Archive for June, 2009

Adrian Rogers once said that if your faith hasn’t reached your wallet, then it probably hasn’t reached your heart either.  I think that’s a great quote because it ties in with our series verse from Matthew 6:21, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  This week’s topic on the spiritual discipline of tithing was a harder topic to teach because it’s not about the money.  God doesn’t need out money, God is not a begger, He’s not poor, it’s about more than that, it’s about worship.

This week we looked at the progression of tithing throughout the bible even into the new testament.  Many people believe that tithing is an old testament thing, but even Jesus commended it in Matthew 23:23-24 by saying to the Pharisees that they should tithe, but they should do even more than that.  From the first instance of Abraham giving 10% of the spoils of war to the high priest Melchizedek to Jacob promising his tithe of whatever the Lord would give him.  For these, it was worship, not a commandment.  Moses commanded it, Malachi confirmed it, and Jesus commended it.

I challenged the students by saying that there are three groups of people.  The first is the group that believes that their money is all theirs.  That when the plate goes by, they can give if they want, but they don’t have to.  If they feel led to give, they will, but they can do with it what they want.  The second group believes that the tithe is God’s and the other 90% is theirs to do with as they see fit.  They give obediently.  The last group believes that it all belongs to God and as He shares with us, we share with Him and what ever is left, we pray over and seek His guidance in being good stewards.  The big difference between the groups is that the first shares with God when they want to, the second shares with God because they have to, and the third because it was God’s all along. 

The students got three main points that tithing is an act of Worship, and act of Holiness and an act of Obedience.  We will now have a place that each student can place a tithe during our youth group meetings.  We are providing envelopes for them to fill out, and that now becomes part of our worship service on Sunday nights.

God says in Malachi: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  TEST ME IN THIS,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”  Mal 3:10

Gary

It’s here for some, and very close for others. The end of the school year has drug along and finally cropped up. I wanted to personally congratulate each student for completing the year. I know how hard school work can be and I’m so proud of each of you especially with all of the extracurricular activities that you do!

I especially want to contradulate four specific youth whom I’ve known for many years, some even before CCCM began. Chelsea Tubridy, Jackie Loftin, Courtney Robinson and John Keller all graduated high school this year and for them, this is the mark of a new life of sorts.

I know each of these students and it’s my prayer that not one of them will become one of the statistics that we hear about Christian teens after they graduate. The statistics show that 75% of all Christian teenagers fall away from their faith within 4 years of graduation, but I’ve known these four students for so long, and I’ve personally seen the passion they have for Christ and for others. I know that God has blessed them and will watch over them as a father does his child.

Please take a moment with me over the next couple of weeks and congratulate all of the students for a year finished well, and a well deserved summer vacation!

Gary

Who: All youth 6th to 12th grade PLUS rising 6th graders
What: Day at the lake with Jet ski’s, boats, swimming, and lots of fun
When: August 8th from 12-5pm
Where: Lake Norman, Location TBD
Why: INVITE! Invite your friends for a fun filled day at the lake!
Cost: It’s FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!