The Bridge Church
The Way Forward - Put God to the Test - Week 1
February 19, 2023
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Your heart follows your finances.
"If a person gets his attitude towards money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area of their life."
- Billy Graham
- Billy Graham
How Do I Put God First In My Finances:
1. Put God first every time you get paid
A "tithe" is giving "a tenth part" of my income
1. Put God first every time you get paid
A "tithe" is giving "a tenth part" of my income
Tithing is the only place in the Bible you are invited to test God.
2. Tithing is the starting point, not the finish line of generosity.
An "offering" is anything I give in addition to my tithe.
An "offering" is anything I give in addition to my tithe.
Put God to the test and begin tithing.
Is God calling you to trust Him by giving above and beyond the tithe?
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
Dig Deeper:
1. Everyone has a different reaction when the topic of money is brought into a conversation. Why do you think that happens? What are some different reactions you have witnessed? What is your own reaction to this topic?
2. The Bible includes over 2,000 scriptures about money and possessions. Why would Jesus talk about money and possessions more than almost anything else?
3. Read Matthew 6:21. Describe something, or someone, that you value greatly. Do you spend money in relation to that person or thing? Describe the correlation between your treasure and your heart.
4. If someone was to look at your bank account or debit transactions, what would they say is “your heart”?
5. How is putting God first in our finances related to putting God first in our heart? Is giving money to God just about obedience?
6. Did you grow up knowing about tithing or is it something you learned about as an adult? If your parents tithed, describe what influence that had on you.
7. Does God need our money? If not, why is putting God first every time we get paid so important to our faith journey?
8. Why is parting with money so difficult? What can money symbolize for people?
9. Read Malachi 3:8. Everything belongs to God, and we manage what He gives to us for His glory. Knowing that, what does it mean to rob God?
10. What is the difference between giving God our first and giving God our leftovers?
11. Read Malachi 3:10. What does it mean to “test” God with tithing? How does this grow our faith in Him?
12. What does it mean to receive a blessing from God? Describe a time when you have seen a financial blessing from God. Describe other ways in which God blesses us daily.
13. Read Luke 11:42. How does this passage reveal that tithing is a basic principle of being a Christian? In what other ways should we also serve God?
14. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. Whatever you plant is what you will get back. Describe examples of a time when you sowed sparingly and/or a time when you sowed generously. What was the outcome?
15. Cheerful in Greek is the word “hilarious”. We often think of hilarious as humorous or funny. Look up another definition of the word hilarious. How does this connect to being a joyful giver?
16. You cannot outgive the generosity of God. He will sustain you. Where is God leading you today in response to His generosity?
Live It Out:
How do I put God first in my finances?
1. Put God first every time you get paid. If you are a Christian, and you are not tithing (giving God a “tenth part” of your income), put God to the test. As we trust God with our tithe, we are testing God. He will provide through His generosity.
2. Tithing is the starting point, not the finish line. You cannot outgive God. If you are already tithing faithfully, consider giving an offering in addition to your tithe. Pray and ask God to show you how you can give generously to his kingdom.
Reading Plan:
Monday: Malachi 3:8-11, Luke 11:42
Tuesday: Matthew 6:21, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Philippians 4:19
Wednesday: Genesis 14:17-24
Thursday: 1 Chronicles 10-17
Friday: Proverbs 11: 24-28
Saturday: Luke 6:37-38
1. Everyone has a different reaction when the topic of money is brought into a conversation. Why do you think that happens? What are some different reactions you have witnessed? What is your own reaction to this topic?
2. The Bible includes over 2,000 scriptures about money and possessions. Why would Jesus talk about money and possessions more than almost anything else?
3. Read Matthew 6:21. Describe something, or someone, that you value greatly. Do you spend money in relation to that person or thing? Describe the correlation between your treasure and your heart.
4. If someone was to look at your bank account or debit transactions, what would they say is “your heart”?
5. How is putting God first in our finances related to putting God first in our heart? Is giving money to God just about obedience?
6. Did you grow up knowing about tithing or is it something you learned about as an adult? If your parents tithed, describe what influence that had on you.
7. Does God need our money? If not, why is putting God first every time we get paid so important to our faith journey?
8. Why is parting with money so difficult? What can money symbolize for people?
9. Read Malachi 3:8. Everything belongs to God, and we manage what He gives to us for His glory. Knowing that, what does it mean to rob God?
10. What is the difference between giving God our first and giving God our leftovers?
11. Read Malachi 3:10. What does it mean to “test” God with tithing? How does this grow our faith in Him?
12. What does it mean to receive a blessing from God? Describe a time when you have seen a financial blessing from God. Describe other ways in which God blesses us daily.
13. Read Luke 11:42. How does this passage reveal that tithing is a basic principle of being a Christian? In what other ways should we also serve God?
14. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. Whatever you plant is what you will get back. Describe examples of a time when you sowed sparingly and/or a time when you sowed generously. What was the outcome?
15. Cheerful in Greek is the word “hilarious”. We often think of hilarious as humorous or funny. Look up another definition of the word hilarious. How does this connect to being a joyful giver?
16. You cannot outgive the generosity of God. He will sustain you. Where is God leading you today in response to His generosity?
Live It Out:
How do I put God first in my finances?
1. Put God first every time you get paid. If you are a Christian, and you are not tithing (giving God a “tenth part” of your income), put God to the test. As we trust God with our tithe, we are testing God. He will provide through His generosity.
2. Tithing is the starting point, not the finish line. You cannot outgive God. If you are already tithing faithfully, consider giving an offering in addition to your tithe. Pray and ask God to show you how you can give generously to his kingdom.
Reading Plan:
Monday: Malachi 3:8-11, Luke 11:42
Tuesday: Matthew 6:21, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Philippians 4:19
Wednesday: Genesis 14:17-24
Thursday: 1 Chronicles 10-17
Friday: Proverbs 11: 24-28
Saturday: Luke 6:37-38