The Test of Tithing

In one paragraph

Brian opened a conversation about tithing, the third topic in a summer series that has also covered worship and God's word. The discussion was interactive throughout, with the congregation contributing questions and observations alongside the teaching. The central idea was that giving money is less about the money itself and more about what it reveals about where your trust actually sits. The word...

Read together

1. Mark 12:41-44 opening passage read aloud about the poor widow giving two small coins
2. Luke 6:38 Brian quotes Jesus saying give and it will be returned pressed down shaken together and running over
3. Genesis 14:14-20 first instance of tithing when Abram gives a tenth to Melchizedek after rescuing Lot
4. Luke 14:33 Jesus says you cannot become his disciple without giving up everything you own
5. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Paul says you do not belong to yourself for God bought you with a high price
6. Matthew 6:24 congregation member connects the tithing and trust theme to no one can serve two masters including money

Talk about it

1. Brian described tithing as a topic that often gets an eye roll or makes people squirmy. What is it about money conversations in a church setting that tends to feel uncomfortable, and where do you think that reaction comes from?
2. Amanda pointed out that the New Age community borrows the concept of tithing but disconnects it from God as the source of truth. Where else have you noticed people living out biblical principles without tracing them back to their origin?
3. Renee described tithing as a mind shift where everything you have belongs to God and you are just the conduit. Has there been a moment in your own life when that shift started to feel real rather than just an idea?
4. Brian said that through the filter of the cross, the Old Testament tithe gets modified in the New Testament, and Luke 14:33 raises the stakes from ten percent to everything. How do you personally hold the tension between that call and the practical reality of bills, savings, and everyday life?
5. Brian closed with the M and M illustration, saying the test of tithing proves the truth of trusting, and that your first reaction to being asked to give reveals the condition of your heart. What does your gut reaction to a giving invitation tend to reveal about where your trust actually sits?