

deadening effects of innocent delights and preserve the sweet longings of our homesickness for God.

Not just food, but anything” (Piper, p. 15).

According to Isaiah 58, though, there is way to describe fasting. It is not so much about turning from

things to pursue God, but about turning from self to pursue God’s ways. “Is not this the fast that I

choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go

free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the

homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself

from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:6-7). This is an indication that a truly Biblical fast is more than self-

sacrifice (such as not eating), but it is a turning to those whom God wants us to love as we love

ourselves. If all we do is stop eating while continuing to behave selfishly, fasting is a pointless exercise.

So in Isaiah 58, God calls us to fast from self and selfishness above any other fast.

19

Group Question: What would be a meaningful fast for you – a fast that would combat an earthly desire

that is competing with your affections for Jesus?

3. How long to fast

Some fasts were long, others short. We read of:

� 40 day fasts (Ex. 34:28; Matt. 4:2)

� 21 day fasts (Dan. 10:3-13)

� 14 day fasts (Acts 27:33-34)

� 7 day fasts (2 Sam. 12:15-23)

� 3 day fasts (Esther 4:16)

� 1 day fasts (1 Sam. 7:6)

The decision to fast for a particular length of time can be an individual decision if you are fasting alone, or

a corporate decision if fasting in community with others. The key in either case is to follow the promptings

of God. A fast of any length is His initiative, not ours. It is God who draws us to want more of Himself,

and He does so at the pace for which we have faith from Him to do so. You may have faith for one day –

or one meal – now, and some other time you may have faith for 40 days. But it’s important to remember

that the faith we have is a gift from God as is the desire to fast. Because of that, we can take no pride in

how long or how often we fast. “It is something that God is ‘working in us’” (Piper, p. 177).

Group Question: You may want to prayerfully consider the possibility of fasting together as a Cell Group

for a brief period of time, each person according to their own level of faith.

4. Why Fast?

a) In response to a crisis

� David fasted for God to heal his child (2 Sam. 12:15-23).

� Jehoshaphat fasted when his Kingdom was attacked by enemies (2 Chr. 20:3).

� Moses fasted to avert God’s judgment (Deut. 9:18, 25).

b) To seek God’s face, protection or just to know His will

� Ezra fasted when he was in danger of being attacked (Ezek. 8:21-23).

� Paul and Barnabas fasted before laying hands on elders in the church of Galatia (Acts 14:19-

23).

� The Israelites fasted to get direction concerning warring against Benjamin (Judges 20:26-28).

c) To worship God and humble ourselves

� The elders in Antioch worshiped the Lord with fasting, as did Anna the prophetess (Acts 13:2;

Luke 2:37).

20

� David did this (Ps. 35:13) as did Ahab (1 Kings 21:27-29).

d) To strengthen prayer, increase authority and see breakthrough

� Jesus entered the desert “full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1) and after fasting leaves “in the

power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14).

� Jesus admitted that some healing requires fasting and prayer to see a breakthrough (Matt.

17:21).

� When Daniel realised Israel’s deliverance from captivity was imminent, he fasted to see it

accomplished (Dan. 9:2-3).

e) To express repentance and sorrow over sin – either our own or of those around us

� Nehemiah did this for the wrongs committed by the nation (Neh. 1:4, 6)

� The King of Assyria did the same to show the genuineness of his repentance (Jonah 3:5-10)

Summing up some of the above, John Calvin wrote, "Holy and lawful fasting has three objectives. We use

it either to weaken and subdue the flesh that it may not act wantonly, or that we may be better prepared

for prayers and holy meditations, or that it may be a testimony of our self-abasement before God when

we wish to confess our guilt before him"

And John Piper writes, "Fasting is peculiarly suited to glorify God… It is fundamentally an offering of

emptiness to God in hope. It is a sacrifice of need and hunger. It says by its very nature, ‘Father I am

empty but you are full. I am hungry but you are the Bread of Heaven. I am thirsty but you are the

Fountain of Life. I am weak but you are strong. I am poor but you are rich. I am foolish but you are wise.

