Distinctives of the Christian and Missionary Alliance of the Philippines
CHURCH ORDINANCES
Ordinances of the church are ceremonies or practices that are ordained (ordered, decreed) by God in the bible.
The Alliance
CHRISTIAN GIVING
Financial obedience to God is
emphasized throughout the entire Bible.
Some Christians mistakenly think
that when they give money to their church they are paying or hiring a pastor to
preach. A pastor is called by God and
trained to be a spiritual leader. Money
which we give to God at our place of worship is used for God’s work. This includes providing enough for the needs
of our spiritual leaders, and to promote God’s Kingdom through the ministry of
our local church.
We are also to help those who are in
need.
I. The Old Testament
A. The Importance of Paying Tithes
1.
A tithe is a tenth part of a person’s income paid in
kind or in money to God.
2.
In the Old Testament God commanded the Jews to
tithe. It did not matter whether a
person was rich or poor. Everyone was
required to give 10% of all he owned, earned and produced, including crops and
animals, to God – Leviticus 27:30,32.
Even the priests (pastors) were to pay tithes–Numbers 18:25-29.
3.
The Jews were to give their tithes, offerings and
gifts to God at their place of worship – Deuteronomy 12:5,6,11.
4.
According to Malachi 3:6-12:
a.
To whom do the people owe their tithes? Whom are they cheating (robbing if they do
not pay? (vs.8)
b.
What was the result of not paying? (vs. 9)
c.
Where were the tithes to be paid? (vs. 10)
d.
What would be the results of paying what they owe?
(vv. 10-12)
B. The Importance of Gifts and Offerings
1.
In addition to their tithes, Jews were required to
offer to God the first and best of everything they earned or produced. These were known as “first fruits.”
Exodus 23:19a; 34:19; Numbers
28:26;
Deuteronomy 26:1-3,10;
Nehemiah 10:35,36
2.
The Jews were required to give to the Lord on
special occasions.
Exodus 23:14,15;
Deuteronomy 16:16,17;
Leviticus 23:37,38
3.
The Jews made thanksgiving offerings to God for
special mercies or blessings which they had received from Him.
Leviticus 7:12; 22:29;
2Chronicles 29:31.
4.
Although it is not a command to us, some Christians
today also give God offerings of their “first fruits” on special occasions, and
in thanksgiving.
C. The Importance of Helping Others
1.
Whom does the Lord help? (Psalm 41:1)
2.
What happens when you are generous and help others?
(Proverbs 11:25)
3.
What is giving to the poor like? Who will pay you
back? (Proverbs 19:17)
4.
What is kindness shown to the poor? (Proverbs 14:31)
5.
What is the result of giving to the poor? (Proverbs
28:27)
II.
The New Testament
A. In the New Testament Jesus says even more about
giving.
1.
We must give with
the right heart attitude.
a. Luke 11:42
1)
What does Jesus accuse the Pharisees of neglecting?
2)
However, what were the Pharisees doing which Jesus
said they should do?
3)
What do some Christians today neglect to do?
b. Mark 12:41-44
1)
Contrast the poor widow with the rich people.
2)
Who, does Jesus say, gave the most? Why?
3)
Compare what the poor widow did with the words of
Jesus in Mark 12:30.
4)
What does our giving to God show?
2. We are to give generously to God and to others. Luke
6:38
a. What will be the
result of our giving to others?
b. How does God
decide how much to give us?
B. The apostle Paul also talks about giving.
1.
Giving provides
us with the opportunity to help those in Christian ministry. Philippians
4:14-20
a. In verses 14-18
Paul describes the help he has received.
What is involved in Christian giving?
1)
Whose work do we share when we give?
2)
Who benefits?
b. How does God look
at our gifts? (vs.18)
c. What principle of
Christian giving do we find here?
d. How will our
needs be supplied? (vs.19)
2. We should give to fellow Christians in need.
a. Romans 15:26-28
1)
What had the Christians in Macedonian and Achaia (Greece
2)
Why are they concerned for the poor among the
Christians at Jerusalem
3)
What principle do we see here?
b. 2Corinthians 8:1-15
1)
What does Paul say God’s grace had accomplished in
the churches in Macedonia
2)
How much did the churches give to help God’s people
in Judea ? (vv.3,5a)
3)
To whom did the Christians give themselves first?
(vs.5)
4)
How does Paul describe the gift of these Christians?
(vv.6b,7c)
5)
By telling how eager the Christians in Macedonia
6)
If we are eager to give, on what basis does God
accept our gift? (vs.12)
7)
Why is it only fair to help others, especially when
you have plenty? (vv.13,14)
8)
In verse 15, Paul quotes Exodus 16:18, when the
Israelites gathered manna-food which God provided each day for them. What is said about those who gathered much
and those who gathered little? What did
they all have?
c. 2Corinthians 9:5-13
1)
Why should we give? (vs.5c)
2)
What decides whether a crop is large or small?
(vs.6)
3)
Therefore, how should each one of us give? Why?
(vs.7)
4)
If we follow the principle of giving gladly, what
will be the result? (vs.8)
5)
What does God supply us with, and what will He do
with it? (vs. 10)
6)
How rich will God make us if we give generously and
gladly? (vv.8,11)
7)
What need does our service of giving meet? (vs.12)
8)
What does it also produce? (vs. 12)
9)
Our service of giving shows our loyalty to what?
(vs. 13)
10) Who receives the
glory? (vs. 13)
III.
As Christians and
followers of Jesus Christ, we give.
A. We give because:
1.
God requires us to give.
2.
It shows our love for God.
3.
It shows our loyalty to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
4.
We can share God’s work
5.
We ourselves have received from god and others.
6.
We want to give – and we give gladly and generously.
B. As a result, our lives will be blessed of god and we
will not lack the things we need.
C. If all this is true, why don’t we give much more?
In conclusion, give some practical
examples of how you can fulfill God’s commandment to give. What plan for personal Christian giving have
you made for your life?
