4 MIKE MAZZALONGO Principles of the Plate Review

4 MIKE MAZZALONGO Principles of the Plate

Review • Stewardship is management of someone else’s property

Review 1. Motivation – Guilt – Holy Spirit

Review 1. Motivation – Guilt – Holy Spirit 2. Old Testament vs New Testament pattern of giving

Review 1. 2. Motivation – Guilt – Holy Spirit Old Testament vs New Testament pattern of giving 3. Good stewardship requires: – Think / Act / Feel

Review 1. 2. 3. Motivation – Guilt – Holy Spirit Old Testament vs New Testament pattern of giving Good stewardship requires: Think / Act / Feel 4. Principles of the plate

Plate Principle #1 The more you give the more you get.

You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, ” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. 9 - Malachi 3: 9 -10

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure —pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. ” - Luke 6: 38

Plate Principle #2 It is more blessed to give than to receive

Giving: • Benefits the giver and receiver • Pleases God • Guards against greed • Puts us into the Spirit of Christ

Plate Principle #3 God provides for your giving

So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. - I Chronicles 29: 10

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. - I Chronicles 29: 11

Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to 13 strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. 12 - I Chronicles 29: 1213

“But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. - I Chronicles 29: 14

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever. ” - II Corinthians 9: 8 -9

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your 11 righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 10 - II Corinthians 9: 1011

God’s System for Giving 1. God can provide everything

God’s System for Giving 1. God can provide everything 2. God provides for our needs and our need to give

God’s System for Giving 1. 2. God can provide everything God provides for our needs and our need to give 3. God provides what we need to glorify Him

Some of what God gives us is supposed to be given to others.

Plate Principle #4 We will be judged based on our giving

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ” - James 2: 18

Faith is expressed in various ways: • Baptism – Mark 16: 16 • Obedience – John 14: 23 • Giving – Matthew 25: 31 -46

Giving is a barometer of our faith

Plate Principle #5 Giving determines the growth of the church.

The church’s growth was fueled by 2 actons: 1. Preaching 2. Giving

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were 44 taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 43 - Acts 2: 43 -45

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. - Acts 4: 32

And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and 34 abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 33 - Acts 4: 33 -34

and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each 36 as any had need. Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of 37 Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 35 - Acts 4: 35 -37

Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. - Acts 6: 1

The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. - Acts 6: 7

Preaching without giving will not grow the church.

Giving without preaching will not grow the church.

Bible Based Preaching + Sacrificial Giving = Dynamic Growth

Plate Principles: 1. Give more – Get more

Plate Principles: 1. Give more – Get more 2. Giving = Spiritual Experience

Plate Principles: 1. Give more – Get more 2. Giving = Spiritual Experience 3. God gives so you can give

Plate Principles: 1. Give more – Get more 2. Giving = Spiritual Experience 3. God gives so you can give 4. Judgement and giving are related

Plate Principles: 1. Give more – Get more 2. Giving = Spiritual Experience 3. God gives so you can give 4. Judgement and giving are related 5. Growth and giving are related

How is your giving affecting the church?