006.3 Money, pt.3: The Tithe

To understand the tithe, let’s look at offerings

• First offering was Cain and Abel’s. Cain’s was rejected, because it came from the cursed ground.
• Offer what God commands.
• Tithe was first demonstrated by Abraham, prior to the law. Does this mean we need to circumcise and make animal sacrifices?
• The tithe became a part of the law much later
• It was in place, in part, to sustain the temple system and the priests
• The Levites had no inheritance
• Malachi 3 – God rebukes people for refusing the tithe

Back to the Tithe, examined in light of the New Testament

• Give, and it will be given to you.
• Jesus is not a socialist, nor a capitalist

2 arguments to justify the tithe

• Abraham Argument
  • Abraham tithed before the Law.
  • Pressure to tithe puts us under the Law
  • What about the year of Jubilee? Do we need to tithe AND forgive debts? What about charging interest?
• Jesus affirms the tithe (Luke 11:42, Matthew 23:23)
  • What Jesus is actually talking about is righteousness and not being a hypocrite
  • Don’t disregard justice, have the love of God.
• • This is before the fulfillment of the Law, and directed to professionals in the Law

In the New Testament, there is no command to tithe. Instead there is giving up all things and sharing your life with others.
If the tithe was for the priests, and we are all priests, who do you tithe to?
What is the cost of being Jesus’ disciple? Not 10% of your belongings.
Under grace, the Law is actually amplified, because it’s about the Spirit, your heart, your desires, not your ability to follow rules.

God wants YOU. Your friends and family would not be satisfied with 10% of your paycheck. They want you.

Songs:
The live broadcast included the song “To Obey is Better than Sacrifice” by Keith Green https://youtu.be/TzWyZxlwGKI

“Enough” by Shaun Groves from his album “Third World Symphony”.  Used by permission of Shaun Groves. http://www.shaungroves.com

This episode was originally broadcast live on May 8, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:
www.discipledrivenchurch.org
www.discipledrivenchurch.blogspot.com
www.sunministries.org
www.sunministries.blogspot.com

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)

 

006.2 Money, pt.2: MAMMON

Why is the church so concerned with money, and what is mammon? Is it money, an idol, a false god, something else?
If money has so many negative effects, why is the church so obsessed with it?

When Jesus talked about money, He usually wasn’t talking about money.

You can only serve 1 master. The number of masters available to choose from is still up for discussion.
Luke 16:9-13 The mammon of unrighteousness
Mammon is mentioned only 4 times in scripture, and 3 times in this passage.
What is the definition of mammon?

• If only “money opposed to God”, how can we be faithful with it?
• If mammon is “treasure or wealth”, what does that mean for you and your loyalties?

Your lordship establishes your stewardship – If you serve the wrong god, you will never receive the TRUE things that are actually yours.

Wealth disparity – is it too big? Is it just? Is it okay and good?
The problem with tax exemption.

Matthew 6:24 – the other mammon mention
“For this reason” – because you will hate one master and serve the other, do not worry about needs, but seek first the Kingdom.

Terry Rants
Does God want us rich or does God want us content?
Things are valued differently in the Kingdom.
Misuse of wealth and oppression causes pain, and the oppressed eventually speak out.
You do not require a middle man to utilize your wealth to care for the poor
Don’t donate garbage
What was the sin of Sodom?

Encourage people with passion and big hearts, before they get sucked into bureaucracy

Music
“Rich Young Ruler” by Derek Webb http://derekwebb.com/track/932321/rich-young-ruler?feature_id=236920

“Enough” by Shaun Groves. http://shaungroves.com/

This episode was originally broadcast live on May 8, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:
www.discipledrivenchurch.org
www.discipledrivenchurch.blogspot.com
www.sunministries.org
www.sunministries.blogspot.com

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)

006.1 Money!, pt 1: History and Systems

We do a rather quick and broad flyover of the development of money, its causes and effects, and examine economic systems and what they mean for the follower of Christ. All this is to establish context for the next two episodes, where we discuss mammon and the damage of the pursuit of money.

Money itself is deceptive
Who invented money? Who invented economic systems?
Bartering is great! – dealing with actual things with inherent value, while money is a promise of value. The promise of the value is dependent on a societal structure that values the money.

So what’s the big deal with money, anyway?

• Money makes business easy – bartered goods require effort and care
• Bartered goods require caring for the earth
• Bartered goods are created by God. Cash is made by man, and influences people to find things to exchange for money.
• Money fascilitates a migration away from stewarding the earth, and fascilitates greed.

Modern culture promotes frivolity
“Postponing the crisis” is an epidemic aspect of modern American culture

Songs: “Entitlement” by Beautiful Eulogy, from their album “Sattelite Kite”. It is available at www.humblebeast.com

Other music: “Enough” and “No Better” by Shaun Groves, used by permission of Shaun Groves. http://shaungroves.com/

This episode was originally broadcast live on May 8, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:

www.discipledrivenchurch.org
www.discipledrivenchurch.blogspot.com
www.sunministries.org
www.sunministries.blogspot.com

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)

005.2 Godly Leadership, pt 2 – Servanthood

Leading = Serving

• Matthew 18:1-4
• Luke 22:24-27 – Who’s the greatest!?!?
• John 13:13-15
• Philippians 1:3-8

Jesus emptied Himself to help the poor – The church should follow that example

Am I willing to walk as Jesus did, as a sacrifice for rebellious, apathetic people?

