“Giving is Getting” The Spiritual Discipline of Giving A Message in the Sermon Series “The Story Behind Your Story” on the Spiritual Disciplines

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving Key Bible Words # of Occurrences Believe Pray Love Give 272 times 371 times 714 times 2,162 times

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving Why would God want us to give? 1. Giving makes me more like God. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” John 3:16 2. Giving draws me closer to God. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 3. Giving is the antidote to materialism. “Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God…to be rich in helping others, to be extremely generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6: (The Message)

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving 5. Giving secures my investments for eternity. “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or-worse!-stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars.” Matthew 6:19-20 (The Message) 4. Giving strengthens my faith. “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving 7. Giving makes me happy. “(Jesus) There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.” Acts 20:35 (TEV) 6. Giving blesses the giver. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving An offering is what I give in addition to my tithe. What about “tithing?” 1. “Tithe” means “a tenth part.” A simple distinction between a “tithe” and an “offering” is as follows: A tithe is giving 10% of my income.

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving 2. Jesus commended tithing. “You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.” Matthew 23:23c 3. Tithing demonstrates that God has first place in my life. “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” Deuteronomy 14:23 (LB) “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 4. Tithing reminds me that everything I have was given to me by God. “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?” 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving 5. Tithing is an expression of my love for God. “I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving…This is one way to prove your love is real.” 2 Corinthians 8:7b-8 6. Tithing is part of God’s provision for those who care for me. It’s one way in which I care for them. “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting…Speak to the Levites and say to them; ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering…In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites.” Numbers 18:21, 26, 28 “Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.” 1 Timothy 5:17

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving The first part of what God provides for me, not the left-overs. “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income…” Proverbs 3:9 (LB) What should I tithe?

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving Where I worship and am shepherded. “Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship-the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored…” Deuteronomy 14:23a Where should I give my tithe? When should I tithe? The first Christians did so Every Sunday. “On every Lord’s Day, each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week…” 1 Corinthians 16:2 (LB)

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving Give expectantly (vv. 8-11) 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” (Psalm 112:9) 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. How should I give? See 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Give generously (vs. 6) 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Give willingly (vs. 7) and joyfully (vs. 7) 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The Spiritual Discipline of Giving “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus (recorded in Luke 6:38)