Stop Tithing

Define Giving: An act of Worship that draws you closer to God!

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 KJV 1900

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Introduction

Background

Paul is asking the Church in corenth to take up an offering for the Poor in Mesopotania

The Churches in Mesopotania were the Churches in

Philippi

Thesalonica

Berea

Introduction to giving

Many Christians think that the tithe or 10% of what they make is what they have to give to the church. they think of the tithe as some sort of countery clumb membership dues.

even many churches teach tat 10% is what is required the problum is this number is not based on the teachings of the early church. The tithe was taught in OT law but not once is in mentioned referig to the NT church.

when we teach 10% we end up treating it just as another bill instead of something we do chearfully out of Love for our savior.

The problum that occurs is that we say “Ok I have given my dues to God I do not need to do anymore”

this can also lead to other things such as:

Why do we need to evangelize we pay the pastor for that

Why do we need to visit the sick we pay the pastor to do that

and other countery club mentalities.

There was once a boy who was given a doller and a quarter by his mother who told him to put one in the plate and keep the other. When his mother asked him which one he gave he replyed “I was going to give the doller but when the preacher said I should be cherful in giving I knew I would be alot mor chearful if I gave the Quarter.

There was once a boy who was given a doller and a quarter by his mother who told him to put one in the plate and keep the other. When his mother asked him which one he gave he replyed “I was going to give the doller but when the preacher said I should be cherful in giving I knew I would be alot mor chearful if I gave the Quarter.

This morning we are going to see the Biblical modal for giving in the Church.

I. Experience God’s Grace

2 Corinthians 8:1–3 ESV

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,

2 cor 8:1-3

The Grace God has given among the churches

this is refering to there salvation. There experience of God’s grace in salvation led them to generocity

Just as our salvation should lead us to not sin it Should also lead us to further the work of God through giving to Christ’s church.

Just as our salvation should lead us to not sin it Should also lead us to further the work of God through giving to Christ’s church.

A. Generocity in giving (2-3)

notice what verses 2-3 say

2 Corinthians 8:2–3 ESV

2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,

notice what the text says… abundent joy and extreeme povery

Giving sacrificially is a sourse of abundent joy

Acts 20:35 ESV

35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

there extreme poverty overflowed in weath of generosity on there part”

They continued to give even when they had so little they gave generously.

Biblical generocity is not giving the minimum. It is about giving it all to an all powerful all loving God a God who gave everything in His son Jesues Christ

When we give faithfuly and sacrificilly we affirm Christ’s lordship over our life it takes us off the throne and exaults our great God.

Does God need our money?

NO

He does not need our money but he wabts proof that we trust him completly

He will bless faithfulness!

Don’t mis understand me, I am not preaching the prosparity gospel that if you give to the church you will receive so much more and you will have your best life now

Please do not give so much that you can not meet your finachel obligations.

we need to give but we also need to be wise stewards of our money!

but not how some say such as best life now if you only give to the church you will get that and more back

Also don’t misunderstand me and say the pasto said we don’t need to give anymore. Sacrificial giving is key 10% is often a good place to start.

Often times the question is asked “how much should I give”

Instead the question should be “How much should I keep”

God does not just want 10% he wants are entire heart. Tithing is leaglistic if we do it with an attitude of ok I’v done my part, I have paid my dues, now serve me!

Hinderences to giving sacrificially

1. If our hearts and our lives are not surendered to God then generous giveing will be hard. When our life is surenderd to God then money goes along with it

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2. if we love the world and the things of the world then our love for God is supperficial

3. Debt the average american houshold has 67,509 unsecured debt

This is an example of where many churches fail! The church needs to teach money manegement

We need to reconize that God is sufficiant to meet and to exceed our needs!

“Sacrificial giving is not byond your means it is giving close to our means. We are not to give money we do not have because we are to manage our housholds well”

B. Weath and Generousity

Notice what the text says, despite the fact that the churches in Macedonia had adversity and hardships they gave generously for the sake of others.

A wise missinary once said ““He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

Remember the puropse of christ’s Church way back in january.

“To make a differnce in our comunity and around the world

If we are giving to that and people are comming to christ is that not something to praise God for.

The sad thing is again many churches the outreach budget is seconday when it should be primary

Let this Church focus outwordly

If Christ was to write a letter to us today about our evangelisim what do you think it would say? Would he be thankful or would he want to spue us from his mouth

note the difference between outreach and evangelisim (not all outreach is evangelisim)

The text continues not only were the churches giving genrously they were doing so by thier own choice. Willingly and Sacrificially

notice vers 3

2 Corinthians 8:3 ESV

3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,

D. They gave according to there means

Paul further explaines thr nature of the remarkable generosity of the churches in mesopotania. “They gave acording to their means as I can testify.”

This phrase according to the means was verry common in this day and would have also been found in marriage contracts where a husband would have promiced to provide for his wife in accordence with his means.

Paul testifies that they have done all that could be expected of them. and they have responded in accordence with there means.

Paul continues though that they had contributed to the collection of the poor in a way that was over and above anything that could be expected givin their situation.

C. By there own choice

The text continues not only were the churches giving genrously they were doing so by thier own choice. Willingly and Sacrificially

Paul desires to make this point that giving ought to be done by your own free will no one should force you to give. as we saw eirlier we should disire to give as an act of worship out of Love for our savior

II. Experience Generousity

2 Corinthians 8:4–5 ESV

4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Not only were they giving they were looking for oppertunities to give

The Macedonia churches were begging the apposles for oppertunities to give.

We should be doing the same we should be looking for oppertunities to give n this specific istence the giving was the releif of the saints

In our context that would be the deacon’s fund

If we first give ourselves to the Lord we will intern want to give financilly

Application

We give sacrificilly not cermonilly or out of obligation

We Give as an act of Worship

We give sacrificilly not cermonilly or out of obligation

3. We give to Christ’s Church

note giving to Faith promice outside of the Church