You DO NOT have to give to First B.

Rules of “Monopoly” money:
· Money comes and money goes
· You get to make some choices
· It takes money to make money
· Winning is simple
· It all goes back in the box

Rules of “real” money:
· Money comes and money goes
· You get to make some choices
· It takes money to make money
· Winning is complicated
· It all goes back in the box

First things first: who is rich? WE ARE

Global average income: Less than $3,000/year

Real life is understanding that:
ALL WE NEED comes from God.
God’s plan is to ENJOY what He gives.
THIS LIFE is not THE END.

We have a choice:
TRUST MONEY ///or TRUST GOD.

God has promised to meet your NEEDS. Money HAS NOT.

How do we learn to trust God?
Put your MONEY where your MOUTH is.

The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.

Deuteronomy 14:23b (LB)

tithe: ONE TENTH or 10%
whole: NOT PIECES
storehouse: AT THE PLACE OF WORSHIP
blessings: ALL THE GOOD GOD GIVES
test: THIS IS NOT A THEORY

You DO NOT have to give to First B.

LifeGroup questions:

CONNECT:
1. Have everyone share: Did you have chores growing up? What types of tasks did you have to do? Did you earn money for chores or not? What kinds of chores did you do that were unique or different than your friends’ chores?

2. What did you learn about money, giving or generosity as a kid? Was it intentional from your family or did you have to figure it out for yourself?


DISCUSS:
1. Have someone read 1 Timothy 6:17-19 aloud for the group.

2. Paul tells Timothy to teach people not to trust in their money, trust God instead. How has this lesson been taught or modeled in your life? Who has been a good role model for you in trusting God over money? What have you (or are you currently) learning from them?

3. Have someone read Malachi 3:10 aloud for the group.

4. What, if anything, had you been taught about tithing as a spiritual growth discipline in your life? Have you ever tried it? If so, what did you learn from it? If not, would you be willing to test God in this way?

APPLY:
1. Money, finances, giving and generosity can be a challenging conversation for folks. Pray for anyone in your group who is experimenting with bringing the whole tithe in their life, specifically that God shows up the way He promised He would. Pray for everyone in the group to grow in the grace of giving.

2. Take time to pray that we as a church family at First Baptist would grow in health and generosity as we talk about this across the whole congregation. Pray that we become a church family known for our generous, kind and loving approach to both people and finances.