SERMON NOTES


Malachi 3:6-7 (CSB)
6 “Because I, the Lord, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. 7 “Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies.Yet you ask, “How can we return?”

Malachi 3:8 (CSB)
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!” “How do we rob you?” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. 9 You are suffering under a curse, yet[c] you—the whole nation—are still robbing me. 10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. 11 so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the Lord of Armies. 12 “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Armies.

Joshua 6:18 (CSB)
18 But keep yourselves from the things set apart, or you will be set apart for destruction. If you[ take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and make trouble for it.

Joshua 7:1 (CSB)
7 The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and the Lord’s anger burned against the Israelites.

Joshua 7:10-11 (CSB)
10 The Lord then said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen facedown? 11 Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings.

Joshua 7:13 (CSB)
13 “Go and consecrate the people. Tell them to consecrate themselves for tomorrow, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are things that are set apart among you, Israel. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove what is set apart.

1. Tithing is a Test


Do you believe that 90% with God’s blessing will go further than 100% under a curse?


2. Tithing is Biblical

Genesis 14:18-20 (CSB)
18 Melchizedek, king of Salem,[ brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator[ of heaven and earth, 20 and blessed be God Most High
who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Hebrews 7:1-3 (CSB)
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace. 3 Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Genesis 28:22 (CSB)
22 This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.”

Leviticus 27:30 (CSB)
30 “Every tenth of the land’s produce, grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 14:23 (CSB)
23 You are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and fresh oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, in the presence of the Lord your God at the place where he chooses to have his name dwell, so that you will always learn to fear the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 26:1-2 (CSB)
26 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and live in it, 2 that you harvest from the land the Lord your God is giving you and put it in a basket. Then go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to have his name dwell.

Deuteronomy 13-15a
13 Then you will say in the presence of the Lord your God: I have taken the consecrated portion out of my house; I have also given it to the Levites, resident aliens, fatherless children, and widows, according to all the commands you gave me. I have not violated or forgotten your commands. 14 I have not eaten any of it while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God; I have done all you commanded me. 15 Look down from your holy dwelling, from heaven, and bless your people Israel

Matthew 23:23 (CSB)
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of[ mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness.[ These things should have been done without neglecting the others.

Hebrews 7:8 (CSB)
8 In the one case, men who will die receive a tenth, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives.

3. Tithing is a blessing

2 Chronicles 31:4 (NLT)
4 In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring a portion of their goods to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the Law of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 31:5-10 (NLT)
5 When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity—a tithe of all they produced. 6 The people who had moved to Judah from Israel, and the people of Judah themselves, brought in the tithes of their cattle, sheep, and goats and a tithe of the things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them up in great heaps. 7 They began piling them up in late spring, and the heaps continued to grow until early autumn.[ 8 When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw these huge piles, they thanked the Lord and his people Israel! 9 “Where did all this come from?” Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites.
10 And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied, “Since the people began bringing their gifts to the Lord’s Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The Lord has blessed his people, and all this is left over.”






Small Group Questions...

OVERVIEW
We are not supposed to test God; however, when it comes to tithing, God
says, “Try me now in this.” God desires His children to bring their tithes and
offerings into the storehouse of the church. When we do this, God says He
will pour out His blessings upon us, and He will rebuke the devourer for our
sakes. Tithing is a test of the heart.

QUICK RECAP
Key Scriptures: Malachi 3:6–12; Genesis 14:18–20; Deuteronomy 26:1–2,
13–15
• Tithing is a Test
The word tithe means a “tenth part.” Throughout Scripture the number ten
represents testing. God tests our hearts through the tithe, and tithing is
the only area where God says we can test Him too. If we tithe, we are
under blessing. If we don’t tithe, we are under a curse.
• Tithing is Biblical
Leviticus 27:30 says, “All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the
land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.” Moses
said: I have removed the holy tithe from my house and taken it to the
place where You have chosen to make Your Name abide. Jesus takes it
further by scolding the Pharisees and saying they should do more than
just tithe; they should show mercy, justice, and faith.
• Tithing is a Blessing
God gave the command that all His people are to tithe; however, with our
obedience comes a blessing. The believer’s tithe helps support the work
of the church, the priest, and the ministry to people. The place where we
receive our “spiritual food” is the place where we are to pay our tithes.
Obeying God’s word through tithing breaks the curse and invites God’s
blessings and provision for our lives and finances.

GROUP DISCUSSION
1. When you think of tithing, do you cringe or do you feel excited? Explain.
2. Do you believe tithing is for believers today? Why or why not?
3. Read Deuteronomy 26:1–2 and Deuteronomy 26:13–15. According to
these verses, what is the tithe, and who or what are we to give it to?
4. Read 2 Chronicles 31:9–10. Pastor Brad shared that tithing is a
blessing for the believer. Do you agree or disagree? Explain. If you
agree, how is the tithe a blessing for the believer? Have you experienced
this firsthand? Share.
5. Many believers struggle when it comes to tithing. Why do you think this
is? What are some of the barriers or misunderstandings that hinder
believers from tithing? If you are comfortable, share your personal
experience with tithing.

PERSONAL APPLICATION
This week, take time to really think about and honestly reflect on your trust of God in the area of finances. As you think seriously about this, journal your response. Are you currently tithing? If not, what are the reasons? How can you
overcome the things in your heart that keep you from tithing? Ask the
Holy Spirit to help you and make a plan to begin tithing.

CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus and salvation through grace
that You have freely given to us. You are the perfect example of generosity
and love. Please continue to teach us how to be more like You. Continue to
make us into givers. Change our hearts. We want to be givers like You are.
Help us to not only give of our tithes and offerings but give of our lives daily
for You and Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.