Confidence = selflessness

You Should Hear My Pastor!

Leadership and spiritual gifting – Ephesians 4

• Lead by equipping through gifts, not offices
• Through these gifts, we can see some things the church should be doing
• Divine order – arranging things within the church according to God’s design
• Utilizing spiritual gifts brings eternal value
• Ministry – making disciples; Leaders – equipping saints to make disciples
• The functioning of gifts builds unity

Leaders should cultivate followers of Jesus, not of themselves

In giving up our privilege, we will be reconciling people to God

How does God make a leader? How does man make a leader?

Cornucopia of pastors!

If you’re not working in your gift, what are you working in?

songs

The live recording of this episode included the song “Authority” by 116 Clique

This episode originally broadcast live on May 1, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:

www.discipledrivenchurch.org
www.discipledrivenchurch.blogspot.com
www.sunministries.org
www.sunministries.blogspot.com

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)

005.1 Godly Leadership, pt 1

What does the Bible say about leadership and authority? What does it look like, and what is its role in the church?

The problem with pastors – Romans 12:1-8

The chair of Moses – Matthew 3

Delegated vs Appropriated authority

Leadership as a spiritual gift

Gideon, David, Moses, Peter – all had issues, yet God chose them to be leaders, despite not striving for that position

Gideon – Judges 6:11

• God giving ideon a new identity, Gideon rejects
• wasn’t earned, faught for, or sought. It was god
• this starts an interactive relationship with god
• god understands man – man will find way to take credit, so God makes it clear it’s him
• pay attention

Characteristics of Godly leaders found in Scripture: imperfect, often reluctant or doubting, interactive relationship with God, servant, their authority was a gift of grace (wasn’t earned or fought for)

song: Bryan Morykon – “What Can I Do” http://music.morykon.com/

Other music: “Sweep me away” by Enter the Worship Circle (www.entertheworshipcircle.com), used by permission of Ben Pasley of Enter the Worship Circle

This episode originally broadcast live on May 1, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:
www.discipledrivenchurch.org
www.discipledrivenchurch.blogspot.com
www.sunministries.org
www.sunministries.blogspot.com

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)

004.3 God’s Church, pt 3: Homothymadon

In the book of Acts, how was the Church described? What did it do?

• Acts 8:1, 3 – It is persecuted
• Acts 9:31 – At times, it enjoys peace. It is being built up, believers are going on in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit
• Acts 11:26 – The church is taught by apostles
• Acts 12:1 – Again, it is persecuted
• Acts 12:5 – Believers are imprisoned and engaging in intercessory prayer
• Acts 13:1 – The Church contains people with spiritual gifts (specifically teachers and prophets)
• Acts 14:23 – It has elders appointed; Believers pray and fast together for guidance
• Acts 14:27 – They testify the deeds of God
• Acts 15:3 – It sends out apostles
• Acts 15:4 – It receives apostles
• Acts 20:28 – Overseers are appointed to shepherd the church

Does this reflect your experience of church? Does it reflect your faith?

The “instruction” given to the church has more to do with how you love each other than what happens in a “service”.

New definition of “church” – humanity ordered under Christ

• living the way humans were designed to live
• living in the Kingdom – out of darkness, into light
• sharing life together – can’t get through Acts and not see this
• walking with God – like in the beginning. Spirit returned.
• walking in the Spirit – not flesh

There is an aspect of coming together, of gathering. One of the most appropriate definitions of “church”, based on what ekklesia meant before Christ’s followers began using it, would be the assembly of the believers.

Homothymadon
Scripture says that the believers were of “one mind” or “one accord”. That word is homothymadon, from homou meaning “together”, and thymos meaning “passion, angry, heat, glow, ardour, wine of passion”; also could mean “to rush along in unison”, as in music; or “one passion”. The same word is used to describe crowds reacting to the new church, usually in anger, but also in awe. It is used five times in the Book of Acts to describe the church meeting, praying, and praising together. This following verse gives some good context for the meaning of “homothymadon”:

Romans 15:5-6 “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with ONE ACCORD you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We are to be of the same mind, according to Christ Jesus – as we are “transformed by the renewing of our minds”, we are united in this new life in Christ, this new understanding of God and ourselves. We become united in our newly transformed passions, motivations, and our experience of God and the Kingdom – we rush along together. This word homothymadon shows passion, movement, transformation, intentionality, purpose, unity in a vision, in the Gospel, in a community of Spirit-transformed people.

We quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Because we can.

What about the gathering of believers?

Love is costly.

The same verses that talk about gifts also talk about love. Look it up.

What does all this mean for you?

If a church is going to “change from within”, we provide a handy list of things they would have to cease doing in order to move toward a biblical design.

Song: Enter the Worship Circle – Bright and Beautiful, used by permission of Ben Pasley of Enter the Worship Circle http://www.entertheworshipcircle.com/

The live broadcast also contained the song “Wash Me Clean” by Page CXVI http://pagecxvi.com/

Other music: “All I Need” by Enter the Worship Circle (www.entertheworshipcircle.com), used by permission of Ben Pasley of Enter the Worship Circle

This episode originally broadcast live on April 24, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO

For more info:
www.discipledrivenchurch.org
www.discipledrivenchurch.blogspot.com
www.sunministries.org
www.sunministries.blogspot.com

Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)