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Tithing is a touchy subject among many believers. Some claim that the requirement to tithe is only an Old Testament concept. Others say that the New Testament requires tithes far greater than 10 percent. In this episode, John Bailey and Mark Renfroe explore the biblical instructions, blessings and difficulties surrounding tithing.

Key Points from the Podcast

  • Under the Old Covenant the people of Israel gave to be blessed and not cursed, but under the New Covenant we give because we are blessed. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.

  • Tithing preceded the law given to Moses, as we see in the lives of Abraham and Jacob giving a tenth, or a tithe, to God before the law was ever given.

  • As New Covenant Christians, we are to give cheerfully in faith, not out of obligation or compulsion.

  • For those new to, or outside, the Christian faith, tithing ten percent can seem like a money racket by the church.

  • In the book of Malachi, we see one of the only instances when God says to test him, and it is regarding tithing.

  • Many Christians have not invited God into their finances, and things are a mess. If you can’t start with ten percent, just start somewhere. Give in faith and watch God bless you and grow your generosity.

  • How we relate to money is important to God. Jesus told us where our treasure is there our heart will be also.

  • Pastor, do you want your congregants to tithe? Set an example for them and have the church give away a tenth to the community and missions.

  • If we truly understand what God has done for us, then our response will be generosity with our time, talent, and treasure.

  • As we lose our appetite for material things our resources will be freed up to give to God’s kingdom work.

  • Sometimes, the more we own, the more it owns us. When you don’t have much, you tend to be more grateful for what you do have.

Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast

Malachi 3:6–10; Deuteronomy 28–30; Genesis 14:1–20; Hebrews 7:1–10; Genesis 28:10–22; Leviticus 19:19; Matthew 19:3–9; Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 6:21; Romans 12:8; Luke 21:1–4

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

About John Bailey

Pastor John Bailey serves as the Chief Operating Officer at World Challenge. John came to know Christ in jail after some difficult struggles as a young man, and God has done a powerful work of transformation since! Spending 13 years in Next Gen ministry, he excelled in discipleship and helping young leaders discover giftings to serve God. John was called next to serve as a missionary and pastor in Western Europe. John and his family then returned to plant the Springs Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Today, the church is a thriving body of believers excelling in outreach and missions. John has now brought his giftings and vision to World Challenge, accelerating the spread of the gospel in America and around the World.

About Mark Renfroe

Mark married his college sweetheart, Amy, with whom he has four adult children—one girl and three boys. The Renfroes have been involved in field missions work for 30 years. They served in the Arab community of San Francisco for four years before becoming foreign missionaries in 1995. Mark was asked to serve as the Area Director for Assemblies of God World Missions in 2007. As part of his role, he led missionaries and interfaced with national church leaders in the 18 countries of the Arab World. In 2017, Mark created Reaching Africa’s Muslims, an initiative to mobilize, equip, and deploy indigenous African missionaries to reach Muslims on the continent. Mark has graduate degrees in Intercultural Studies and Executive Leadership. He currently serves as the Chief Missions Officer for World Challenge in Colorado Springs.