Faith Talk - November 17, 2024
Sunday: November 17, 2024
Series: The Gift of Giving
Sermon: God's Church: Give Because of God's Command
Series: The Gift of Giving
Sermon: God's Church: Give Because of God's Command
Scripture
Malachi 3:10 – "Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure."
Summary
Today, we began a new series, The Gift of Giving. Pastor Brian pointed out that giving is a blessing not only to those who receive but also to those who give (Acts 20:35). We experience the gift of giving when we understand God’s blessing comes to us to go through us (Genesis 12:2).
One of our mission catalysts at Connection Point is Give. Our mission catalysts are the five key actions every single person is to practice that have the greatest impact on your individual spiritual growth and our corporate impact as a church. They are: Worship, Grow, Serve, Give, Go.
Give: Expressing joy through financial generosity.
Giving isn't something God wants from you; it's something He wants for you. The gift of giving is the blessing you experience, the obedience you display, the impact you make, and the eternal purpose you serve.
Walking through Malachi 3:7-10, we saw a command and an invitation:
Three Steps to Obey God’s Command:
About the tithe: Living on 90% of your income with God’s blessing is better than living on 100% of your income without God’s blessing.
30-minute seminar on year-end tax advantage giving strategies. Join us after Life Group on Sunday, November 24, at 12:15pm in the Fellowship Hall.
One of our mission catalysts at Connection Point is Give. Our mission catalysts are the five key actions every single person is to practice that have the greatest impact on your individual spiritual growth and our corporate impact as a church. They are: Worship, Grow, Serve, Give, Go.
Give: Expressing joy through financial generosity.
Giving isn't something God wants from you; it's something He wants for you. The gift of giving is the blessing you experience, the obedience you display, the impact you make, and the eternal purpose you serve.
Walking through Malachi 3:7-10, we saw a command and an invitation:
- The command: Don’t rob God of tithes and offerings.
- God made clear that the first 10% of your income belongs to Him and is to be given back to Him. If you don’t, you are robbing God.
- The invitation: “Test Me in this way,” says the Lord.
- This is the only time in the Bible God asks us to test Him. He is daring us to put Him first in our finances. It will be so much blessing you will not have room to store it!
Three Steps to Obey God’s Command:
- Start tithing
- Make it automatic (connectionpoint.tv/give)
- Decide on your offering and contributions
About the tithe: Living on 90% of your income with God’s blessing is better than living on 100% of your income without God’s blessing.
30-minute seminar on year-end tax advantage giving strategies. Join us after Life Group on Sunday, November 24, at 12:15pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Discussion
- Share what stood out most to you from the service today.
- Was there something you enjoyed, a way you were challenged, a time God encouraged you?
- Discuss the practice of giving 10% of your income back to God.
- Why does God ask us to give financially?
- Discuss where you are in your tithes and offerings.
- Are you giving a full tithe? Are you giving above and beyond with other offerings and contributions?
- How can you increase your trust in God through giving more?
- Discuss the principle of financial giving and God’s blessing.
- How have you experienced this? How does this challenge you?
Pray Together
Father, thank You for Your command to give, the invitation to grow in our faith, and the opportunity to experience Your blessing. I ask that You convict us of any way we are not trusting You with our full tithe and even our offerings and contributions beyond the tithe. We commit to putting You first in our finances. Show us the way, convict us of our need, and lead us into Your blessing. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
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