El AGUA FRÍA, AGENTE DE SALUD

Believe: used 272 times in the Bible Pray: used 371 times in the Bible Love: used 714 times in the Bible Give: used 2,162 times in the Bible An Amazing Story About Giving

Mark 12:41–44

Main Truth: The size of her gift was not determined by how much she gave. The size of her gift was determined by how much she kept.

Even more than a story about giving, this is a story about trusting!

Questions for Discussion:

1. When giving to the Lord, what is more important, the size of your gift or the spirit in which you give the gift? Why? What are some right and wrong motives for giving? 2. What can the lack of giving represent?

Principle #1: Give Generously

Just as you excel in everything else ... in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness ... see that you also excel in the grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7

Understanding the Tithe

Another word used for giving is TITHE. “Tithe” means a tenth part.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Read Malachi 3:8–10. What were the people doing that caused God to chastise them through Malachi? How were they robbing God?

2. In Malachi 3:10–12, what does God promise for those who faithfully give their tithes and offerings? Express these blessings in terms of your life today.

3. What is something new about tithing that you learned from this study? 4. Why the Tithe is Still Worth Striving For?

The tithe, more than anything, is for the purpose of putting us in a place where we have to trust God. God wants us to give in such a way that we are trusting in Him, not in ourselves, for what we need.

Understanding Offerings

An offering is that which is freely given by Christians to the work of the Lord, the local church, and/or ministries and missions.

Question for Discussion:

Read Exodus 25:1–2 and 1 Chronicles 29:3–6. What moved the people to give offerings for the Tabernacle and the Temple?

The following verses will help us understand Jesus’ perspective on giving: Jesus said…

“Freely you have received, freely give: (Matthew 10:8). Jesus said…

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked: (Luke 12:48).

Jesus, said…

“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21:1–4).

Jesus said…

“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Thank Goodness God is Not a Tither!

God didn’t give us a tenth of what He had. God did not have ten sons from whom He gave one to the world for its salvation. God did not decide to give one tenth of His possessions for people to use in order to sustain life. He gave us 100 percent because, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Principle #2: Give Thankfully Mark 6:30–44

What they had, when lifted up to God in thanksgiving, was more than enough. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Principle #3: Give Expectedly 2 Corinthians 9:6–11

God promises to meet my needs

God promises to meet more than my needs God promises to more than meet my needs

Principle #4: Give Thoughtfully

“On the first day of every week, set aside some of what you have earned and give it as an offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn.” 1 Corinthians 16:2

Questions for Discussion:

1. Why is faith a bigger factor in your giving than your financial condition?

2. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1–7. How did the Macedonians give to the distressed Christians in Jerusalem? Why were they able to give so generously? What does it mean to give yourself to first the Lord?

Final Thoughts for Spiritual Leaders Train Thoroughly

• Jesus sought and selected His disciples, and then very methodically taught and trained

• Keep everything simple. Simple = reproducible. Make everything you do, doable by

everyone. If it’s too complex to delegate it will be too complex to replicate. KEY:

Someone observing or participating can say, “I could do that.”

• Do leadership training to keep leaders one-step ahead, instead of light years ahead. We hurt the movement and hold up the movement with lengthy training programs that require people to complete their training before their leading and involvement can begin. Jesus’ disciples were already baptizing in John 4! People can lead as long as they are one step ahead, and as long as they are being supported and trained for the next step.

Connect Consistently

• Jesus was with His disciples. They were able to experience Him, listen to Him, see Him, and model Him. Jesus rotated His disciples through a cycle of watching, teaching, assigning, doing, and evaluating. They did these things together with Jesus and with one another.

• Learning took place wherever Jesus was, and Jesus was wherever there was work to be

done. Occasionally Jesus took His disciples off to a quiet place to pray and teach them,

however, the vast majority of their training and work (the disciples were already

baptizing in John 4), took place in the mission field, while they were being taught and as they were learning.

• It takes a sacrifice of time and energy to develop other people. Jesus spent every day for three years with His disciples. It takes the sacrifice of a long-term commitment.

Trust Totally

• If God is in them, if they committed, and if they are prepared, trust them, and let them

know that you do.

• Be loyal to and patient with those who are loyal to the vision. Jesus endured the weaknesses and mistakes of his disciples and did not abandon or discard them.