TO TITHE OR NOT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING DEBATE. QUITE SIMPLY YOU CANNOT OUTGIVE GOD. SO ONE'S TITHES AND OFFERINGS HAVE THE PURPOSE OF CONTINUING GOD'S WORK AND WITNESS ON EARTH.JESUS SAID, "GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES." THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD. WHETHER THEY ARE SERVING A MEAL TO THE HUNGRY OR GATHERING FOR WORSHIP AND PRAISE, IT IS YOUR TITHE AND OFFERINGS THAT ALLOW THE CHURCH TO KEEP ON DOING THE MINISTRY OF JESUS. JESUS WAS THE MOST GENEROUS PERSON TO EVER LIVE. HE GAVE HIS ALL, HIS LIFE. OUR GIVING IS A RESPONSE TO HIS LOVING GIFT AND GENEROSITY.
GIVING FOR GOD'S WORK IN THE WORLD!
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TITHING
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH HAS A LONG HISTORY OF TITHING THAT GOES BACK INTO THE OLD TESTAMENT. "HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH, WITH THE FIRST FRUITS OF ALL YOUR CROPS; THEN YOUR BARNS WILL BE FILLED TO OVERFLOWING, YOUR VATS WILL BRIM OVER WITH NEW WINE." PROVERBS 3:9-10. ALTHOUGH IT WAS LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IT IS STILL APPLICABLE TODAY BECAUSE JESUS CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW BUT HE DID IT OUT OF LOVE FOR THE WORLD! OUR TITHE HELPS TO PROVIDES THE NEEDS OF THE CHURCH AND THE OUTREACH MINISTRY TO OTHERS
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GENEROSITY
BISHOP ROBERT SCHNASE WROTE: "GENEROSITY DESCRIBES THE CHRISTIAN'S WILLINGNESS TO GIVE IN ORDER TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHRIST." THIS EXCERPT IS FROM HIS WORK ENTITLED, "EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY. A JOYFUL AND GENEROUS HEART IS A BLESSING TO GOD, TO THE CHURCH AND TO OURSELVES.
2 COR. 9:6-7 TELLS US TO "REMEMBER THIS: WHOEVER SOWS SPARINGLY WILL ALSO REAP SPARINGLY, AND WHOEVER SOWS GENEROUSLY WILL ALSO REAP GENEROUSLY. EACH OF YOU SHOULD GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE DECIDED IN YOUR HEART TO GIVE, NOT RELUCTANTLY OR UNDER COMPULSION, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER."
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OFFERINGS
THERE IS A JOY IN GIVING BEYOND THE TITHE. DAVE RAMSEY WRITES THAT " GIVING AN OFFERING TO YOUR CHURCH ABOVE AND BEYOND THE TITHE, GIVING MONEY TO A CHARITY YOU SUPPORT, GIVING TO A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR IN NEED, OR GIVING OF YOUR TIME OR TALENTS. NOT ONLY DOES GIVING OF YOUR MONEY OR OTHER RESOURCES GENERATE GOOD IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS, IT ALSO GENERATES CONTENTMENT IN YOUR HEART"