7-Day Study of Giving in the Bible
by Kristine Steakley
Day 1: Giving by example, giving honor properly
Read: 1 Chronicles 29:6-18
- Who should take the lead in giving?
- How do the giving "leaders" encourage others to give and how are they in turn encouraged?
- Why does the honor belong to God?
- David prays that God will keep a
spirit of generosity in the hearts of the people. How can we pray for
our donors and for God's provision of our needs?
Day 2: Administration and distribution of gifts
Read: 2 Chronicles 31:3-15
- Here again, we see leaders giving first. Do you think one person's generosity spurs others to give?
- Why is there so much focus on the administration of the gifts?
- Hezekiah gave honor to God and blessings to the people. How do we keep that perspective?
Day 3: God uses unlikely people
Read: Ezra 1:5-8; Psalm 68:18; Psalm 68:29; Nehemiah 2:8
- Why would God use people outside His kingdom to fund His work?
- How would you feel about
accepting donations from someone whose lifestyle defies God? How about
a company whose policies defy God? How about using government funds
like Nehemiah did?
- How can we turn these situations into opportunities to spread the Gospel?
Day 4: Modern offerings
Read: Acts 10:4; Philippians 4:18-19
- How are our gifts a "fragrant offering" to God?
- What are the implied "rewards" of giving our "fragrant offering" to God?
- How does the whole concept of a "fragrant offering" affect your attitude toward your own giving?
- Seen in context, is Philippians 4:19 a promise for all Christians or only those who are generous givers?
Day 5: One of the earliest direct mail pieces
Read: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15
- Even this early direct mail piece had a matching gift. How did the Corinthians' promise/pledge of funds spur others on to give?
- What arguments does Paul make to encourage the Corinthians to follow through?
- In verse 13, Paul talks about
others seeing the "obedience" of the Corinthians accompanying their
confession of faith. How does giving tie in with obedience?
Day 6: Wrong motives
Read: 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Hebrews 9:9
- What are the wrong motives listed in these passages?
- We need to encourage others not to put their hope in wealth. How can we, as a ministry, not put our hope in money?
- What makes the difference in an
acceptable and unacceptable sacrifice? Think of Cain and Abel – how
does that relate to the fragrant offering talked about in the passages
for Day 4?
Day 7: The gift of generosity and obedience
Read: Romans 12:6-8
- If giving is a gift, how does that
fit in with the obedience that Paul talked about in 2 Corinthians 9?
What is the difference between having the gift of generosity and being
obedient to Biblical mandates regarding tithes and gifts?
- Does our fundraising create opportunities for those with the gift of giving to exercise it?
- Obviously, not everyone has the
gift of giving. What opportunities do we make for these others to feel
in touch with our ministry?
1998 Prison Fellowship Ministries
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