Lesson Two

(Part 1)

1. This lesson is designed to discuss "God's Perfect Pattern Of Giving."

2. God has revealed His pattern of giving and it behooves us to prayerfully and carefully study this pattern.

1. Paul taught Christians to give on the first day of the week. (1 Cor. 16:1,2).

• The "collection" (KJV) or "contribution" (RSV) was for the saints. (1 Cor. 16:1).

• The money was to be taken to help the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. (Rom. 15:26).

• Churches in Macedonia, Galatia, and Achaia gave to that good work. (l Cor. 16:l; Rom. 15:26).

2. The Greek literally reads "the first day of every week."

• The Greek has the word "kata" meaning "every" preceding the word week.

• The RSV, NEV, NASB and other translations render this passage "every week" in keeping with the Greek.

• The NEB has "every Sunday.."  

• According to Vincent, "kata has distributive force" and the meaning is "every first day" (vol. III, p. 228).

• Since every week has a first day, the words, "upon the first day of the week" teach weekly giving.

3. The first day of the week has great significance.

• This is the day Jesus arose from the dead. (Matt. 28:l).

• This is the day early Christians met to observe the Lord's supper. (Acts 20:7).

• This is the day the church began. (Acts 2:1). Pentecost was 50 days after the sabbath of the Passover week. (Lev. 23:15,16). It came on Sunday.

1. Who should give? Place an X by the right answers.

____Those who have a lot

____Just the elders, deacons, and the preacher

____Those who have little.

____Poor, rich, widows, married, single, children.

____Just one wage earner per family.

2. Discuss reasons why every member of the family should give. (Review motivations for giving in Lesson One).

3. What about soliciting money from unbelievers?

• Do we have scriptural authority to solicit contributions from them?

• Is there a difference between accepting and soliciting unbelievers' gifts?

• Is there scriptural authority for policing the weekly collection? (To determine if a gift was given by a non-believer.)

4. What do you think about giving when you are present and spending God's gift on ourselves when we must miss on Sunday because of illness, traveling, or some other reason?

• Do we still owe the rent or mortgage payment or utilities if we are away from home?

• Would a father be doing right to support his family only when he is home?

1. Paul commanded Christians to lay by "in store."

2. Some think the words "in store" mean Christians were to store up their money at home and later be given. This is unlikely.

• Paul said they were to lay by "in store" that no collections be made when he came.

• Storing up at home would require a collection.

• Why were they required to give on the "first day of the week" if at home? One day would have been as practical as another for a home donation.

3. The words "in store" refer to the treasury.

• In reference to a common fund, McGarvey wrote: "The word `thesaurizoon,' translated `in store,' means, literally, `put into the treasury;'and the phrase `par heuto,' translated `by him,' may be taken as the neuter reflexive pronoun, and may be rendered with equal correctness as `by itself.'

• The church would be very limited without a treasury (without funds).

1. What would happen to the church without Christians laying by in store in the treasury?

2. What would happen to the church if every member decided to send his contribution privately to any place he thought it would do good?

• Local evangelism, mission work

• Bible classes, youth ministries

• Benevolent work

• Building, upkeep, utilities

1. God has blessed each one of us. (Jas. 1:17; l Tim. 6:l7; Deut. 8:18).

2. Without the gracious provision of God we could have nothing, be nothing, and do nothing. (Jno. 15:5; 1 Chron. 29:12; 1 Cor. 4:7).

3. Think how tragic when any Christian fails to express his deep gratitude in loyal, faithful giving when God has given him everything He has!

1. We should praise and thank God every day for His bountiful, great blessings! Read and meditate on the scriptures. (Psa.100:1-5; Col. 3:16,17; Eph. 5:20).

2. "Were the whole realm of nature mine that were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.