16 September16 September 2007 2007

Stewardship with ourStewardship with our Tithe Tithe

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Stewardship is a Faith Response

Stewardship: Talents, Time, Stewardship: Talents, Time, Tithe?Tithe? 2 2 Cor.8:1-9Cor.8:1-9

WhWhy? y?

1. Statute of God 1. Statute of God Lev.27:30f; Dt.12:6Lev.27:30f; Dt.12:6 2. Sincerity 2. Sincerity v8,9,5; 1 v8,9,5; 1 Jn.4:10,11Jn.4:10,113. Step of faith 3. Step of faith Mal.3:10Mal.3:10 4. Source of 4. Source of BlessingsBlessings

Tithing: option or obligation? Tithing: option or obligation? Mt.6:2,3Mt.6:2,3

a. Simplistic, Structured a. Simplistic, Structured LifestyleLifestyleb. Societal benefits b. Societal benefits 2 2 Cor.8:14Cor.8:14

16 September16 September 2007 2007

Stewardship with ourStewardship with our Tithe Tithe

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Stewardship is a Faith Response

How should you Tithe?How should you Tithe?

1. Systematically 1. Systematically v2; 1 v2; 1 Cor.16:2;Cor.16:2;Dt.14:22; Lev.27:30Dt.14:22; Lev.27:302. Sacrificially 2. Sacrificially v3; v3; Lk.21:1fLk.21:1f

3. Secretively 3. Secretively Mt.6:1,2,3; 2 Mt.6:1,2,3; 2 Cor.9:7Cor.9:74. Selectively 4. Selectively 2 Cor.8:18f; 1 2 Cor.8:18f; 1 Cor.16:3Cor.16:35. Spirit driven 5. Spirit driven 2 2 Cor.8:13,14Cor.8:13,14

Once upon a timeOnce upon a time........there was a man who had nothing....there was a man who had nothing.... and God gave him ten apples. and God gave him ten apples.

Adapted from `Bulletin Insert No.5', Division of World Mission Support, American Baptist Convention, Valley Forge, Pa.

He gave him three apples to trade for a He gave him three apples to trade for a shelter from the sun and rain.shelter from the sun and rain.

He gave him three apples to trade for He gave him three apples to trade for clothing to wear.clothing to wear.

He gave him one apple so that he might He gave him one apple so that he might have something to give back to God to have something to give back to God to show his gratitude for the other nine.show his gratitude for the other nine.

He gave him three apples to eat.He gave him three apples to eat.

The man ateThe man ate three apples three apples

He traded threeHe traded three for a shelterfor a shelterfrom the sun and rain.from the sun and rain.

Adapted from `Bulletin Insert No.5', Division of World Mission Support, American Baptist Convention, Valley Forge, Pa.

He traded threeHe traded three for clothingfor clothing to wear. to wear.

Then he looked at the tenth appleThen he looked at the tenth apple

Adapted from `Bulletin Insert No.5', Division of World Mission Support, American Baptist Convention, Valley Forge, Pa.

and it seemedand it seemed bigger and juicierbigger and juicier

than the restthan the rest

He knew that GodHe knew that God had given him had given him the tenth apple … the tenth apple …

so that he might return it to Him out so that he might return it to Him out of gratitude for the other nine.of gratitude for the other nine.

Adapted from `Bulletin Insert No.5', Division of World Mission Support, American Baptist Convention, Valley Forge, Pa.

But the tenth apple looked bigger But the tenth apple looked bigger and juicier than the rest.and juicier than the rest.

And he reasoned that God had all And he reasoned that God had all the other apples in the world ...the other apples in the world ...

So the man ate the So the man ate the tenth apple ... tenth apple ...

and gave back to Godand gave back to God

Adapted from `Bulletin Insert No.5', Division of World Mission Support, American Baptist Convention, Valley Forge, Pa.

... the core.... the core.

God has given you God has given you enough apples to enough apples to supply your needs supply your needs

plus one with which you may showplus one with which you may show your gratitude to Him.your gratitude to Him.

Adapted from `Bulletin Insert No.5', Division of World Mission Support, American Baptist Convention, Valley Forge, Pa.

The choice is yours. The choice is yours. WWill you return to God the largestill you return to God the largest and juiciest of your apples?and juiciest of your apples?

or only the core?or only the core?