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WEEK 4 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

July 16, 2023

One thing: Tithing

Introduction:

Giving our tithes and offerings reflects a grateful heart that wants to give back to God a portion of what He has given us; in reality, what is already His. This is our opportunity to show God that He is first in our lives. The Bible says the purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your life. “Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” (Deuteronomy 14:23 TLB). Tithing is a reminder that God is the supplier of everything we have. It is also God’s personal invitation to an outpouring of His blessing in your life.

Something To Talk About:

  1. Tithing: returning 10 percent of your income to God through your local church:  Christian giving is the grace of God functioning in and through a Christian, the giving nature of God expressed in the character of a Christian. Consider the following when you consider giving:
    • Trust God with the tithe: We trust God with our spouse and our kids, with our present and our future, but we don’t seem to trust Him when it comes to money. The constant worry over how we’re going to pay the next bill does not reflect the life of someone trusting God with our future. One of the ways that signal that you trust God with your finances is to give. Generosity is one of the key ways to tell if you are clinging to your money or whether you love your stuff. If you’re willing to give it up, you probably aren’t clinging to it too much. On the other hand, if you struggle to let go of control, it is a good indication you may not completely trust God.
    • Plan your generosity: Being generous is a way of looking at things. Proverbs 22:9 says, “Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9). A generous eye will see beyond itself and quickly spot opportunities to bless others. It also requires a new way of thinking: “But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.” (Isaiah 32:8)  When generosity is a way of thinking, one will always be devising plans to bless others.  If you want to be generous, it is best to be strategic in your generosity.
    • Start being generous now: Why wait? The time is now. The day is today. Don’t tell yourself that you will start being generous to those in need tomorrow. Don’t tell yourself, tomorrow I am going to walk across the street and introduce myself to my neighbor. Don’t tell yourself that tomorrow, I am going to contribute to that mission trip, buy some groceries for that family, volunteer at a shelter or start tithing to the church. Today is the day to start being generous. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your biggest motivation for giving? 
  2. What do you view as God’s and what do you view as yours?
  3. We want to invest in God’s kingdom, but we often feel stretched. In what ways do you feel stretched?
  4. If you had triple the money, time, and energy that you have now, what of God’s causes would you love to invest in more?
  5. How do tithing and margin connect?
  6. What are your fears when it comes to giving? (think outside of just financial giving)
  7. What types of blessings have you seen come from tithing? Why do you think God says to test Him in this? Have you tested Him in this? What have been the results?
  8. Giving is a reminder that we are to be good managers of what God has blessed us with. What happens when we start acting like “owners” instead of “managers”?
  9. Why do we need to give to the local church?
  10. What do we need to change to be more generous?
  11. What are your expectations for this week as a result of Sunday’s message?

Take One Thing Home with You:

Many questions asked by believers today about money are about the tithe, the Old Testament principle of giving the first 10 percent of our income back to God. But just as important is the destination of the giving. In other words, should I be giving to my local church or other ministries? The local church is God’s “Plan A.” It’s the vehicle through which we care for the poor, feed the hungry, equip people to minister in the community, and send people out to the nations. When we give to the local church, we give to the central institution for the mission of God.

There is certainly a place for personal giving to other ministries and projects that you have a burden for as well as individuals who are needy but, in so doing, do not neglect the local church. It is God’s plan A.