Did you know…

• The percentage of income that Christians give to God’s work declined for 26 year!
• Larry Burkett of Christian Financial Concepts estimates only 5% of Christian give 10% or more.
• Barna Research reports that although 17% of Christians say they “tithe”, only 3% actually give 10% or more of their income to God’s work.
• 90% of churches have no active plan to teach biblical financial or giving principles to their congregation.
• 85% of pastors feel unequipped, uncomfortable and untrained to teach biblical financial and giving principles.

In light of these alarming statistics, here are some practical ways a church or ministry can use Scripture passages to teach and encourage God’s people in faithful Christian giving and joyful generosity:

• Use as a weekly giving verse in the bulletin.

• Show verse on the screen (overhead or video projection) while receiving the offering.

• Read one of these verses each week before receiving the offering.

• Use verses in bulletins or written materials to encourage giving.

• Before receiving the offering, have a lay people person choose a “favorite verse” from this list and have them give a brief testimony (1-2 minutes) on how God taught them to be a faithful giver.

• Reference appropriate verses or use key verses as theme verses for funding initiatives (building drives, missions emphasis, special offerings to help the needy, annual stewardship campaign, etc.).

• Use one or more of these verses to write article an article in a church newsletter, Christian magazine, ministry periodical or newsletter that will encourage biblical generosity.

• Use these verses to help prepare a sermon or teaching lesson.

This handout is divided into 2 sections.  Section 1 lists specific verse references and a "summary statement" concerning what is taking place in the verse.  Section 2 lists the specific verse that can be used in bulletins, testimonies, prayers, etc.

SECTION 1

q Gen 14:19 (Abraham’s give of 10%)

q Gen 28:20-22 (Jacob decision to give 10% to God)

q Exod 35:4-29 (Moses and the people’s gifts to build the tabernacle)

q Lev 27:30 (Tithe of everything is the Lord’s)

q Lev 27:32 (Every tenth animal is theLord’s)

q Num 18:21 (Tithes support ministers of God)

q Deut 12:5-7 (Tithes, special gifts, freewill offerings)

q Deut 14:22-29 (Set aside a tenth to learn to revere God)

q 2 Chr 31:2-12 (Hezekiah generosity & giving instructions)

q Neh 10:35-37 (Nehemiah’s giving instructions)

q Neh 12:43-47 (Faithful giving to God’s ministers)

q Neh 13:11-13 (Nehemiah’s rebuke & the results)

q Mal 3:7-12 (Holding back tithes & offerings is stealing from God)

q Matt 23:23 (Jesus’ affirmation of tithing)

q Luke 11:42 (Jesus’ affirmation of tithing)

q I Kings 17:8-16 (Elijah and the starving widow)

q Deut 8:18 (God gives people ability to produce wealth)

q Prov 3:9-10 (Honor the Lord with your wealth & firstfruits)

q Exod 36:3-6 (Moses restrains people from bringing offerings)

q Mal 1:6-14 (Malachi’s rebuke for bringing bad offerings)

q Hag 1:4-11 (Haggai’s giving challenge)

q 1 Chr 29:2-9 (David’s generous gift  & giving challenge)

q 1 Chr 29:11-17 (Everything we have and gives comes from God)

q Luke 6:38 (Give and God will see others give to you)

q 2 Cor 8:2-21 (Rich generosity in the midst of extreme poverty)

q 2 Cor 9:5-15 (God loves a cheerful giver)

q Deut 28:12-13, 43-45 (Blessings & curses for obedience)

q Ps 50:9-12 (God owns everything)

q Prov 11:24-25 (Generosity is the pathway for more)

q Prov 18:9 (Slackness in giving is the same as destroying things)

q Prov 22:9 (Generous man will be blessed)

q Prov 28:22 (Stingy man is eager to get rich, but gets poverty)

q Prov 28:27 (Give and have enough, withhold and be cursed)

q Matt 6:25-34 (Don’t worry, but seek first the kingdom of God)

q Mark 12:41-44 (Rich people giving and the widow’s mite)

q Deut 16:10 (Give in proportion to the blessings the Lord has given you)

q Deut 16:16 (No man should appear before the Lord empty-handed)

q Deut 16:17 (Each person should give in proportion to the way God has blessed them)

q 1 Cor 16:2 (On the first day of each week, give according to God’s blessing)

q 1 Tim 6:6-11 (Cautions about the materialism and the love of money)

q 1 Tim 6:17-19 (Instructions to be generous and willing to share)

q 1 Sam 30:24 (Those who stay with the supplies share with those on the front lines)

q Matt 6:19-21 (Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth – heart & treasure linked)

q Heb 6:10 (God is not unfair, He will not forget the help you gave)

q Isa 32:8 (Noble man makes noble plans)

q Acts 2:44-45 (Believers had everything in common)

q Acts 4:34-37 (No needy persons.  Sale of lands and houses.)

q Rom 12:13 (Share with God's people who are in need)

q Heb 13:16 (Don’t forget to do good and share with others)

q I Jn 3:17 (Do you see brothers in need – help them)

q Luke 18:22-25 (Rich man turns away from Jesus)

q Gal 6:6 (Support financially those who teach you the Word of God)

q Matt 25:35-40 (Helping the least of the brethren is helping Jesus)

Acts 20:35 (It is more blessed to given than to receive)

(C) Brian Kluth.  For more generosity resources or for permission to reprint, go to: www.kluth.org or call 1-888-447-7407

SECTION 2

The verses listed above have been put into an abbreviated format (100 Scripture passages) so they can individually be used in church bulletins, put on an overhead, or read before receiving the offering.

(Date used:________) Gen 28:20-22

q Jacob made a vow (to God), "If God will be with me and will watch over me…all that You give me I will give You a tenth.”

(Date used:________) Exodus 35:5

q From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering.

(Date used:________) Exodus 35:21

q Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work.

Click here to go to the next page with 100 verses for Section 2...

About the author: Brian Kluth is a leading spokesperson nationally and internationally on issues of Biblical generosity.  He has ministered across America and on 5 continents.  His written materials have been distributed to more than 350,000 Christian leaders in more than 100 countries.  His website, www.kluth.org offers additional resources and insights into biblical financial and generosity matters.  He is also the Senior Pastor at the 1st Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs, Colorado.