Class will be focused on the background of giving in the OT (Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Lev. 19:9-10; 25:8-38; 27:30-33). As well as the practice of giving in the NT (Acts 4:32-37; 6:1-3; 11:29-30; Rom. 15:25-27; 1 Cor. 16:1-3)
The text for the morning sermon will be Luke 16:1-13.
The Sunday evening sermon will be studying 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.
I would like to get some discussion going on here if possible. Therefore, based on the material being studied, I would like to ask some kind of a discussion question for after Sunday so that we can continue studying and discussing all throughout the week.
The questions for this week is as follows
Are our giving habits in line with what the Bible teaches? If yes, how? If no, how can we change them to be more in tune with God's plan for giving?
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Josh, I believe most worshippers giving habits are in line with what the Bible teaches because most are taught from an early age about giving. I believe we should also emphasize about giving of our talents(singing, teaching, cooking, visitation, workdays, whatever can be done to further the Lord's work).
ReplyDeleteI don't believe you can outgive God. He provides us plenty to give with.
ReplyDeleteDavid, during my study this week I have been convicted personally and corporately. My personal conviction comes from the widow in Luke 21 who gave everything she had to God. I have yet to give God what I think I need, yet this woman gave all she had to live on. Can I trust God to give him more than I think I can give, Both of my time and monetarily? And second, if you look at the early church, their giving went to taking care of the widows and orphans. Where does most of our money go to? Building and employees. How do we fix this? It's going to take some serious discussion and purposing from the entire congregation.
ReplyDeleteI share your concerns about where most of our money goes but after some thought this may not be as big of a problem as you might think. While the first century church did not have a paid full time minister(or youth leader), they did provide for the needs of several of the apostle's and other teacher's of the time. This included financial help as well as food and housing from time to time.
ReplyDeleteThe building issue is more of a cultural thing since the church basically outgrew meeting in people's homes. I am not sure how to get around that. The church building provides not only meeting places for worship but also for fellowship and for stewardship during times of severe distress like the tornado in 2002.
I think is is just extemely important to make sure Christians realize that other giving(besides corporate) is a very necessary part of our Christian lives.
Well said, thanks for your insight David.
ReplyDeleteAnnette...so true. It's especially true for us in the U.S.
I really appreciated Josh's sermon Sunday, especially the illustration about balance. He asked us to weigh using our arms our giving of time and money to God vs the world. I was convicted. We are all sorely out of balance I am afraid. I also agree with Annette's comment, we can't outgive God. We are so abundantly blessed.
ReplyDeleteappreiciate that melanie. The part of the lesson that I really felt convicted by was the part about if we can be trusted with a little we will be trusted with a lot. I truly believe that God will bless us with more spiritual blessings if we use the spiritual and monetary blessings we have to their greatest extent. How do we go about using these blessings to their full extent?
ReplyDeleteWork harder at restoring balance. Our priorities are way out of whack. Or if we are going to be out of balance then God should have the heavy end. We seem to get frugal or selfish especially with our time when it comes to church and really it's not ours anyway.
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