The Gift of Giving and Generosity

1. The Gift of Giving and Generosity Avenue Vineyard October 28, 2012

2. Understanding Tithing Genesis 14 Abraham giving one tenth to Melchizedek

3. Understanding Tithing Deuteronomy 14:22-29 setting aside one tenth of everything for God.

4. Purposes for the tithe to create a space to gather together and enjoy God’s presence care for those that do God’s work to provide care for the poor and the marginalized to build God’s “house” and maintain it to spread the work of God’s Kingdom

5. Haggai 1:2-6 2This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’ ”3Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4”Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

6. Haggai 1:2-6 cont’d 5Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

7. Haggai 1:7-12 7This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9”You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty.

8. Haggai 1:7-12 cont’d “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

9. Malachi 3:6-11 6 ”I am the Lord, and I do not change…Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,”says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ 8 ”Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’

10. Malachi 3:6-11 cont’d “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me…Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!

11. Malachi 3:6-11 cont’d Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.

12. God is after our hearts Matthew 23:23 - Story of the Pharisees tithing but neglecting the weightier matters. Should have done both. Luke 18 - Pharisee thinks he’s good cause he does all the right “stuff”. Tax collector sees his need for God’s mercy and grace.

13. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure…And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.