Prompts if no response: Money, a tenth of what you have, a portion of what you have earned that is to be set aside for God’s purpose, etc.
Supporting Scripture
Under the Old Covenant, the law commanded the sons of Levi who become priests to collect from the people a tenth that was set aside for God’s purpose
Hebrews 7:5
.
Discussion Question 1:
What do you know about first tithe, second tithe and third tithe?
Prompts if no response: First tithe is for God; we send it to the Church to support the work of the Church. Second tithe is for us to save up so we can keep the holy days and rejoice during the holy days—especially the Feast of Tabernacles. Third tithe is either sent to the Church or taken out of our taxes to help brethren.
Supporting Scriptures
In the Old Testament God’s people were commanded to give Him the tithe (tenth) to support religious functions
Leviticus 27:30
;
Numbers 18:21
. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ upheld the importance of tithing
Matthew 23:23
.
Discussion Question 2:
What are some things you think the Church does with the first tithe?
Prompts if no response: The Church rents meeting halls, pays ministers so they don’t have to get a different job while being a minister, pays for church activities, pays for what we need to preach the gospel to others. It may be helpful to briefly point out that not everything the Church does is fully paid for with tithes. Things like activities may be sponsored with additional money that people give apart from tithes.
What are some things we can use our second tithe on that would probably be pleasing to God? What are some things that would probably not be pleasing? Why?
Prompts if no response: Things that would be pleasing to God could include taking people out to eat at the Feast, buying your friends Feast gifts, eating and drinking things you don’t usually get to enjoy, etc. Things that are not pleasing could include spending all your second tithe on yourself, buying things that aren’t connected to enjoying the Feasts, using it for other things, etc.
Supporting Scripture
The second tithe (also called the Festival tithe) is talked about in
Deuteronomy 14:22-27
. Verse 23 says, “And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.”
Hypothetical 1:
What would you think or say back if you heard this: “If you tithe, your family won’t have enough money left for what you need.”
Prompts if no response: God blesses those who faithfully tithe; it is all God’s money anyway, and He is the One who protects and provides for us, whether our bank accounts have much or little; failing to tithe is robbing God; etc.
Supporting Scripture
God challenged His people to prove His eagerness to bless those who tithe
Malachi 3:8-10
.
Hypothetical 2:
What would you say back if asked: “Why do you tithe?”
Prompts if no response: God commands it; it helps the Church; it helps others; it helps me; etc.
Supporting Scriptures
One way we show God that we love Him is by tithing
Proverbs 3:9
. In addition, tithing helps us to remember that God is the One who provides for us
Deuteronomy 8:18
.
CLOSER
What are some ways people set apart their tithes? What way have you chosen?
Prompts if no response: Different bank accounts, separate jars with cash, different envelopes, etc.
SCRIPTURE FOR MORE STUDY OR REFERENCE
Hebrews 7:1-17
Further Your Study
Hebrews 7:5
And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;
Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?
14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
22 You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.
23 And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you,
25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.
26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.
27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.
8 Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
