Study guide : Tithing 101
1) Imagine a situation in life when you were late to an important get-together, and you realized that you had forgotten to pick the right gift for your host. Realizing that you may not find the appropriate gift in the given short time, how did you manage it? How did it feel? Share thoughts.
· Sometimes duty overtakes our giving with a cheerful heart.
· We compromise on our giving based on circumstances.
· Mostly, our relationship with the recipient determines the nature of our giving from heart.
· A shoddy giving to some one important can bring us disappointment.
· I’ll give a token as for now, Later when I get an opportunity, will compensate it
2) Read Genesis 14:18, 20 and Hebrews 7:4-5 - When Abram gave Melchizedek one tenth of everything, what Godly principle was he exercising. Why was doing so?
3) Read Genesis 4:3-7, what could be the reason for Cain’s offering to be rejected by God? Vs- 7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted”? Write down what is the criteria in which the Lord is speaking to Cain.
4) Read Malachi 3:4. Write down your thoughts on when & how a man can rob God, what can be the consequences?
5) V10, speaks about the manner in which we need to bring our tithes before the Lord. Discuss the proportion in which the Lord gave his son to us.
· To give in faith (Heb 11:4)
· To give the best; not the leftovers(Number18;12)
· Not to delay (Exodus 22:29,30)
· Offer as worship
6) Discuss how the law is given to us regarding tithing in Old Testament times which does not change post Christ. Read Mathew 23:23, Acts 2:44-45. Share how Christ speaks to us far beyond tithe to deeper things of heart.
7) What is the relation between tithing & the Lords blessings in our lives? Is tithing a prosperity solution? (Refer to the above passages)
8) Read Malachi 3; 11, 12. Stress the influence that the enemy can have over our finances, our work, & labor when we are not obedient on giving our tithes, what are also the blessings we shall receive as we obey him?
9) Pray for a heart of cheerful giving to the Lord, for his son offered fully for us. Also to look to our giving as ‘worship unto Him’ for what he has done for each one of us.
