2. We tend to be inconsistent. We believe that the bible reveals a pattern for worshiping God that must be followed. There is a right way to observe the Lord’s Supper, sing, pray, etc. When it comes to giving we practice as if “anything goes.”

3. Scriptural giving is from the First fruits A Crumbly Illustration Abel gave the firstborn of his flock (Genesis 4:4) The Jews were to give the first fruits of their land (Exodus 23:19) The same principal is true today in regards to Christians in their income. Give to the Lord off the top!

4. Scriptural giving is Proportional “And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.’” Mark 12:43-44 The question is not how much you give but how much you give of what God has blessed you with.

5. Scriptural giving is Sacrificial “However, the king said to Araunah, ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.’ So David brought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” 2 Samuel 24:24 Your willingness to give something up for God is what gives the sacrifice meaning.

6. How Much? “It’s worse than was reported!” Tithing is not a Old Law principal. It is a Biblical principal.

7. Patriarchal Age “…And he gave him a tenth of all.” Genesis 14:20 “And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee.” Genesis 28:22

8. Mosaical Age (Worship) “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.”Lev. 27:30 (Government) “And he will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his officers and to his servants….He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.1 Sam. 8:15,17

9. New Testament “as he may prosper,”1 Cor. 16:2 What does “as he may prosper mean? Let the Bible interpret itself. “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which he has given you. Deuteronomy 16:17

10. A Superior Covenant “so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.”Hebrews 7:22 “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. Hebrews 8:6

11. A Conclusion? We are looking for a percentage of what we have been blessed with that we ought to give to the Lord. The least that has ever been acceptable before the Lord is 10%. The most that has ever been acceptable is 100%. The amount we give ought to be found somewhere between 10% to 100%.

12. Imagine The Possibilities! Cobb County per capita income: $43,554 Avg. Sunday morning attendance: 250 Avg. Sunday morning contribution: $11,000 Current percentage of weekly giving: 5.3%

13. Imagine The Possibilities! Currently 5.3%$11,000 If we gave 10% weekly:$20,939 Difference per week:$9,939 Difference per year:$516,828 Image what we could do with another $516,828 per year!

14. Imagine The Possibilities! Why do we not give in this sacrificial way? Worldliness We are too busy spending our money on the things of this world. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34