I am broken but you are whole. I am dying but your steadfast love is better than life (Psalm 63:3).’ When

God sees this confession of need and this expression of trust, he acts because the glory of his all-

sufficient grace is at stake. The final answer is that God rewards fasting because fasting expresses the

cry of the heart that nothing on the earth can satisfy our souls beside God. God must reward this cry

because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him" (Piper, pp. 180-181).

Group Question: Is there anything in your life that it would be worth personally fasting for? It may be for

any one of the above reasons. Why not ask God if He would want you to fast regarding that matter, and

from what and for how long?

21

The Habit of Generous Giving

Of all the issues Christians have to come to terms with, money is one of the most controversial.

One section of the church takes a vow of poverty in order to be spiritual and another measures the size of

a person’s faith by the size of their bank balance.

One priest in the 16th Century wrote with great pride that money had never touched his hands, for he had

only ever handled it while wearing gloves! Yet, by contrast, the Dallas news in 1992 reported one

televangelist used 84% of his airtime canvassing for funds.

Aware of this dilemma, Martin Luther used to teach that every Christian needs two conversions – one of

their heart and another of their wallet.

So, what should a Christian’s attitude be towards money and possessions? Are they the ultimate evil – or

the greatest good?

First of all, let’s establish that the Bible really does address this issue – like it addresses every other major

issue of life. Did you know that…

� …throughout the Scripture there are roughly 2,350 verses concerning wealth and/or poverty? This

is roughly twice as much teaching as on faith and prayer combined.

� …about 15% of everything Jesus said related to money and possessions? That’s one out of every

seven words He spoke.

� …there are 38 recorded parables – and 16 of them touch on the issues of money and possessions?

That’s 42%, which is more than what his parables have to say about heaven and hell combined.

The only subject Jesus spoke of more often is the Kingdom of God.

Often we divorce our faith from our attitude towards money and possessions but Jesus sees them

essentially related to one another.

1. The Bible teaches us that God is the Source of our supply There is not a single centimeter of ground that is not under the Sovereign rule of God and there is not a

single event of history that he has not foreseen and planned. Our Sovereign Lord not only created the

cosmos, he controls it too! To quote R.C. Sproul: “There is not a single maverick molecule in the whole

universe.” And John Piper agrees when he says that God is in control of the world’s affairs “from the

dominion of kings in Saudi Arabia to the roll of the dice in Las Vegas”.

But the Bible tells us more. This Sovereign Creator is also a Sovereign Provider who cares for that over

which He rules. God is our source, our support and our supply.

22

� “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and

the unrighteous” (Matt. 5:21).

� “If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will

your Heavenly Father give what is good to those who ask Him” (Matt. 7:11).

� “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory through Christ

Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

In addition to these New Testament promises, we are reminded that one of the covenant names of God is

Jehovah-Jireh – “the God who sees and provides” – like He did by…

� providing clothes for Adam and Eve in the shame of their nakedness (Gen. 3:21).

� providing manna for three million Israelites in the wilderness. One preacher said that was three

trains loads full everyday – and He did this faithfully for 40 years without missing a single delivery

(Ps. 78:24).

� providing - a raven to feed Elijah (1 Kings 17:6),

- oil to help a destitute widow (2 Kings 4:6),

- wine to save a miscalculating bridegroom’s reputation (John 2:6), and

- enough provision from a paltry five loaves and two fish to feed a multitude

(Matt. 14:20).

God’s provision is sure… abundant…. faithful… and timely.

Group Question: Perhaps you may want to give people in your Cell Group the opportunity to share

some testimonies of God’s sovereign provision in their lives.

2. All our possessions belong to God In fact, all our possessions are also from God. Moses said, “You shall remember the LORD your God,

for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth…” (Deut. 8:18). King David said, “For all things

come from You, and of Your own have we given You” (1 Chr. 29:14). In the New Testament, we read

that “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil.

4:19). Everything we have is from God.

But the reason it also belongs to God is because God is not simply our Provider and Jesus simply our

Saviour. Jesus is our Lord! This is where the conversion Luther spoke of begins to happen. Paul writes

to the Romans, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that

God has raised Him from the dead you shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9) and to the Corinthians he says,

“We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Jesus

sake” (2 Cor. 4:5).

