“Guidelines in Giving” Sunday morning Bible class Stewardship Class “Guidelines in Giving” Sunday morning Bible class

Our Study of Stewardship Auditorium 60 plus Adult 1-2 40 – 59 ++ Adult 3 Young adults Sr. High room Jr. High, Sr. High

Stewardship Class “Guidelines in Giving”

1.Exegesis- “to lead out of” Bible Study 101 1.Exegesis- “to lead out of” Bringing out the meaning of any writing. 2. Eisegesis- “to lead into” Injecting one’s own ideas into the text

God can use ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

Conducting, supervising, or managing Stewardship: Conducting, supervising, or managing something. Greek word oikonomos means literally a house manager.

Just a reminder It is always a bad idea to build your house on the sand. Matthew 7:24-27

First truth Our money is temporal

Exactly who are you giving to?

Who exactly are you giving to Who exactly are you giving to? It would be wrong to say you are giving to an organization or to a group of people.

You are giving to God * Omnipotent * Omnipresent * Omniscient * Creator of the world Gen. 1:1, Psalm 8:3, Romans 1: 19-20 * Longsuffering Romans 2:4, 1 Peter 3:20 * Merciful 2 Sam. 24:14, Psalm 145:8, Luke 6:36

* Loving 1John 3:1, Daniel 9:4, Hebrews 6:10 You are giving to God * Loving 1John 3:1, Daniel 9:4, Hebrews 6:10 * Just Isa.30:18, Job 32:12, Psalm 140:12 * Sovereign Rev. 21:6, Col.1:16, Jeremiah 32:17

You are giving to His church The church that Jesus built. Matthew 16:18 Jesus is the head of church. Col. 1:18 The body of Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 Giving to the local congregation is giving to God.

Our God is the greatest giver of all John 3:16 Romans 8:12 John applies this designation 5 times John 1:14,18 John 3:16,17 1 John 4:9

Our God is the greatest giver of all Christ gave Himself, His life John 10: 11-18 1 John 3:16 John 15:13 Matthew 26: 52-54

Good and perfect James 1:17 God has many gifts Good and perfect James 1:17 God gave creation Gen. 1: 29-30 Nature’s beauty Matt. 5:45 His Holy word 2 Tim. 3:16 His church (family) Acts 20: Victory 1 Cor. 15:57

Danger of the love of riches Riches and poverty Proverbs 30: 8-9 Building bigger barns Danger of the love of riches Riches and poverty Proverbs 30: 8-9 The love of money 1 Tim. 6: 9-10 Riches can fly away Proverbs 23: 4-5 Do not trust in riches 1 Tim. 6:17 Riches can corrupt James 5: 1-6

Attitude is everything The widows mite Mark 12: 41-44

Having compassion in our giving. 1 John 3:17 The Cheerful Giver 2 Cor. 9:7 Having compassion in our giving. 1 John 3:17 Contrast Barnabas & Ananias Acts 4:36 Act 5:11 1 Cor. 13:3 Romans 6:17

The Jews had two chests in the temple. The Cheerful Giver The Jews had two chests in the temple. 1. For that which was according to the Law. 2. Another for free –will giving Giving “cheerfully”

What is Tithing and are we Three tithes. commanded to Tithe? Three tithes. 1st Priestly tithe. Lev. 27:30-33, Numbers 18:20-24 2nd Festival tithe. All of your increase. 3rd Tithe. Taking care of the poor in your city.

What is Tithing and are we Do we suppose to Tithe? No. commanded to Tithe? Do we suppose to Tithe? No. It is an Old Testament practice It is not authorized in the New Testament.

New Testament Guidelines Give to fulfill a need Acts 11: 27-30 1st day of the week 1 Cor. 16:1-4 Purposefully 2 Cor. 9:7

*56% of Americans live in a high income group. 8% globally. * Annual U.S. medium income - $59,039 * Unemployment rate – 4.1 % Greece – 21.2 % * High –tech jobs are growing at a 4.3 % higher rate. * Over 90% of Americans own motorized transportation * Average American family owns 2.2 cars. * Average American eats 1,996 lbs. of food a year. (close to 1 ton)

What group of people give more of their finances and time to churches and charity. ?

People judge us according to our attitude on money People judge us according to our attitude on money. Think of TV evangelists

Godliness in Giving “Godliness with contentment is great gain” 1 Timothy 6:6 Philippians 4:11

* Contentment cannot exist with comparison * Contentment cannot exist with unappreciation * Contentment cannot exist with the love of money * Contentment cannot exist with greed and covetousness.

Lesson 1 from Solomon * Ecclesiastes 5:10 * Proverbs 10:22

Lesson 2 from Solomon * Proverbs 11: 4 * Proverbs 11: 24-25

Lesson 3 from Solomon Ecclesiastes 2:11 “You can’t take it with you”