Statistics on giving from the Christian Broadcast Network in an article from 12-30-2024 conducted by Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research.
From 2021-2024 The giving in Evangelical churches has declined from 74%-61%
This is a decrease of 13 percentage points.
There has been a 17% decrease in the amount that is given.
The amount average percentage people who are giving is now 2.8% of their income
Biblical context for giving:
Old Testament Law
-Numbers 18:26-29
26 “Moreover, you shall speak and say to the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Israel the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe. 27 And your contribution shall be counted to you as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress. 28 So you shall also present a contribution to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord's contribution to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every contribution due to the Lord; from each its best part is to be dedicated.’
-Leviticus 27:30 "Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD's; it is holy to the LORD
New Testament Principle -
Matthew 23:23
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others
Endorsed by Jesus
I Corinthians 9:13-14 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Table Illustration:
I. Giving is connected to the Heart
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is there will your heart be also
2 Corinthians 9:7 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
A. When we give it connects our heart with the right perspective
Giving God a tenth of our first fruits honors Him as the owner of all things
Giving God a tenth of our first fruits protects against idolatry.
B. When we give it connects our heart to trust him as our provider.
Matthew 6:26 He cares for the birds. How much more will he care for you?
Giving God a tenth of our first fruits invokes trust that he is our provider not ourselves.
Giving God a tenth of our first fruits provokes contentment.
II. Giving is Connected to Break through in your life
A. A promise to hold
Luke 6:38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
Malicah 3:10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
B. The Biblical principle you reap what you sow.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
III. Giving is connected to the Building of the Kingdom of God
A. Jesus modeled self-sacrificing generosity for the sake of Building the Kingdom
2 Corinthians 8:9-11 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich
B. Jesus will build His Church based on His principles.
C. When we give, we connect with God’s plan for good deeds
2 Corinthians 9:8 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
D. Generosity should be our motivation
2 Corinthians 8
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
BE A KINGDOM BUILDER
Conclusion:
Will you trust God with your finances?
Will you allow God to use you to build the kingdom?
Will you test God and his promise?
Will you experience a breakthrough?
Will you be generous?
Comments