Spiritual
Disciplines Course.
Lesson Seven : The Discipline Of Giving (CSG facilitator and leader’s copy)
WELCOME SECTION: Warmly welcome all the people and introduce yourselves
(20 mins) if there are newcomers.
WORSHIP SECTION : The worship leader should select songs about giving our
(30 mins) best to the Lord.
Suggested songs: Give unto the Lord, Give Thanks,
Take my life a living Sacrifice…
Allow for the operation of the gifts (prophecy, new song etc.)
WORD SECTION : The facilitator should take the group through the attached
(60 mins) Lesson. Get different people to read through the sections
and any Bible Verses. Stop to discuss as prompted allowing
everyone to get involved (drawing in the quieter ones). If
the discussion is going off track bring it back to the main
topic. Be conscious of the time and pace yourself.
If there are any practical exercises take time to discuss the
Lessons learnt in conjuction with the lesson theme and don’t
allow too much wasted time.
WORKS SECTION
: Pray outwards for unsaved friends , for your neighbourhoods
(10 mins) to have revival, for Singapore as a whole and even for our
missions work in China etc.. and other pressing prayer needs
such as the sick and troubled. Pray also for any events
coming up.
Close with offering and benediction. Go and eat…..
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Spiritual Disciplines Course.
Lesson Seven: Introduction to The Biblical Discipline of
Giving.
1. By His Grace Work: Through fellowship with Him, giving is to be the product of God's grace working in the life so that it first produces a commitment of one's total life to God with giving as an overflow of that previous commitment (2 Cor. 8:1-2, 6-7; 9:9-11).
2. In faith: He has promised to supply all our needs; our giving will not be our lack (2 Cor. 9:7f; Phil. 4:19).
3. Purposefully: We are to give from careful and prayerful planning. "Let each one do just as he has purposed (planned beforehand) in his heart" (2 Cor. 9:7).
4. Regularly: "On the first day of every week" helps promote diligence and disciplined giving. This creates a consistency and regularity that translates good intentions into actions (1 Cor. 16:2).
5. Personally: "Let each one of you" brings out the need for every believer to take giving as a personal responsibility for which God holds us each responsible (1 Cor. 16:2).
6. Systematically: "Put aside and save" brings out the need to have a method or system whereby money for the Lord's work is specifically set aside, stored up for giving, so that it is not used for other things (I Cor. 16:2).
7. Proportionately: In the New Testament, set amounts of compulsory giving (as in the tithe) have been replaced by the grace principle of voluntary, purposeful, and proportionate giving. The new standard for today is "as He may prosper" (1 Cor. 16:2), "they gave of their own accord" (2 Cor. 8:3), "it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality . . ." (cf. 2 Cor. 8:12-15, Mark 12:41-44), and "let each one do . . . not under compulsion" (2 Cor. 9:7).
"And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches" (Gal. 6:6; cf. also 1 Tim. 5:17-18). If the local church is to form a solid home base for other ministries of outreach, it is only logical that it should become a first priority for our giving.
This would include missions, para-church groups and individuals who are involved in these ministries (3 John 5-8).
Those unable to support themselves or who have faced serious problems are to be helped as we are able. Those who refuse to work are not to be supported (1 John 3:17; Jam. 2:15-16; Gal. 6:10; Heb. 10:33-34; 13:1-3 with 2 Thess. 3:6-10).
Our first priority is to those who are of the household of faith, but we are also to reach out to others in need as we are able (Gal. 6:10).
DISCUSS: Is the
‘tithe’ (giving 10% of our income) for today. Read the following passage out
and say whether you agree or not and why…...
“The New Testament teaches us that giving for the church
age is to be proportionate by the grace work or leading of God through the
Spirit (2 Cor. 8:1-3, 7; 1 Cor. 16:2; 9:7).
In keeping with this concept, when we turn to the New Testament we find
no New Testament regulation or commandment which continues the tithe for New
Testament believers. The word
"tithe" is never used in the New Testament as a command or regulation
for the church. In fact, it is used
only of historical occurrences where it pertained to Israel under the Old
Testament economy, but never in such a way it could imply this is the rule of
life for the church. Giving according to a tithe is a hindrance to
proportionate grace giving as it is prescribed in the New Testament. Let me explain. Many believers give their
tenth and never even consider that they could (and perhaps should) be giving
even more. Actually, to demand a tenth
from all believers is disobedience to the principles set down in 2 Corinthians
8:12-15 because the tithe may become an unequal yoke. By that I mean it is a burden to some, and a limitation to
greater giving by others according to the principles of equality and
proportionate grace giving (1 Cor. 16:1-2).”
Proportionate giving is giving in proportion to God's blessing, as a steward who wants to invest his life in heavenly treasure. Proportionate giving does not mean just giving more, but giving a greater proportion of one's income--a greater percentage invested in God's work.
In Proportionate giving:
1. OUR MOTIVE for giving is God's spiritual blessing, to increase fruitfulness and bring glory to God (2 Cor. 9:8-15).
2. OUR MEASURE for giving is God's material blessing (1 Cor. 16:2).
Believer A has an income of $20,000 per year and he gives ten percent which is $2,000. Believer B has an income of $50,000 per year and he gives ten percent which is $5,000. Believer B has given $3,000 more per year but this is not proportionately more because Believer A has $18,000 left to live on and Believer B still has $45,000 left, over twice as much. Believer B could give 20 percent ($10,000) and still have $40,000 left to live on which is still over twice as much as Believer A. Believer B would then be giving not only more, but proportionately more as well.
Luke 16:10-11: Generally, God does not entrust more wealth to us to manage until we prove faithful with what we have now.
Second Corinthians 9:8-11: Our giving will never be our lack; God will not only resupply what we have given, but He will increase our giving capacity as we give abundantly. The goal here is not increased personal wealth, but greater giving.
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