Why ? Do We Take Up Weekly Collections

Why do we do the things we do ? 1. We seek God ’ s authority. 2. Weekly assemblies are required. 3. We sing without accompaniment. 4. We partake of the Lord ’ s Supper. 5. The bodily resurrection. 6. Prayer is a form of worship. *. All are according to God ’ s pattern.

$ Permanently out of season

Thesis : Giving is an act of worship, not just a duty.

We will prove our thesis in at least four ways : 1. Instituted in the New Testament. 2. Finance the work of the church. 3. An act of worship to God. 4. Proactive in our service to God.

I. The scriptures set the pattern for having a weekly collection.

I Corinthians 16:1-4 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.

What are the principles taught in the passage? 1. first day of every week.. Collections to be taken a regularly. 2. as I directed the churches of Galatia,.. This is to be universally practice. 3. put aside and save,.. A treasury is required to hold. 4. as he may prosper,.. A fixed percentage of one ’ s income. 5. whomever you may approve,.. Proper accounting of collection.

Only freewill offerings are authorized. Exodus 25: 1-4 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 " Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution. 3 "This is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver and bronze, 4 blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, …

Acts 4: And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

Nowhere does the scriptures authorize the church to be involved in money making projects.

II. It is necessary to take a weekly collection to finance the work of the church.

Congregations are instructed to support a fulltime ministry. I Corinthians 11: ( 8-14 ) Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.

Galatians 6: 6-8 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Congregations are to support missionaries. II Corinthians 11: 8-9 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; 9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.

Philippians 4: You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. ( This is laying up treasure in Heaven. )

When possible, elders are to be supported. I Timothy 5:17-18 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, " You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing," and " The laborer is worthy of his wages."

Widows and orphans are to be assisted. James 1: 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

III. The giving of “tithes and offerings” has has always been an act of worship.

Have you ever wondered why they distinguish between tithes and offerings ? ( duty -vs- devotion )

Psalms 24: 1 – The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Leviticus 25: 23 – The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me. Leviticus 27: 30 – Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 8: 18a – But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, …. I Corinthians 6: Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

An offering is different from a tithe in that it’s given out of Love and devotion. II Corinthians 9:7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

“You should come to our church, we don’t have to tithe.” That’s a terrible message, N.T. Christianity is not a cheap religion. If God has your heart he has all of you !

The Christian is told that he must give “ as he may prosper.” “ as” mandates proportionality Some percentage is required.

Genesis 14: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." He gave him a tenth of all.

Jesus is a priest of the same order as Melchizedek who received tithes. Hebrew 6:20 This hope … one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Whatever we give God, it must be an expression of the devotion of our heart.

IV. Being proactive in our service to God starts with our giving to Him.

Faith requires that we trust solely in Him. Matthew 6: For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 " Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor … continued

Faith requires that we trust solely in Him. Matthew 6: … continued reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

We cannot be citizens of this world and citizens of Heaven at the same time. Luke 16: 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

As Christians we are motivated to earn, but not to better our lot in this life. Ephesians 4: 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

As members of God’s household, we must be devoted to advance His family any way we can. ( crucify self )

When the plate is passed, it should not be just the fulfillment of a duty, it’s an act of worship and an expression of our devotion and of our faith.

We have a duty to support the work of the church. Duty.. then.. devotion 1. Local ministry 2. Missions (we need to repent. ) 3. Maintenance of our meeting place. 5. Benevolence … “ Meet pressing needs ”

Why do we take up a collection every week ? To worship and to honor God.

Are you honoring God with your life ?

Surrender your life to Him this very hour.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. I Corinthians 11: 26