Luke 6:38, Malachi 3:6-10
The Reality of Growth
Growth begins with desire
Growth is focused on development
Growth happens through discipline
Growth requires great determination
Spiritual Growth and Personal growth are both needed
Spiritual growth happens through the things that draw us closer to Christ
Personal growth happens through the things that help to develop our abilities
Three Main Growth Commitments
- Attend Worship
- Participate in Sunday School or Small Groups
- Become a Prayer Partner
The next phase in partnership is one that involves giving. When we hear giving in church, we often think that there is going to be some type of discussion about money. Money is only one way of giving in the church. There are three ways that we are to give to the work of Christ and ALL are part of being a good steward.
Stewardship Basics
The only safe rule is to give more than we can spare
– C.S. Lewis
God demands our tithes and deserves our offerings
– Stephen Olford
A steward is one who manages the resources of another
– Stan Toler
Stewardship is simply believers managing the things that God has given to them for the purpose of glorifying God.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
– Luke 6:38
We must rely on God’s goodness
Reliance starts with trust
Reliance shows our need
Reliance depends on the supplier
We are responsible for God’s gifts
Be responsible for your tithe
Be responsible for your time
Be responsible for your talents
We should rejoice in God’s generosity
Rejoice that God chooses to bless us
Rejoice that God changed our hearts
Rejoice that God challenges us to grow
Rejoice that God compels us to move
We can relax in God’s grace
Relax in the contentment of grace
Relax in the care of grace
Relax in the calm of grace
Action Steps – Partnership Plan
Giving of Tithe
“I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, `How are we to return?’ “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, `How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse–the whole nation of you–because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
– Malachi 3:6-10
Key Principles of Tithing
Return – Stopped following the ways of God
Robbery – Stealing from God
Result – The curse – Removal of blessing
Portion – Tithe – 10% minimum
Placement – Storehouse and nowhere else
Promise – Pour out blessing you cannot contain
Tithe – 10% to the storehouse
Storehouse is an ancient concept but the modern implication is general fund
Tithe is the base of financial giving – this is an expectation of God
The New Testament NEVER does away with the concept of tithing
Old Testament – 10% New Testament – Everything
Giving of Time
Giving of time means service
Attending Sunday School or worship does not count unless you’re serving
Standard Work Week – 40 hours – Give 4 hours per week
20 per gave 4 hours per week – 80 per week
4160 hours per year
Giving of Talent
Saddleback Community Church – S.H.A.P.E.
Spiritual Gifts
How has God gifted you to be used in His Kingdom?
How are you using what God has given to you for His glory?
Heart
What has God given you a heart for?
God gives us a heart for things that He also equips us to do. God ignites a passion within us to accomplish things for His Kingdom.
Abilities
What can you do?
What jobs or skills do you possess that could be used for God?
What things have you done in the past that could be used now?
Personality
How do we relate to other? Extroverted or Introverted
How do we structure life? Controlled or Spontaneous
How do we view life? Intuitive or sensing
How do we make decisions? Thinking or Feeling
Experiences
What have you done?
Who could you relate to?
What education do you have?
What training have you had?
What special qualifications do you have?
Partnership Commitments
Tithe
Time
Talent