1. Grenada Conference of S.D.A. Stewardship Department Stewardship of Finances Created by Oliver Scott

2. God as Owner of all things: 1 Chronicles 29:11-14 – “ Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in the earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. … Created by Oliver Scott

3. “… Both riches and honour [come] of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand [is] power and might; and in thine hand [it is] to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who [am] I, and what [is] my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things [come] of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” Created by Oliver Scott

4. Mankind was made by God and belong to God: Genesis 1:26-28 – “ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. … Created by Oliver Scott

5. “… And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” We are not owners but stewards. Created by Oliver Scott

6. A steward is one who has the responsibility of managing that which belong to another. As stewards we are managers of the blessings of God. Those blessings come in different forms. Created by Oliver Scott

7. Stewards of time ! Stewards of ability [talents, Spiritual gifts and competencies] ! Stewards of body {the believers’ body as the temple of God} [health, sexual purity, dress, etc.] ! Steward of finances ! Created by Oliver Scott

8. A steward / manager is to be faithful to the Owner 1 Corinthians 4:2 – “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” A steward / manager is to be faithful to his responsibility as steward / manager. Created by Oliver Scott

9. Tithe and Offering Tithe: a tenth / 10% Leviticus 27:30, 32 – “ And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the seed of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] the LORD'S: [it is] holy unto the LORD. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.” Created by Oliver Scott

10. [Holy things are for holy purposes]. The tithe is not for secular or charitable activities and deeds as good as those may be. Created by Oliver Scott

11. Offerings: Offerings can be compared as plaque of appreciation to God for sponsoring us all of life’s blessings:Psalm 96:8 – Give unto the LORD the glory [due unto] his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.” Offerings: Offerings can be compared as plaque of appreciation to God for sponsoring us all of life’s blessings: Psalm 96:8 – “ Give unto the LORD the glory [due unto] his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.” Created by Oliver Scott

12. There are blessings to those who are faithful to God in tithe and offerings. There are curses for those who are unfaithful to God in tithe and offerings. Malachi 3:8-12 – Created by Oliver Scott

13. “ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” Created by Oliver Scott

14. Use of tithe: Numbers 18:21, 24 – “ And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, [even] the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer [as] an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.” Created by Oliver Scott

15. Tithe in the New Testament Matthew 23:23 [Christ Himself is speaking] – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Tithe in the New Testament Matthew 23:23 [Christ Himself is speaking] – “ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Created by Oliver Scott

16. In the New Testament Christ is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:8-10 – “ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” Created by Oliver Scott

17. Abraham returned tithe to Melchizedek. Genesis 14:18-20 – “ And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” Created by Oliver Scott

18. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. He is also the father of the faithful. Those who are justified by faith and are faithful are the spiritual children of Abraham. [The Church] Created by Oliver Scott

19. Just as believing and faithful Abraham returned tithe to Melchizedek so too believing and faithful Christians must return tithe to Christ who is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Note that Melchizedek was not part of the Levitical priesthood and system. Therefore even without a Levitical priesthood and system the return of tithe to God is still relevant. Created by Oliver Scott

20. Christ is the fulfilment of the Levitical priesthood and a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Therefore as Christ fulfils His priestly ministry, interceding on our behalf in heaven, we return tithe to Him [Christ]. Created by Oliver Scott

21. A justification for the use of tithe for those involved in full-time ministry in the Christian Church: While Paul chose to work outside of ministry he advocated that those who were involved in ministry were to benefit from the giving of those who received such ministry. He use as his reference the Levitical system to support his position. Created by Oliver Scott

22. 1 Corinthians 9:11-14 – “ If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of [this] power over you, [are] not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” Created by Oliver Scott

23. The use of tithe and offerings in the Seventh-day Adventist Church [in a nut shell] Within the Seventh-day Adventist Church tithe is used for those involved in full-time ministry of different forms, for evangelism and for operating expenses [Administrative, Departmental, etc.] of the higher levels of the Church. Created by Oliver Scott

24. Offerings are used for general operations of the local churches and some go to the higher level and are redistributed to the benefit of the lower level of the Church. After we have returned tithes and given offerings what is left is to be used in ways that are pleasing to God. Created by Oliver Scott

25. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Created by Oliver Scott

26. Appeal