23

For every time Jesus is mentioned as “Saviour”, He is mentioned as “Lord” 29 times. That means at

our conversion, Jesus becomes Lord of our possessions. Being a follower of Jesus means giving Him

everything.

a. Are we owners or stewards? If we yield our possessions to Jesus, we will have a new attitude towards them – we no longer see

ourselves as owning but stewarding them.

Let’s look at some verses in Proverbs that may help us see who we are.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say

to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you.”

(Prov. 3:26-27)

i. Stewards use their possessions & resources and don’t hoard them John G. Wendel and his sisters were some of the most miserly people of all time. They hoarded a huge

inheritance from their parents, spending very little of it and keeping their wealth for themselves. John was

able to influence five of his six sisters never to marry, and they lived in the same house in New York City

for 50 years. When the last sister died in 1931, her estate was valued at more than $100 million, and yet

she possessed only one dress which she had made herself and she had worn for 25 years. The Wendels

had such a compulsion to hold on to their possessions that they lived like paupers.

I read a statistic this week that said that although the size of the average home in the United States has

grown from 1,660 sq. ft. in 1973 to 2,400 sq. ft. in 2004, Americans still don’t have enough space to store

their stuff and the Self Storage business is expanding to keep pace. Although house sizes have gone up

and family sizes have gone down, 9% of U.S. homeowners still need a total of two billion sq. ft. of extra

space to store all the goods they have accumulated.

“He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord” (Prov. 19:17).

“He who gives to the poor will never be in want – but he who shuts his eyes will have many

curses” (Prov. 28:27).

ii. Stewards are generous towards others

One thing the Bible is totally clear about is our need to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the

disadvantaged and the dispossessed. The Bible calls such giving “alms” in some Bible translations (see

Matt. 6:2). The Bible tells us that there is a direct corollary between providing such care to the poor and

our intimacy with God Himself.

24

God says in Jeremiah 22:16 says, “‘He [King Josiah] pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; then it

was well. Is not that what it merans to know Me?’ declares the LORD.” Jesus says in Matthew 25

that “to the extent that you did it [helped someone in need, see vv. 35-39] to one of these brothers of

Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” (Matt. 25:40).

It's Christmas 2001. One thousand specially invited guests are seated on coaches transporting them to a

secret location. They arrive to a splendidly decorated ballroom, find their seats and sit down to a

sumptuous meal prepared by chefs from Sydney's Regent and ANA hotels: a beautiful salad of prawns

and mangos, traditional roast turkey and ham with stuffing and vegetables and to top it off traditional

Christmas pudding with a gourmet custard. Guests will be treated to complimentary gifts and an evening

of entertainment.

Who are these 1,000 specially invited guests? They are homeless people from the streets of Sydney.

They've been invited by Jeff Gambin, a former restaurateur. In 1993, Gambin and his wife began a

ministry called “Just Enough Faith.” Every night Gambin and his team of volunteers prepare and

distribute meals to Sydney's homeless. They also provide them with housing, employment, rehabilitation

and counseling. In the nine years they've been operating, Jeff Gambin and his wife have spent $2.5

million of their own money! But you see, the way they see it, it’s not theirs – it’s God’s, and the Gambins

are merely stewards of it, and they are committed to using it to help others.

“Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be

filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.” (Prov. 3:9-10)

iii. Stewards give generously to God Note the motivation for giving to God: “Honour the LORD…” Giving is a way of honouring God – or we

could say giving is worship. When Abraham met Melchizedek, he gave a tenth of all the booty he had

won in battle as a token of his worship to God, and from that day forward, giving was woven into the

fabric of the worship to Israel. King David said, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God

which cost me nothing” (2 Sam. 24:24).

Note the priority of giving to God: “Honour the LORD with your wealth and from the first of all your

produce…” In our budgets, this should be the first item on the list, and while we may be tempted to

move it down, by the grace of God, we never will. That is not our money – it is God’s; and when we give

it to Him, we are acting in obedience. Giving is a command we keep.

Note the blessing of giving to God: “So your barns will be filled with plenty…” This is increase. We are

blessed. Proverbs 11:24 says, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he

should give, and only suffers want.” Honouring God in this way is truly an act of faith that says, “I

believe God is able to stretch the 90% of my income that is left to go beyond the 100% that I originally had.”

