Note from Randy Alcorn: These are copies of the overhead transparencies I used in giving a message on tithing.

Tithing: The Training Wheels of Giving

by Randy Alcorn

“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” Leviticus 27:30

Robbing God

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offer-ings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. “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.” Malachi 3:8-10

Jesus on Tithing

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” Matthew 23:23

Early Church Fathers (First 3 centuries A.D.) on Tithing:

“The Jews were constrained to a regular payment of tithes; Christians, who have liberty, assign all their possessions to the Lord, bestowing freely not the lessor portions of their property, since they have the hope of greater things.” - Irenaeus

“Tithes are required as a matter of debt, and he who has been unwilling to give them has been guilty of robbery. Whosoever, therefore, desires to secure a reward for himself . . . let him render tithes, and out of the nine parts let him seek to give alms.” - Augustine

“If anyone shall not do this [pay tithes] he is convicted of defrauding and supplanting God.” - Jerome

“New Testament Grace Giving” (not less than a tithe, but more! The tithe is the floor of giving, never the ceiling. Freewill giving begins after the tithe.)

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Acts 4:32-35

“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. 
      “Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. . . . see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 
      “. . . For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”  2 Corinthians 8:1-9

Note: For responses to some of the most common arguments against tithing, see Money, Possessions and Eternity, by Randy Alcorn, pages 218-223. Note especially “Profiles of Christians who Rob God.”