Thesis
Just as sharing our personal testimony is a mission rather than a memory, giving the first and best of our income is a testimony of trust rather than a mere financial transaction. Pastor Bill walks from Genesis to the New Testament to show that tithing has always been a voluntary act of worship rooted in the conviction that everything we have belongs to God. He argues that the fear and frustration so many people feel about money is itself the 'curse' that generosity is designed to break, and that genuine faith — choosing to give even when it seems impossible — is the doorway to peace, purpose, and a deeper experience of God's provision.
Key points
- 1
Giving was established before the law as an act of worship; God accepts the first and best, not leftovers.
- 2
The first tithe in Scripture was a voluntary act of gratitude and worship, not an obligation.
- 3
When we forget God is the source of our wealth, we live in fear of shortage — tithing reorients our trust.
- 4
God challenges His people to test Him in the tithe, promising blessing and warning that withholding leads to a cycle of anxiety and never having enough.
- 5
Jesus affirms tithing in the New Testament and raises the standard — grace produces more generosity, not less.
- 6
Where we choose to put our money is where our heart will follow; we cannot serve both God and money.
- 7
Cheerful giving is the fruit of faithful giving — start by taking a step of faith, and the joy will follow.
Outline
Introduction: Why This Topic Matters
Pastor Bill introduces the sermon by confessing his own long struggle with tithing, framing the message as intensely personal. He invites the congregation to simply listen to what God says rather than react defensively.
Big Idea: Tithing Is a Testimony, Not a Transaction
Pastor Bill states the sermon's central idea — that giving the first and best of our income is a testimony of trust in God, not a duty owed to an institution, and that it does something transformative in and through us.
Biblical Survey: From Genesis to the New Testament
Moving rapidly through eight passages — Genesis 4, Genesis 14, Leviticus 27, Deuteronomy 8, Deuteronomy 14, Malachi 3, Matthew 23, Acts 4, and 2 Corinthians 9 — Pastor Bill shows that tithing has always been about trust, worship, and generosity rather than taxation or rule-keeping.
Three Responses: Fear, Frustration, and Faith
Pastor Bill identifies the three responses people have to the call to tithe — fleeing out of fear, fighting out of frustration (including common deflecting questions), and finally choosing faith — and traces his own journey through all three.
Matthew 6 and the Call to Surrender
Drawing on Matthew 6:19-24, Pastor Bill shows that where we put our money shapes where our heart goes, and that trying to serve both God and money keeps us trapped in darkness and restlessness.
The Baseball Glove Story and Closing Challenge
Pastor Bill tells the story of giving his brand-new baseball glove to a teammate in need at his father's prompting, using it to illustrate that everything we have belongs to God, that giving it away does not leave us bare-handed, and that the deepest joy comes from being a conduit of God's generosity.
Memorable moments
Giving was never about a tax. It was about trust. It's not just a rule to follow. It's a rhythm of freedom
when we forget the source, we fear the shortage
You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving
It doesn't say where your heart is is where your money goes, It says where you choose to put your money is where your heart will go
everything you have, your glove ain't yours. He gave it to you to use. And if he asks you to give it away, he'll take care of you
I can say I love God. I love His love. I believe in Him. I trust Him. You could say those words and do so many things, and that's what I realized. I could say all that, but if I don't trust Him with my money, I don't really trust Him at all. I
Application
Pastor Bill's challenge is direct and grace-filled: stop fleeing or fighting, and take one step of faith toward tithing. If you're giving nothing, start at two percent. If you're at two, move to four — with the goal of reaching 10 percent as a starting line, not a finish line. He frames this not as a burden the church wants from you, but as a gift God wants for you: the peace, contentment, and freedom that come when money loses its grip on your heart. The practical next step is to calculate your giving percentage honestly, decide in your heart to move it up, and give it as an act of trust — not waiting until you feel cheerful, but trusting that the joy will follow the faithfulness. As Pastor Bill puts it, 'Just do it and see what happens,' because what God has waiting on the other side of that surrender is far greater than anything you would spend the money on yourself.
