THINK GLOBALLY ACT LOCALLY MY ALL IN RESPONSE TO GOD'S ALL

Stewardship Lecture

1. THINK GLOBALLY ACT LOCALLY

2.  TITHES AND REGULAR AND SYSTEMATIC OFFERINGS (NOW CALLED “PROMISE”) ARE THE MOST BASIC AND INITIAL EXPRESSION OF WORSHIP

3. A RESPONSE OF LOVE AND GRATITUDE THAT IS GENERATED FROM THE HEART ( I JOHN 4:19 ). “WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.”

4. A RESPONSE OF LOVE AND GRATITUDE THAT IS GENERATED FROM THE HEART ( I JOHN 4:19 ). “WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.”

5. THE GIVING OF OFFERINGS IS REGULARLY CITED AS A WEAK POINT IN THE PRACTICE OF STEWARDSHIP IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH.

6. THE 2002 SPRING MEETING VOTED: (1) TO APPROVE THE TERM “COMBINED OFFERING” AS THE NAME FOR THE SIMPLIFIED OFFERING SYSTEM.

7. THE 2002 SPRING MEETING VOTED: (2) THE COMBINED OFFERING SHALL BE CONSIDERED THE GIVING SYSTEM RECOMMENDED AND PROMOTED BY THE GENERAL CONFERENCE.

8. THEOLOGICAL RECOGNIZES GOD AS THE FOCUS OF GIVING: INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE MATERIAL NEEDS OF THE CHURCH OR SPECIFIC MISSIONARY PROJECTS, MINISTRIES, OR INSTITUTIONS, THE COP EMPHASIZES THE HUMAN SPIRITUAL NEED TO WORSHIP GOD

9. THUS, “OFFERINGS WILL BE PROMOTED AS AN EXPRESSION OF WORSHIP TO GOD IN RESPONSE TO HIS BLESSING,” AND GIVEN AS REGULARLY AS HE BLESSES (PROV. 3:9, 10).

10. SUGGESTS A DISTRIBUTION BASED ON THE THREEFOLD MISSIONARY STRATEGY: ALL THE COLLECTED AND NOT DESIGNATED OFFERINGS ARE DISTRIBUTED FOLLOWING THE THREEFOLD MISSIONARYSTRATEGY DESCRIBED IN ACTS 1:8

11. IT FOLLOWS THE “BODY” PRINCIPLE: THE COP IS IN LINE WITH THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF THE CHURCH AS A “BODY,” WHICH PRESUPPOSES THAT EACH PART MUST EQUALLY AND CONSISTENTLY RECEIVE ITS SHARE OF NOURISHMENT.

12. EMPHASIZES “PROMISE” (REGULAR AND SYSTEMATIC GIVING)

13. ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE WORKING POLICY REGARDING THE COP, “THE LOCAL CHURCH SHALL RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF 50 PERCENT AND A MAXIMUM OF 60 PERCENT OF THE COMBINED OFFERING FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH BUDGET

14. WITH A GLOBAL OFFERING, MEMBERS ARE FREE TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN PERCENTAGE OF INCOME AS OFFERING, UNLIKE TITHE, WHICH IS SET BY THE LORD AT 10 PERCENT.

15. “PROMISE” IS A MODERN NAME FOR THE REGULAR AND SYSTEMATIC OFFERING, A CONCEPT THAT IS ALLUDED TO IN THE BIBLE (PROV. 3:9, 10; MAL. 3:8)

16. WHEN THEY BECOME “PROMISORS,” MEMBERS GIVE ACCORDING TO THE BIBLICAL PATTERN, WHICH IS PROPORTIONALLY, AFTER EVERY INCOME OR INCREASE RECEIVED.

17. IN THE ANCIENT THEOCRATIC ISRAELITE PERIOD, THE PERCENTAGE GIVEN AS OFFERINGS WAS EVEN HIGHER THAN SIMPLY ADDING A SECOND TITHE (ANOTHER 10 PERCENT). SEE ELLEN G. WHITE, PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS, PP. 527, 528 AND VOL 1 TESTIMONY TREASURES, P. 546.

18. “In the Bible system of tithes and offerings the amounts paid by different persons will, of course, vary greatly, since they are proportioned to the income. . . . But it is not the greatness of the gift that makes the offering acceptable to God. . . .