25

Why do this if it is all God’s? Because every internal conviction must have an external expression to test

how genuinely we believe it. So who are we? Owners or stewards?

Group Question: It may be helpful to give people in your Cell Group some time to prayerfully reflect on

what they may have among their many possessions and resources that they could give to someone in

need. Or perhaps it could be a homework assignment to go home and ask the Lord what each person

could offer to someone in need. For every person with something to give, Aken Yel or Jon Phillips or Val

Micklefield could likely find a person who would be blessed to receive.

3. How much should we give to God?

In the Old Testament, the practice was to give tithes, offerings and alms. A tithe was literally a tenth, and

this is a clear Biblical place to begin to worship God with our resources.

Abraham practiced this. “Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who

were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's

Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God

Most High. He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven

and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ He

gave him a tenth of all” (Gen. 14:17-20).

The nation of Israel practiced this. “Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the

fruit of the tree, is the LORD's; it is holy to the LORD” (Lev. 27:30). Although this was given to God, it

was directed to the Levites and went to support this tribe who were set apart to minister to their fellow

Israelites. This establishes the connection between the giving of the tithe and the support of ministry.

“To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their

service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting” (Lev. 18:21).

Now if that makes us gulp, why not put God to the test. He challenges us to do that very thing through

the prophet Malachi. “‘Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, “How have we

robbed You?” In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the

whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My

house, and test Me now in this’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the wiondows of

heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.’” (Mal. 3:8-10). This is the only place in the

Bible where we are commanded to test God. So, if you have not yet tithed, why not do it for three months

and see if your needs are abundantly provided for?

Offerings and alms are gifts given beyond the tithe that is given to the Levitical priests. Offerings would

be for special events like the building of the temple, and represented exciting opportunities to give:

“Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to

26

the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced” (1 Chr. 29:9, see vv.1-9). Alms were

gifts specifically for the poor, as mentioned in section two, above.

Group Question: The question asked in the previous section was about giving something away from our

abundance. But perhaps God wants us to grow in the area of generous giving in a way that is more

regular. What aspects of our North American lifestyle tend to interfere with the idea of growing in the area

of generosity? One question people can be encouraged consider privately and prayerfully is what can we

spend less on so that we have more to contribute toward the many great needs all around us?

4. What the New Testament says

In the New Testament there is only one explicit mention of the tithe – and it affirms the practice.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have

neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are

the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” (Matt. 23:23).

Beyond this, Paul lays out some principles of giving in 2 Corinthians 8-9. In conclusion to this lesson,

let’s outline them.

a. Giving is a grace

“Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the

churches of Macedonia, that… …their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in

the wealth of their liberality” (2 Cor. 8:1-2). The ability to be generous is a gift of grace from God

Himself. The Holy Spirit can change our hearts and make us generous givers.

b. Giving is always costly

“Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in

the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and

their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality” (2 Cor. 8:1-2). If we never give

to the point of it being a sacrifice, we never taste true generosity.

c. Giving reflects love

“I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the

sincerity of your love also” (2 Cor. 8:8).

d. Giving is an expression of fellowship

“For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own

accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the

saints…” (2 Cor. 8:3-4).

e. Giving is inspired by the cross

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake

He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). This is

27

only possible because God first gave His Son to die. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable

gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15).

f. Giving should be abundant and generous “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows

bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6).

g. Giving should be planned “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart…” (2 Cor. 9:7).

h. Giving should be a joy not a burden “…not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

i. Giving is an act of faith

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in

everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed…” (2 Cor. 9:8).

j. Giving is an expression of and an overflow from God’s provision in our lives

“Now He who provides seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your

seed for sowing…” (2 Cor. 9:10).

k. Giving enriches the giver “…you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing

thanksgiving to God” (2 Cor. 9:11).

l. Giving ministers to the needs of others and results in praise to God “For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is

also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God” (2 Cor. 9:12).

Group Question: What is your greatest faith-challenge in the area of generous giving? Is it giving a tithe?

Is it giving offerings beyond a tithe? Is it regarding alms? Is it to do with stretching to greater levels of

generosity? Or is it simply about the challenge to put food on the table each day? This may be an

opportunity to pray for each other and minister faith regarding financial matters among people in your group.