Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
First Fruits of the Soil
Scripture
1 When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.” 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the Lord your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. 7 Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him. 11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.
Main Idea
In this week's sermon, Pastor Justin explores the concept of giving God our first and best—also known as tithing. This is a principle that both predates and succeeds the Old Testament. While we often think of tithing as giving 10 percent, the heart of tithing isn't about "giving" at all. It's about bringing our first and best to God, to show gratitude for all He has given us.
"God doesn't need or want our money. God wants our hearts."
Discussion Questions
- How is bringing your first and best to God different than merely giving a certain percentage?
- Have you experienced a time where you were able to do more with 90% with the blessings of God than you would have thought was possible if you had kept all 100%?
- Tithing isn't just about money. What are some other ways that you can recognize that God is first in your life?
Summary
- Tithing isn't about obligation, it's about celebration. It's better to be an intentional giver than a casual tipper. Tithing is a principle that goes all the way back to the beginning of scripture, when Cain and Abel brought offerings to God. (Genesis 4:3-5a GNT) Scripture tells us clearly that Abel brought the firstfruits of his sheep, but it doesn't say that Cain brought the firstfruits of his crops...only that he brought "some," and he only brought it after he knew he had enough for himself. The lesson for us is that God looks at our hearts when we give, and when we give him our first and best, it's a way of recognizing where our help comes from and Who we can rely on.
- Tithing shows thanks for what God has done, not a percentage of what you have earned. Tithing is thanks giving. It's giving out of gratitude for what God has done. While "tithe" literally means tenth, as a principle it's more about "first and best," and it goes beyond money. It's about our time, our priorities, and our hearts. It helps teach us to put God first in our lives. (Deuteronomy 14:23 TLB) It's about recognizing that God is first in your life. (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
- We never come in last by putting God first. (see Proverbs 3:9-10 AMP) It takes faith to trust God with your first, but trusting God never goes unrewarded. 90 percent with the blessings of God goes so much further than 100% without. The thing is, God doesn't need your money or want your money. But God does want your heart, and He knows that money and things can be the number one competitor for our hearts. Money is a counterfeit god that promises things only God can provide. By tithing, we're declaring that Jesus is first. He's the Lord of our lives. By being faithful with the first, we can be fruitful in the rest.
Take Action
In the sermon today, Pastor Justin mentioned it's better to be an intentional giver than an occasional tipper. What steps could you take to give your first and best to God?
Announcements
Christmas is coming! Our Christmas Eve service times will be Tuesday, December 24 at 2:30, 4:00, and 5:30.