19. Let not the poor feel that their gifts are so small as to be unworthy of notice. Let them give according to their ability, feeling that they are servants of God, and that He will accept their offering.”—Counsels on Stewardship, p. 73

20. ELLEN G. WHITE SAYS THAT IN THESE LAST DAYS WE ARE CALLED EVEN TO SURPASS THAT GIVING PATTERN ESTABLISHED BY GOD FOR ISRAEL, WHICH WAS ALREADY MORE THAN A TOTAL OF 20 PERCENT. WHITE, PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS, P. 528, AND COUNSELS ON STEWARDSHIP, P. 200 .

21. As an educative effort, therefore, it would probably be better to have more members giving offerings regularly under the percentage-based principle, beginning at any percentage according to what they will propose in their hearts (see  2 Cor. 9:7 ), and then grow that percentage gradually . Counsels on Stewardship , p. 200.

22. WHY “REGULAR” AND “SYSTEMATIC”?

23. ANSWER: THE “PROMISE” OFFERING MAY BE CONSIDERED REGULAR BECAUSE IT IS GIVEN AFTER A PRAYERFUL DECISION (“PROMISE”) TO GIVE IT AS AN ACT OF WORSHIP EVERY TIME THE LORD BLESSES US WITH AN INCOME OR INCREASE (PROV. 3:8-10).

24. 2 Corinthians 8:12 “For if there be first a willing mind,  it is  accepted according to that a man hath,  and  not according to that he hath not.”

25. THE “PROMISE” OFFERING MAY ALSO BE CONSIDERED SYSTEMATIC BECAUSE IT IS GIVEN NOT AS A RANDOM AMOUNT, BUT PROPORTIONALLY . IT IS GIVEN AS A PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED (“PROMISED”) PERCENTAGE OF EVERY INCOME OR INCREASE,

26. “Thus he [Jesus] taught that the value of the gift is estimated not by the amount, but by the proportion that is given and the motive that actuates the giver.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 342

27. SAYS ELLEN G. WHITE: “IF THE PLAN OF SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE WERE ADOPTED BY EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND FULLY CARRIED OUT, THERE WOULD BE A CONSTANT SUPPLY IN THE TREASURY.

28. THE INCOME WOULD FLOW IN LIKE A STEADY STREAM CONSTANTLY SUPPLIED BY OVERFLOWING SPRINGS OF BENEVOLENCE.”  ELLEN G. WHITE, TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH, VOL. 3, P. 389.

29. THIS MATTER OF GIVING IS NOT LEFT TO IMPULSE. GOD HAS GIVEN US DEFINITE INSTRUCTION IN REGARD TO IT. HE HAS SPECIFIED TITHES AND OFFERINGS AS THE MEASURE OF OUR OBLIGATION. AND HE DESIRES US TO GIVE REGULARLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY.

30. LET EACH REGULARLY EXAMINE HIS INCOME, WHICH IS ALL A BLESSING FROM GOD, AND SET APART THE TITHE AS A SEPARATE FUND, TO BE SACREDLY THE LORD'S. AFTER THE TITHE IS SET APART, LET GIFTS AND OFFERING BE APPORTIONED , “AS GOD HATH PROSPERED” YOU. — E. G. WHITE, COUNSELS ON SABBATH SCHOOL WORK, P. 129

31. NOW CONCERNING THE COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS , AS I HAVE GIVEN ORDER TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA, EVEN SO DO YE. UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK LET EVERY ONE OF YOU LAY BY HIM IN STORE, AS GOD HATH PROSPERED HIM , THAT THERE BE NO GATHERINGS WHEN I COME. 1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-2 KJV

32. WE SHOULD NOT TRY GOD IN DISHONESTY. TRY HIM IN HONESTY.

33. IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. 9  YOU ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE, FOR YOU HAVE ROBBED ME,

34. 10  AND TRY ME NOW IN THIS, 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.

35. Putting God First is the ultimate fundamental principle as Christian stewards.  Matthew 6:33  admonishes us, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

36. A combination of a crown of thorns and glory, brings light to the ministry of Jesus for salvation of humanity and for a commitment of Jesus’ disciples to accept Him as Savior and Lord of their lives.

37. “I tell you that one greater than the temple is here” ( Matt 12:6 ) “Now one greater than Solomon is here” ( Matt 12:42 )

38. In the second dimension of His ministry Jesus promises a crown of eternal life for the people of His covenant, for those who are faithful Jesus will give the “crown of life” ( Rev 2:10 ).