Sunday Recap - In Defense of Something Like a Tithe

Sermon Recap - November 19, 2023 - In Defense of Something Like a Tithe

Main Text: Malachi 3:1-12 – READ THE MAIN TEXT AGAIN AS A GROUP

Questions:

1. Recall the intro when Austin talked about how our view of money is affected by psychology. He gave two examples:
•A Gallup poll showing that every economic class felt rich if their income was doubled.
•Data showing millennials have the highest income and lowest poverty of any previous generation despite their feeling like they have the worst financial situation of any previous generation.

2. Why would a God who needs nothing ask us to give him something? (Remembrance – Ps. 24:1 & Mission)

3. What do you think of the notion that the Church is the center of God’s action in the world and therefore is the greatest social good anyone could contribute to?

4. Austin shared a C.S. Lewis quote: “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” Discuss.