MULTIPLY | MULTIPLY BY GIVING

JUDE 1:2 MAY MERCY, PEACE, AND LOVE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU

KEY SCRIPTURES

Genesis 4:3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering.

SHORT HISTORY ON GIVING

Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
    who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

Leviticus 27:30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.

Numbers 18:21 “To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting, 22 so that the people of Israel do not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin and die.

Malachi 3:7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

JESUS DID NOT DO AWAY WITH THE TITHE

Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the other.

NEW TESTAMENT GIVING

2 Corinthians 8 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

SOWING AND REAPING

2 Corinthians 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

KEY POINTS

  • God is generous.
  • Offerings to God have occurred since Adam and Eve.
  • Tithing was established to keep the Levites supported for the temple work.
  • Giving to God and His work in the Kingdom has always been Gods desire.
  • All we have is His!
  • God provides Seed to the sower.
  • Giving money to God requires a heart change and giving changes your heart.
  • Sowing generously is not a percentage but giving what you don’t need is not giving.
  • The principle of giving regularly and proportionally should be taught in church and at home.

REASONS WE DON’T GIVE

  • We don’t trust.
  • We think we can’t afford it.
  • We are in debt.
  • We have been beat up and abused on this subject.

Can you think of others? Discuss as a group.

REASONS TO GIVE

  • God requires us too.
  • Giving helps us trust.
  • Giving breaks coveting.
  • Giving changes our heart to have a heart like His.
  • Giving must first be to your local body (Church) as this giving provides the Gospel to your community.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Giving money regularly and proportionally helps you to be disciplined in your stewardship. Can you think of others? Discuss as a Group.

INTERESTING STATISTICS

  • Over 2,000 references to money in scripture.
  • In Matthew, Mark and Luke, 1 out of every 6 verses deals with money.
  • There are 29 parables that Jesus told, 16 of them talks about man and His money.
  • 78% of people who give 10% or greater have no credit card debt.
  • Currently in the US, only 5.2% of churchgoers give 10% of their gross income.
  • The vast percentage of people who give regularly and proportionally are 45 years and older.
  • 80% of adults in the US give less than 2% of their income.