Conviction:
A strong persuasion or belief
As a Christian Believer, we need to have a CONVICTION to follow the ways and teachings of Jesus and scripture
John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commands.“
- We don’t follow Jesus’ commands to GET love
- We do because we ARE LOVED and because we LOVE HIM
This church takes the Bible seriously
- Both parts that we like
- And parts that are Difficult
If you want to truly understand and live according to God’s way, THIS IS A CHURCH FOR YOU
- If you want to only feel good and check the “CHURCH BOX”, then you might need to pray about attending here
This series is a series about the Christian CONVICTION of SURRENDER
- Not an easy series, but POWERFUL!
Sometimes, Surrender is… GIVING UP or GIVING IN
Sometimes, Surrender is… STOPING or STARTING
Sometimes, Surrender is… GOING or STAYING
Sometimes, Surrender is… LEAVING BEHIND or TAKING WITH YOU
Our “SURRENDER” topic today is Biblical Tithing and Offering
Because we take the BIBLE seriously, we have to take a serious look at what the bible says about money
Some things you need to know…
1: Jesus taught much about money
- 16 of the 38 parables about money/possessions
2: In the Gospels, 1 out of 10 verses talked about money
- 288 verses in all
3: The Bible Says more about money than most other things
- 500 verses on prayer
- Less than 500 on faith
- more than 2300 on money/possessions
Top reasons people most Christians DON’T tithe:
1: Tithing is in Old Testament law, and we are no longer under the law
- Tithing came from the Law that God gave Moses…
NOT TRUE
- The first time we see the principle of a TENTH is in Genesis
Genesis 14:17- 20
After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said:
“Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 20 and blessed be God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you.”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Melchizedek was a mysterious King/Priest of God
- After blessing Abraham, Abraham gave 10% of all he had
Abraham = Father of Faith
- An example for us
This moment was over 500 years before the LAW OF MOSES
Not the only one…
- Jacob at Bethel
- Stair from heaven with angels going up and down
Genesis 28:16-22
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.” 20 Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the Lord will be my God. 22 This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.”
We can confidently say that the PRINCIPLE of Tithing is before the Law
2: The New Testament does not say anything about 10%.
This is correct
- But New Testament believers we mostly Jews at first
- Would have been DEEPLY committed to bringing 10% to God
But NT Christians took it even further…
Acts 2:42-44
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.
A Tithe of 10% would have been considered the FLOOR/BASE
Christians are the MOST GENEROUS people in the world
- Out give non-religious on every metric (Volunteering, Poor, Secular Orgs)
3: I don’t have to give to the local church as long as I am being generous in my everyday life.
Jesus was having it out with the Jewish leaders
- They were focused on the wrong things…
Matthew 23:23
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.
Jesus didn’t say, “I have come to take that away!”
- No, he said that they were neglecting the hard parts and over-emphasizing the easy ones
- Giving is easy to do and enforce
- Justice, mercy, faithfulness… Not so much
Those who don’t give to the church are usually less generous elsewhere, not more
4: The Church just wants my money to make someone rich
There have been BAD ACTORS who are out to ONLY MAKE MONEY
The recent Boeing 737 door plug incident
- Makes you nervous to fly
“SEE, I KNEW AIRPLANES WERE NOT SAFE!”
Did you know:
- Approx. 100,000 flights a day
About 800,000 since that accident that you HAVEN’T heard about
The same goes for churches and pastors
- For every 1 that is bad, there are THOUSANDS of Good
- Cornerstone takes church finances seriously
- Heavy accountability
- Not YOUR money, it’s GOD’S money!
We must understand
When we tithe, we are not tithing to the pastor, the leaders, or the church. When we tithe, we are tithing to Jesus.
- That is the precedent.
One more thing before we move on…
The Bible instructs that those who preach and teach
1 Corinthians 9:13-14
13 Don’t you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.
Why does the Bible instruct us to Give?
1: Our use of money is the most reliable external indicator to where our heart is
Where would we get an idea like this?
Matthew 6
19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Biblical giving is about VISION
- Your kingdom vs God’s kingdom
Matthew 6
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
- Jesus speaks on not worrying about the things in your life
- they are all TEMPORARY
- Instead, store up in things that are ETERNAL
Aurora Schuck
- Indiana
- Died 1989
- Buried in her Cadillac
I find this incredibly sad
- Our possessions with either RULE over us or we will RULE OVER THEM
The heart of Biblical giving is SURRENDER
- Give to God, and he will take care of the rest
People who tithe generally do not have “ISSUES WITH MONEY”
- Might have financial concerns, but money is not a heart problem
If you want God’s order in your finances, try tithing
- That does not mean that you would be the richest person on the block
- plug your bank account into God‘s endless supply and blessing
2: All God’s purposes on earth are BASED in the concept of GIVING
God gave:
- Creation for us to steward and enjoy
- His Son Jesus
Jesus model giving
- His whole life was based on giving, and GAVE HIS LIFE
- Every one of us is wealthier than Jesus was
- Died with only the clothes on His back, and they were taken away
Jesus calls us to be like HIM
A Christian is someone who is always looking to give of their TIME and Resources
- Because we know and trust in God’s provision for us, we can give freely and cheerfully because we have found the source of all that we have
The more you give to others, the more the Lord gives back and blesses you
- Sometimes financially, sometimes by other means
It is by the giving of our time, resources/money that the Kingdom of God is EXTENDED
3: Giving is connected to Revival
Every time a revival/renewal of God’s spirit is mentioned in the Bible, it is always accompanied by an increase in giving or a restoration of tithing among God’s people
Examples:
- Under Moses (Ex 35/36)
- Under David (1 Chron 29)
- Under Solomon (2 Chron 7)
Malachi Prophesied…
Malachi 3
10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.
God says, “TEST ME”
- I want to take God up on that!
PRACTICAL APPLICATION