FULL SERVICE: *See SERMON ONLY below
SERMON ONLY:
Please click on link below to download and print Lifegroup questions.
- Turning to 2 Corinthians 8-9, can you see Matthew 6:2-6 being lived out? In general, how can you see this?
- The two poles on this issue say that tithing is either an essential ingredient of the Christian life, or, on the other, we are no longer under the Law to tithe? How would you answer either side? [i]
- Did it surprise you to learn of the many tithes and offerings in the OT? What did I say was the percentage of giving overall there?
- Look up (1) The Levitical Tithe: Numbers 18:21 (2) The Festival Tithe: Deuteronomy 14:22-27, and (3) The Charity Tithe: Deuteronomy 14:28-29. Do you see some principles that practically govern the life of the church from these three offerings alone?
- When we get to the NT, is there now a difference between tithes and offerings?
- Is there a difference between giving and “kingdom giving”?
- The answer to all the questions is rooted in GRACE: 2 Cor 8:1-2 LOVE: 2 Cor 8:8 RELATIONSHIP: 2 Cor 8:3-5, 2 Cor 8:8-9. Isn’t it easy to see where true giving really comes from?
- Kingdom Giving is motivated by Thanksgiving to God: 2 Cor 9:12-13, The Spirit Grows Us (spiritual growth): 2 Cor 9:6-9, God’s Praise: Mark 12:41-44, and God’s Reward: Matthew 6:19-21. The basic principles from these govern the practicalities: it is income based (1 Corinthians 16:2), and needs to be seen and met (2 Corinthians 8-9, 1 Corinthians 9:1-9). How has this affected your thinking about giving?
- My first summary based on 2 Corinthians 8:2-3 intimates that Kingdom Giving is smart, thoughtful, considerate, passionate, deliberate, and completely level headed! Do you agree?
- But lastly, Paul captures the essence of “Giving from the Heart Set Free” when he says that “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor 9:6-7. Would it be accurate to suggest that Kingdom Giving ultimately stems from seeing God as supremely worthy of an obedient heart that gives? In other words, as living out of worship? How?
[i] I base most of my study on the book “Tithing After the Cross” by David A Couteau. It is certain the best I’ve read on this subject.
