USING THIS CURRICULUM

BIBLE FELLOWSHIP TEACHING PLANS OCTOBER 22, 2017

USING THIS CURRICULUM PREPARATION This section is designed to guide your study preparation. First, you will be encouraged to read the Bible passages through, consulting the commentary provided as you need it to bring clarity or better understanding. Note that the commentary for each passage is provided within the heart of the study so that you can consult it more easily within the context of the passage you re teaching, or even read from it in your group if needed. Second, you will be encouraged to read through the entire teaching plan. Reading through the entire teaching plan ahead of time helps to ensure you have the best possible experience with your group. Some of the questions may not work for you or your group, and you might also come up with new questions that will work great with your group. Third, you will be encouraged to pray for all involved in worship and study each week. HIGHLIGHTS This section is designed to give you the big picture of the passages you will study and the teaching plan itself. The Biblical Emphasis simply states the main idea of the Bible passage(s) you will study. The Teaching Aim simply states the one thing you are aiming to communicate to your group through the study. INTRODUCTION, UNDERSTANDING, AND COMMENTARY These sections represent the actual teaching plan you will use with your group. The Introduction Section is designed to engage all members of your group, regardless of their spiritual maturity, around the teaching aim of your study. The Understanding Section is designed to equip you to facilitate a group discussion on the texts or topics assigned. The questions will range from basic comprehension to specific application. Commentary from LifeWay Christian Resources is provided on each passage as well. Commentary is also provided to help you prepare in a more in-depth fashion, and also provide guidance for questions that may come from your group.

CALVARY MALACHI 3:6-12 OCTOBER 22, 2017 TEACHING PLAN PREPARATION > Spend the week reading through and studying Malachi 3:6-12. Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation. > Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group. > Pray for Pastor Rob, the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the study. HIGHLIGHTS BIBLICAL EMPHASIS: Followers of Jesus have a responsibility to tithe to the work of the Lord. This practice meets the threshold God has set for giving and results in God s provision for us. TEACHING AIM: Tithing is a spiritual discipline that God requires and blesses. MEMORIZE: Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way, says the LORD of Hosts. See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. -Malachi 3:10 3 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary

INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going. 1 If you unexpectedly received $50,000 tonight, what do you think you would do with the money? How much do you think you would save? How much would you spend? Would you give any away? Why or why not? 2 What is the first thing you usually do on payday? Has that always been the first thing? How have your payday spending habits changed over the years? 3 How are our hearts revealed by where we first spend our money? If you want to know what is truly important to a person, look at where he or she spends his or her money. Perhaps more telling is the first thing we do with our money when we get paid. Most Americans take all they can get. Fewer give all they can give. Fewer still give money to God. While some Christians give regularly, joyfully, and even sacrificially to the Lord and His work, the majority of Christians give meagerly and sporadically. Some have so mismanaged their financial affairs that they are convinced they cannot afford to give. Studies show that a minority of believers practice the discipline of tithing that God expects from all His people. The tithe is the minimum standard of giving for people who follow God. At Calvary, we value generous living over ordinary giving. This means that we are eager to give our tithes and beyond to see God s work accomplished in and through us. 4 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary

UNDERSTANDING & APPLICATION Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic. Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives. > Have a volunteer read Malachi 3:6-7. Malachi is not a book of the Bible we tend to go to very often. What is the context for this book? When was Malachi writing? Malachi was the last writing prophet in the Old Testament. This short book written after the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylonian captivity features the prophet writing as a prosecuting attorney with a six count indictment against God s people who had turned away from His love. After all that God had done for Israel, they had not shown Him the honor and devotion that He was owed. This included their habits in giving. What does God s constant and unchanging character have to do with His people giving? What was Malachi trying to get God s people to realize? What hope did Malachi offer, even in condemnation? As we saw in the introduction, where our money goes provides a window into our hearts. One of the strongest evidences that God s people turned away from Him was their refusal to give to Him. Yet, giving is not a problem isolated to the Old Testament. Numerous studies have been done on the giving practices of church members. Most conclude that approximately 50% of members give nothing at all, 30% of people give 20% of the budget, and 20% of the people give 80% of the budget. An established church with a record of strong faith like Calvary is not excluded from these statistics. 5 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary

