1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. A reminder - Please: Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only
Turn off sound to all electronic devices
Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy
Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

3. Proper Motives and Practices of Giving Matthew 6:2-4
People would like others to think well of them - and charity is one way produce that
What does God think about the motives and methods people use for charitable giving?

4. Review
Theme of the Sermon on the Mount
Your righteousness must surpass that of the scribes & Pharisees
The Beatitudes
The character traits of righteousness
Correcting the teaching of the Scribes
The true spirit of God’s law

5. Giving Alms Matthew 6:2-4
It is assumed that alms will be given as a normal part of life for a godly Jew
Giving alms (ejlehmosu;nh / eleēmosunē) is simply any act of mercy or pity
Old Testament Commands:
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
Leviticus 25:35

6. Giving Alms Matthew 6:2-4
New Testament Commands & Examples: John 13:29; Matthew 5:42; 1 John 3:17
A Christian is to be marked by generous charity to the poor

7. Wrong Motives and Practice Matthew 6:2
Tobit 12:8 & Wisdom of Sirach 3:30 both teach that charity can expiate / atone for sin
Pope Leo the Great ( ) declared that “by alms we redeem our sins”
They blew a trumpet in order to get people to pay attention to when they gave alms

8. Wrong Motives and Practice Matthew 6:2
They did this in public because they wanted the approval of men - Luke 16:13-15; John 12:43
God rejects empty religious observances - including giving for selfish reasons - Isaiah 1:10-15
There are many subtle ways to gain the honor of men

9. Righteous Motives and Practices Matthew 6:3-4
Giving should be so normal that the left hand is not involved in what the right hand is doing
Matthew 5:16 & 6:3-4 do not contradict - both passages are speaking to the issue of motive
The motive must be to seek God’s glory and not your own

10. Principles to Practice
Giving from the heart is investing with God - Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6
Genuine giving is to be sacrificial - Mark 12:41-44; 2 Samuel 24:24
The responsibility to give and income level is not related - Luke 16:10

11. Principles to Practice
Material giving correlates with spiritual blessing - Luke 16:11; Matthew 6:21
We are to give to meet needs, not wants - 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Giving is to be personally determined - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

12. Principles to Practice
A requirement to “tithe” contradicts 2 Corinthians 9:7
A required amount or percentage limits giving
Giving includes supporting church expenses and meeting personal needs

13. Principles to Practice
Giving should be planned as part of your budget to spend based on priorities (Proverbs 3:9-10)
Spontaneous giving meets personal needs at the sacrifice of other budget areas - 1 John 3:17
Ephesians 4:28 - we labor so that we will have something to share with the one who has need

14. Conclusions
Give to glorify God - consider the needs of those around you and how God can work His will through you

15. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