An approach to the

1
An approach to the

• Tithing Principle

2
Consider the Audience
Age - Child or Adult? Experience Where are they
now? Need What do they want to know? Mindset -
Concrete or Abstract thinker? Situation - Person
in prosperity vs poverty? Encounter - Personal
study vs Congregation?
3
What medium will you use?

• Text Self Discovery
• Questions Answer / Study Guide
• Discussion Group / Debate
• Personal Tutor
• Charismatic Speaker / Teacher

4
Which teaching approach?

• Literal proof text method
• Experiential how tithe works for me
• Historic survey how has it been applied /
  interpreted over time
• Stewardship perspective whole life
  responsibility
• Authority sources the voice of prophets
• Grand Theme

5
What is a biblical theme?

• A refrain, evident in one story after another, to
  the extent that the truth becomes beyond a
  coincidence.

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Example - Biblical themes

• The Story of Redemption
• The Great Controversy
• The Loving Father
• Exodus
• The Remnant

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What is the value of a theme?

• Themes are the silver threads that appear in
  multiple stories over a long period of time.
• They create meaning
• They enable us to search for different levels of
  understanding
• They enable us to interpret the text beyond the
  simple literalism

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What is the dominant theme embraced in Adventism?

• The Great Controversy between Good Evil
• A moral theology of right and wrong
• A theology consistent with Law
• A theology that requires Justice
• A theology that defines Grace as a gift to deal
  with the inadequacy of mankind to deal with the
  Sin problem

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What are the disadvantages?

• Over use / emphasis
• Read into texts interpretations that are not
  supported by the evidence
• Blindness to other themes
• Exclusiveness of conclusions

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The stewardship theme

• The God of Abundance who overcomes scarcity
• The God who provides goodness

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Narratives

• Creation It was Good to Very Good
• Eden The creation of abundance / perfection
• Flood A time of Scarcity
• 7 Years Plenty vs Famine
• Provision of Manna
• Land flowing with Milk and Honey
• Earth made new

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Miracles

• Water to wine
• Feeding the 5000
• Cast your net on the other-side

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Bible References to Tithing

• Gen 1420
• Lev 2730-32
• Num 18 24,26,28
• Deut 12 6, 11, 17
• Deut 14 22, 23, 28
• Deut 2612
• 2 Chron 315,6,12
• Neh 1037,38

• Neh 1244
• Neh 13 5,12
• Amos 44
• Mal 38-10
• Matt 2323
• Luke 1612
• Heb 75-9

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What we Learn - Genesis 1420

• Melchizadek High Priest blessed the family of
  Abraham.
• Abraham Responded to the blessing
• Abraham Tithed in the context of worship
• Abraham Tithed All
• Contrast the requirements of the King of
  Sodom.....
• Keep the Tithe and take the Person....
• Abraham declared that he would take nothing that
  belonged to God

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What we Learn - Leviticus 2730-32

• The Chapter is about Redemption of the Sacred
• All of the Tithes Seed/Fruit/Flocks
• The Tithe is Holy
• Price of withholding is 20 interest
• It is the first fruit whether Good or Bad
• Any exchange makes the swap holy.
• In effect there is no manipulation
• Tithe is Tithe it belongs to God.

16
What we learn - Numbers 1824-28

• Duties of the Priests....
• Support of the Priests....
• Offerings with emphasis on the first
  crop/animal/child
• Support of Priests, Work of the Tabernacle
• Eternal Covenant / Inheritance between the Tribes
  Levites
• The Levites were also to Tithe to Aaron
• Tithe not to be profaned

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What we learn - Deuteronomy

• 126-17 The Temple is the place where Tithes are
  brought.
• (It is not merely sent) it is associated with
  the experience of Sacrifice and Repentance.
• Every man should not do what is right in his own
  eyes.
• 1422-28 Bring the Tithe of Produce or its
  Monetary Equivalent.
• That you may learn to fear the Lord always
• You and Your household may rejoice before the
  Lord
• 2612 Recount the story in worship of how God has
  blessed his people.

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What we learn - 2 Chron 315-12

• Tithing was part of the Reformation
• Followed the abandonment of Idolatry
• Restructuring of the Priesthood segregation of
  duties
• Appointment of Treasurers
• Since the people of brought Tithes and
  Offerings
• We have an abundance.....blessing
• Every work that began in the service of the
  house of God, in the law and the commandment, to
  seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he
  prospered.

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What we learn - Nehemiah

• 10 Reformation a return to Ordinance and
  Statute
• Descendant of Aaron Storehouse concept
• We will not neglect the house of our God.
• 12 Attitude of rejoicing toward the Levites and
  Temple Servants.
• 13 System of Authority and Structure with regard
  to the Storehouse. Appointment of Treasurers
• Associated with the aversion of trade on Sabbath.

20
What we learn Amos 44

• Amos was a lay prophet challenged to speak to the
  King / Priest / Israel
• He required of them accountability
• He challenged them to repent in the face of
  danger
• He challenged their abuse of power.
• Tithe Offering......For this you love

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What we learn Malachi 38-10

• Return of Tithe is contextualised in the Coming
  Messenger / Christ.
• Part of the preparation for the coming
• Part of the preparation for impending judgment.
• Contrast with evil people.. Adulterers,
  sorcerers..
• Placed in the context of the battle between Good
  and Evil
• Restoration of Tithe results in a blessing on the
  people and the nation.

22
What we learn Matthew 2323

• Perspective
• Tithe in small things which should be done
• But not without a
• focus on Justice, Mercy and Faith

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What we learn Luke 1612

• 16 Faithfulness If you can be honest and
  accountable with the masters gifts, you will be
  honest and accountable with your own.
• 18 Humility - Bring the Tithe with repentance
  and humility.

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What we learn Hebrews 75-9

• Melchizadek
• King of Righteousness
• King of Peace
• Christ is the perpetual Priest King for eternity
• If honour/worship tithe were due to
  Melchizadek, and Levites, how much more valuable
  is honour and worship to the New Priesthood?

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7 Considerations

• Ownership God owns everything
• Example Jesus gave everything
• Eternal Destiny Our gifts are minor
• Emphasis 1/6th of Christs teaching
• Proportionality Give as we prosper
• Totality NT model exceeds 10
• Investment In the salvation of others

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The BIG principlePut God first

• Tithe is the first tenth of income. (not any 10,
  certainly not the last)

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Attitude to Giving Tithe

• Faithfully
• Expectantly
• Eternally
• Worshipfully
• Secretly / Humbly
• Cheerfully
• Sacrificially
• Excellently

• Generously
• Systematically
• Thoughtfully
• Extravagantly
• Reverently
• Proportionately
• Joyfully
• Willingly
• Regularly

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Tithing makes sense when the heart is first
consecrated.
in the context of stewardship toward Gods
ecology and economy .