If giving is so clear in God s Word, why do we have so many problems giving? What obstacles (real or perceived) do we face? Do you feel like God s Word is particularly clear on the topic of giving? What questions do you have? What excuses do you make to try and get out of clear commands to give? COMMENTARY ON MALACHI 3:6-7 Judgment was coming on Israel and the world (3:2-5). Does this mean the end for Israel? No. God has made covenant promises about the nation s future that are unchangeable. But promises are only as trustworthy as the character of the one who makes them. Thus, God solemnly declared, I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. God s holy, just, and faithful character does not, and cannot, change. The apostle Paul wrote, If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself (2 Tim. 2:13). Because God is holy and just, he will judge sin. Because God does not lie (Titus 1:2), he would purify Israel but not totally destroy it (Ps. 89:34). Undoubtedly, the name Jacob ( heel grabber, supplanter ) is chosen as an appellation for the nation here as a reminder that, like their scheming ancestor (Gen. 27:1-36), Israel did not deserve God s grace. I the Lord do not change is one of the most important theological statements in the Bible (Jas. 1:17), refuting claims by some people that God is in process of growing and developing. God cannot become better because he is already perfect. God cannot learn more because he is already omniscient. God cannot become more powerful since he is already omnipotent. Israel had a history of waywardness turning from God s decrees (the law), but the Lord Almighty still loved his 6 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary

people and entreated them to return to me, and I will return to you (cp. Zech. 1:3). If they would repent of their sins, God s special presence and blessing would come to rest on the nation as it had in times past. Perhaps the people s question, How are we to return? was sincere; but in light of the attitude expressed throughout the book, it was likely a cynical response. Contrary to his usual pattern, Malachi did not follow the question with a specific explanation because in reality the whole book points the way for the people to get right with God. Verse 7 could stand alone, but most commentators connect it with verses 8-12, a transition from the general charge of disobedience to the specific charge of robbing God. > Have a volunteer read Malachi 3:7b-8. In the past as in the modern church, withholding tithes and offerings was not isolated to a few individuals but was characteristic of the whole nation. The people as a whole were suffering under a curse. In their case, those effects evidently were drought, crop failures, and famine (3:10-11) as God s disciplinary punishment for their sins. How were the people of Judah robbing God? Have you ever thought about not tithing as robbing God? Discuss your thoughts. How does God s indictment lead you to think differently about the excuses you ve given for not giving in the past? The tone here is intentionally confrontational. We must be careful to hear the words of these verses the way that God gave them. Malachi was preaching a direct and sobering message. We should seek to hear these words with their intended tone intact. The people of Judah wrongly believed they would be more prosperous if they withheld their tithes and offerings. Because the people of Judah failed to tithe, God withdrew 7 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary

His blessing on their crops. He promised to bless them with abundance if they trusted Him with their finances. God can do more with our 90 percent than we can manage with 100 percent. We know that God is not dependent on our financial offerings. Why, then, are we commanded to give? When we tithe, what does giving the first ten percent of our income communicate about our perception of our finances? What does it communicate about our belief in God? How does tithing help us see ourselves as stewards of our money and not owners of it? According to these verses, what is the plan of stewardship? Everything we possess belongs to God. He doesn t need our finances, but we are called to give. Giving our tithes and offerings to God demonstrates that everything we have comes from His hand and that we trust in His provision. This is not to be confused with the heretical prosperity gospel that wrongly promises health and wealth in exchange for our giving. The practice of tithing demonstrates several important beliefs of a Christian. Tithing is an act of obedience and an expression of devotion to the Lord. It acknowledges that God owns everything; we are merely stewards of what He has entrusted to us. It expresses faith in God as Provider, trusting Him to enable us to meet our needs with what remains. The Lord did not command tithing to harm or hinder His people He loves us and always wants the best for us. To fail to tithe is to miss His blessings found in the joy of giving. 8 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary

