A follow-up survey was conducted among LWC members.8 The finance team evaluated the survey to determine whether there was an increase in the congregation's understanding of the financial stewardship of the goal measurement. Jesus ordered them to obey his commandments and teach the new believers to obey everything he commanded.3 The new epistles are examples of how the apostles faithfully obeyed his command. By giving his Son, the Lord offered the greatest gift as firstfruits or tithes for human souls. 7 The believer responds with love and obedience and repays the act of God's grace by giving his tithes and gifts. for the sake of the gospel.
The bodily resurrection of Christ serves as the first fruits for the future hope of the bodily resurrection of God's saints—the eschatological harvest. Hoehner says, “The purpose of hard work goes beyond just providing food and shelter for one's own needs. The Christian was asked, "How can God be honored?" the subject of tithing, or giving first fruits, may be one of the least mentioned methods if it is left out altogether.
In For those who honor me, I will honor, who states the reason for the statement "far be it from me!" According to Olyan, the rest of the phrase illustrates 'the ideal'. The obvious answer to that rhetorical question was: "No!" The priest, much like Eli, showed contempt for the Lord by favoring man over God. His answer is a question: "Will a man rob God?" They ask, "How did we rob you?" The Lord answered: "In tithes and offerings." It is significant to note that the way God said the people should return to him was through the obedience of biblical financial stewardship.
Apostolic Constitutions 2:34 says, “The Lord will bless the works of your hands and multiply the good things of the land. He calls attention to Jesus' statement: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not see the kingdom of God.” The fact is that the scribes and Pharisees tithe to the Lord. Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of the heavens.” The scribes and Pharisees gave the tithe.
According to the "Evangelical Dictionary of Theology," the early church prescribed a tithe as an absolute minimum of one's total income, and the doctrine of tithing, though sometimes debated, has continued to this day.20. However, Currid explains, "The verb 'to tithe' is in the Piel pattern which reflects frequent usage, i.e. it describes multiple acts. Creation is celebrated not only in Genesis, but throughout Scripture, especially in the Psalms, where God's ownership of the universe is declared: "The earth is the LORD's and all its fulness, the world and those who dwell in it" (Ps. 24:1).
The theme for the financial stewardship series was "The Honor of Giving." Each of the eight sermons pointed out the reality that biblical financial faithfulness is a way to honor God. Jesus pointed out the mistakes of the Pharisees, but then tells them that they did something right—the tithe. Are you rich toward God or toward yourself?" The fact is that people spend money on what is important to them.
The purpose of this project was to examine the scriptures and ask, "Is there a biblical principle to honor the Lord by giving our first fruits or a tithe?" The focus of the sermon series was not to prove that every Christian should pay tithes.
Would Do Differently
A final weakness was the lack of a follow-up action plan for the life of the church. I will then announce the upcoming series to the church and begin collecting names of anyone who would like to participate in a small group Bible study for the duration of the series. At the end of the sermon series, I would hold an evening service to celebrate the end of the message series.
I would also allow people to commit to an action plan and join an ongoing Bible study group for continuous discipleship in financial stewardship as well as other biblical disciplines of faith. I was reminded that as a pastor I am accountable and responsible for having high expectations for the body of Christ I shepherd. In addition, many of the early church fathers also taught the importance of Christians giving their tithes to the Lord.
One of the oldest records of Christian practice, the Didache, also taught the practice of honoring the Lord through tithes and offerings. Not only some of the Church Fathers held this view, but also men of the Reformation tradition and many ministers today hold the same view. The sermon, "A Matter of Blessing," focused on Paul's view of the Philippine Church's financial gift.
The book of Revelation describes the prayers of the saints as incense before God. The believer's expectation is to bring the first fruits to God. The good news is that all who call on God's name are saved from Hell and promised eternal life in His kingdom.
The church is communicating a poor message when only four percent of evangelical Christians give tithes to their local churches.1 The sad reality is that most Christians are robbing God and not putting the kingdom of God first in their finances. May the gospel continue to reach the ends of the earth and may we win friends to heaven. Tithing is an important practice that contributes to the advancement of the gospel message through mission and evangelistic outreach.
