1. Sermon Completion Meter Biblical Giving Our Tradition The Tithe The Traits A Test

2. Sermon Completion Meter Our Tradition We dont send around an offering plate to collect donations. There is a basket at the back where you can make a donation. All donations are charitable donations and receive a tax receipt.

3. Sermon Completion Meter Our Tradition Why don`t we pass around an offering plate? – Send a clear message We dont want your money we want you! 2 Cor 12:14-17

4. Sermon Completion Meter Our Tradition Is there a danger in not explicitly collecting an offering? Yes – Easy to forget God has commanded us to freely give as we have received 2 Cor 8:6-8 – It could jeopardize the support necessary for God Workers in the church. 1 Cor 9:7-13

5. Sermon Completion Meter The Tithe But what should I give? But is the thing call The Tithe? – a tenth part or a tenth – Was 10% the required giving standard in the Old Testament? – In the OT there multiple required tithes (tenths).

6. Sermon Completion Meter Required Levite Tax (to run the nation under God) "'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock-- every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod-- will be holy to the LORD. Lev 27:30-32

7. Sermon Completion Meter Required Levite Tax "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. Num 18:21

8. Sermon Completion Meter Required Levite Tax A tithe to support the Levites. – Paid to the Levites reward for their work in the tabernacle of meeting (Num 18:21-32) No livelihoods, no territory when Moses divided the land (Num 18:20) Ran the government

9. Sermon Completion Meter Required Party Tax/Tithe (10%) National Tithe to support religious worship in Jerusalem (Deut 12:10-11, 17-18) – BYOL to all religious holidays! Bring Your Own Lamb

10. Sermon Completion Meter Required Welfare Tax (3.33%) When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Deut 26:12

11. Sermon Completion Meter Required Profit-Sharing Tax "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God. Lev 19:9-10

12. Sermon Completion Meter Why did I do this? Demonstrate that these do not apply, these were simply required taxes So that we will stop talking about tithing – Its just confusing – Out of date – Not discussed in the NT

13. Sermon Completion Meter Great Traits Voluntary Cheerful First Fruits Proportionate Consistent Sacrificial In His Name Done in secret

14. Sermon Completion Meter Great Traits Sacrifice/Voluntary/Cheerful – 8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lords people. 2 Cor 8:1-4

15. Sermon Completion Meter Great Traits Voluntary/Cheerful – Exchange that which will perish for the eternal. Matt 13:44-45 Parable of the Hidden Treasure Sacrificial 2 Sam 24

16. Sermon Completion Meter Great Traits First Fruits/Proportionate/Consistent giving Now about the collection for the Lords people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1 Cor 16

17. Sermon Completion Meter Great Traits Give in His Name – make sure that the your giving gives glory to God. – Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. Mark 9:41 –Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:12

18. Sermon Completion Meter Great Traits Done in secret So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matt 6:2-4

19. Sermon Completion Meter A Test Return to me, and I will return to you, says the L ORD Almighty. But you ask, How are we to return? 8 Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How are we robbing you? In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse your whole nationbecause you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the L ORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it... 12 Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land, says the L ORD Almighty. Mal 3:7-12