Do you tithe regularly? If not, why not? If you are honest, do you see tithing as a matter of obedience or preference? How does our culture distort and manipulate our views on tithing? COMMENTARY ON MALACHI 3:8-9 In verses 8-12 we have Malachi s treatise on tithing, probably the most familiar passage in the book. Malachi s opening question is shocking Will a man rob God? Even most unbelievers would be too frightened (if merely out of superstition) to steal from God. Yet, in addition to all their other offenses, the people were now charged with this heinous crime. Understandably, they wanted God to explain, How do we rob you? God replied, In tithes and offerings. The word tithe (also v. 10) is a translation of a Hebrew word, which literally means tenth part, defining the tithe as 10 percent of one s material increase. Offering is a more general term, specifying contributions for a sacred purpose. Tithes were given to support the priests and Levites, since the tribe of Levi received no allotment in the land of Canaan like the other tribes (Num. 18:21, 24-29). As a result of Judah s sin, the whole nation was under the curse outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-42 drought, poor crops, and so forth. The remedy was to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. The words the whole tithe may intimate that some people were giving a partial tithe. The phrase food in my house (the temple) refers to the provisions for the priests sustenance and the offerings. 9 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary

> Have a volunteer read Malachi 3:10-12. What does it mean to bring the full tenth? What does this tell us about the motives with which God wants us to give? What is the purpose of stewardship? What does God promise to those who give this way (v. 10)? Our giving is a measure of our obedience to God, faith in God, and love for God. Jesus gave His all for us, and He asks for us to give back in faithfulness. Tithing does not guarantee financial blessing from the Lord, but it does guarantee spiritual blessing (v. 11). The purpose of giving is twofold: our giving not only provides support for our church s mission and ministries, but it also deepens our relationship with God. What we do with our money is a reflection of where our heart rests with God. How should we understand Malachi s reference to the storehouse (v. 10)? What was this in Malachi s context? What does that mean for us in 21st-century America? Why does where we place our tithes matter? What purpose are they designed to serve? How does your understanding of tithing change when you see that it is meant to strengthen the local church? Does this challenge your understanding of what a tithe is meant to be? If so, explain. Tithes went into the storehouse of the temple to support the ongoing ministry of the Lord. Christians do not have a temple 10 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary

because the function it served is fulfilled in Christ, but that does not mean that we are free to tithe wherever we feel like it. The storehouse for us is the local church, where the body of Christ links arms to do ministry. The local church is the primary conduit through which God blesses the world. As a result, this is where our tithes should go. The church is God s front lines of support, so denying the church our tithes keeps the church from being able to function in the way that God intended. While we may give offerings or gifts of generosity to Christian organizations outside of the church, the local church should be the recipient of our first ten percent. How do God s promises in Malachi counter any fears or apprehensions you might have about tithing? What is the prize of stewardship? Do you really believe God s promise? Have you ever truly tried to trust this promise in the way that you give? What did that look like? When we give to God, we are blessed beyond anything we could imagine, but we do not give to get blessings. We give because of the joy of loving and obeying the Lord through obedience. As you obey God more and more, you will find giving is a blessing in and of its own. Our tithe is the bottom line obedience for all followers of Jesus. When we tithe, we give our first and best to God, knowing He will supply all of our needs (Matt. 6:33). Did you grow up in a house that tithed? What did you learn from observing your parents give? How are you seeking to pass this practice along to your children? Brainstorm ways you can model and teach the principle of tithing to your kids. 11 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary

How is tithing more than a money issue? Why is it really a heart issue? How does giving lead to spiritual growth? What blessings do we find when we tithe? Have you ever experienced blessings from tithing? If so, share with the group. COMMENTARY ON MALACHI 3:10-12 Tithing can be a frightening commitment. How will we ever survive financially if we give so much to God? Our children will starve! To allay such fears, God challenged Judah (and us) to test him in this matter. In other words, God says, Give tithing a try and see what happens. If the people would trust him in the matter of tithing, God promised to lift the curse and send so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Rain would fall (heaven s floodgates opened), and they would have bountiful crops (not room enough to store it all). God would prevent pests (literally, will rebuke the devourer ; probably locusts, Deut. 28:38) from destroying the grain, and the vines would produce abundantly. Even pagan nations would observe God s blessing on Judah and label it a delightful land (cp. Isa. 62:4). No doubt God blesses people spiritually when they obey him, but here we see that God often blesses us economically as well. P R A Y Pray that God would take our firstfruits and multiply them for the work of His ministry throughout the world. Ask that God would convict people to give their first and best to the Lord, both in their finances and in their devotion. 12 The Preacher of Stewardship Calvary