The SermonCentral.com
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October 9 , 2006
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Scripture Alone
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Editor’s Note: Last week we looked at the spirit of the Sabbath. This week we look at the spirit of the tithe. Interestingly, both of these commands of the Lord—often associated with the Mosaic Law—were both given before the Law was instituted. Preaching on these topics invariably brings unique challenges to the pulpit and shepherding ministry. Here, SermonCentral guest writer Dean Shriver grapples honestly as a pastor with various issues surrounding preaching the tithe. You may also view Dr. Shriver’s excellent sermons on various passages and topics here.
CAN WE PREACH THE TITHE?
Tithing—I believe every Christian should do it. But can I preach that? Like you, I’m committed to preaching only what the Bible clearly teaches. Unfortunately, I’ve always found the Bible’s teaching about a believer’s responsibility to tithe to be fuzzy around the edges. Off the top before taxes? Off the bottom after taxes? All to the church (ours in particular!)? Off of income or off of possessions? Of course the problem isn’t with Scripture. The problem is me.
When it comes to giving, my own preferences, opinions, and training make it hard for me to approach relevant texts with a clear and teachable mind. On the one hand, I know that the tithe is “law” and that, in Christ, we’re no longer under the Law. Still, it’s hard for me to fathom how anyone can honestly taste the sweetness of God’s grace only to turn around and “Scrooge” God by giving Him less than 10%. The very idea makes me want to raise my voice, pound my pulpit, and thump my Bible! Which is exactly why I’m not yet ready to preach that sermon on tithing. But I’m getting closer.
On a recent jog, I began to think again about the issue of tithing. It occurred to me that there’s more than one way to tithe. In fact, three distinct forms of tithing are practiced in the Bible. Only one is legitimate for the believer.
The form of tithing most often addressed in Scripture is “tithing as covenant.” This practice of tithing was specific to Israel as the covenant people of God. It was part of the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-32; Deuteronomy 14:22-29). Under the Covenant, God promised to materially bless Israel for obedience and, conversely, to judge them (strip them of their prosperity) for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28 and Malachi 3:8-12).
This model for tithing has no direct relevance to us as New Testament believers. In Christ, we live under a new covenant. Our lives are not governed by the written code but
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Top
5 Sermons on Scripture Alone
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 What Christians Think About the Bible
by Timothy Peck
2 Timothy 3:16
If you take away the Bible, you’ve taken away the entire Christian message. Yet lot of confusion exists today about the Bible. According to a 1996 Barna survey, 42% of Americans say they believe that the more…
Committed to the Bible
by Steve Shepherd
2 Timothy 3:14-3:17
Years ago NEWSWEEK had an article entitled, “No Allusions in the Classroom.” The article told about 26 people in the college classroom, ranging in age from 18 to 54. All of these people had completed at more…
How Reliable is the Bible?
by Todd Hudnall
2 Peter 1:20-1:21
The Bible is a unique and remarkable book. It is actually a library of 66 books written over a span of 1,500 years. There isn’t another book in history that took that long to write. 40-different authors from more…
Trusting in God’s Word
by Greg Linton
Genesis 3:1-3:6
When you go to the doctor, there are a few fundamental things that a doctor looks for to check your overall health. Temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure. These are called vital signs. more...
 Why God’s Word is Great
by Ed Wood
Hebrews 4:12
The Bible is God’s written word to us. God spoke to the faithful who diligently recorded his Word. Some have denied the truth of God’s Word, but is has continued to stand the test of time. It is still the best- more...
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Upcoming Newsletter Themes
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| October 2006 |
| 16 - Spiritual Warfare - Pt. 1 |
| 23 - Spiritual Warfare - Pt. 2 |
| 30 - Give your Time |
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| November 2006 |
| 6 - Give your Talents |
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Top
5 Illustrations on Scripture Alone
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Transformation
When Handel’s great oratorio, The Messiah was published, one nobleman complimented the composer on the entertainment that he had given the town. “My lord,” said Handel, “I should be sorry if I only entertained them. I wish to make them better.”
SOURCE: C. H. Spurgeon, “The Quotable Spurgeon,” (Wheaton: Harold Shaw Publishers, Inc, 1990)
Contributed by: Russell Brownworth
Worth Believing
Feelings come and feelings go
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God,
Naught else is worth believing.
SOURCE: Attributed to Martin Luther, quoted in “The Adversary,” Mark Bubeck, Moody Press, p. 13
Contributed by: Paul Fritz
Asking the Source
A certain pastor observed a little girl standing outside the preschool Sunday school classroom between Sunday school and worship, waiting for her parents to come and pick her up for "big church."
The pastor noticed that she clutched a big storybook under her arm with the title "Jonah and the Whale."
Feeling mischievous, he knelt beside the girl and asked, "What’s that you have in your hand?"
"This is my storybook about Jonah and the whale," she answered.
"Tell me something," he continued, "do you believe that story about Jonah and the whale?"
The girl said, "Why, of course I believe it!"
The pastor inquired further, "You really believe a man can be swallowed up by a big whale, stay inside him all that time, and come out okay?"
She declared, "Yes! This story is in the Bible, and we talked about it in Sunday school today."
Then the pastor asked, "Can you prove to me this story is true?"
She thought for a moment and then said, "Well, when I get to heaven, I’ll ask Jonah."
Finally the pastor asked, "What if Jonah’s not in heaven?"
The girl put her hands on her hips and sternly declared, "Then YOU can ask him!"
SOURCE: “Believing the Bible,” Citation: Rich Tatum, Carol Stream, Illinois
Contributed by: A. Todd Coget
The Source of Faith
It is told that the great preacher D.L. Moody said, “I prayed for faith and thought that some day it would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith didn’t seem to come. One day I read in Romans that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” I had up to this time, closed my Bible and prayed for faith. Now I opened my Bible and began to study and faith has been growing ever since.”
Contributed by: Jeremy Houck
Holding Eternity
Consider the one thing this world which you and I can touch that has "eternity" written into its fabric. It’s the Word of God. Every time I take a Bible in hand, I hold eternity, because the life-force inherent in that Word exceeds all time and space: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Word shall not pass away."
SOURCE: Jack Hayford
Contributed by: Brad Bailey
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