Nov 02, 2014
Acts 11:27-30


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http://zachadams.org/acts/acts11_27-30.mp3

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Outline:


This past week I ran across a fascinating report by “The Chronicle of Philanthropy” in which they analyzed IRS data from Americans who filed deductions based on their charitable contributions in 2012. “The Chronicle” then took this data and created an interactive map demonstrating “How America Gives.” Note: They also used data from 2006 for comparison. 


Overall three interesting facts emerged from the study: 


1. Americans are very generous people. In all, “The Chronicle” report revealed that Americans donated an astounding $180 billion to charity in 2012 alone. On average, every single American gives approximately 2% of their income to some kind of charity.


2. The wealthier you become the less generous you are. From 2006 to 2012 (during the Great Recession) data analyzed by “The Chronicle” revealed that poorer Americans grew more generous while wealthier Americans became stingier (ironic when the top 10% were the only economic category to see a bump in income). “The Chronicle” created an interesting chart that illustrates this reality comparing 2012 with records from 2006.


Beyond providing a state by state analysis of giving, “The Chronicle” report also further demonstrated the percentages of giving based upon individual income brackets within each state (the interactive map actually breaks things down to each zip code). 


Average Giving Ratios for Georgians:



3. American generosity is largely a byproduct of Christianity. According to the annual “State of the Plate” report more than $50 billion of all the charitable contributions made in the United States come directly from 10 million “Tithing Americans” (which accounts for 28% of all giving). On a side note… Sadly, 10 million is only about 5% of all Christians.


Interestingly enough, “The Chronicle” report actually substantiates this interesting reality by demonstrating that states where religious participation is higher gave the greatest percentage of their discretionary income to charity in 2012. 


1. Utah 6.56% $6,179 $65.60 for every $1000.


2. Mississippi 4.99% $4,930 $49.90 for every $1000.


3. Alabama 4.81% $4,640 $48.10 for every $1000.


4. Tennessee 4.45% $4,798 $44.50 for every $1000.


5. Georgia 4.20% $3,949 $42.00 for every $1000.


Ironically, states with a lower religious participation proved to be least generous.


50. New Hampshire 1.74% $2,032 $17.40 for every $1000.


49. Maine 1.95% $1,995 $19.50 for every $1000.


48. Vermont 2.00% $2,205 $20.00 for every $1000.


47. Rhode Island 2.07% $1,952 $20.70 for every $1000.


46. Massachusetts 2.19% $2,000 $21.90 for every $1000.


While studies have shown charitable giving is important to religious individuals and people who are active in their faith tend to give more than those who are inactive, the truth is that giving within Christianity is largely the activity of a few.


Studies reveal that while tithers make up no more than 20% of the givers in a typical congregation, they end up donating 50 to 80% of all the money. Amazingly, 20% of American Christians give nothing to charity and nearly 75% give less than 2% of their income (which is simply the average rate of most Americans).


The “General Social Survey” found that while 25% of Christians said they tithed 10% when their donations were checked against income figures it was discovered that only 3% of this group gave more than 5%. This survey also discovered that 10% of those who reported tithing 10% of their income in actuality gave $200 or less to their church.


According to “Empty Tomb” (a research organization specializing on religious giving) from 1968 to 2009, member giving actually decreased from 2.45% to 2.04% (a decline of 17%). Note: Giving rates among Christians were 3.3% during the Great Depression. 


Writing for “Relevant Magazine” Mike Holmes proposed an interesting question, “What would happen if believers were to increase their giving to a minimum of, let's say, 10 percent.” According to his research if every Christian tithed 10% there would be a yearly revenue stream of $165 billion that churches would be able to use to further the Gospel. Mr. Holmes continues by “listing just a few things the Church could do with that kind of money: $25 billion a year could relieve global hunger and deaths from preventable diseases in five years. $12 billion a year could eliminate illiteracy in five years. $15 billion a year could solve the world’s water and sanitation issues. $1 billion a year could fully fund all overseas mission work. With $106 billion still left over for additional, domestic ministry expansion.” 


What about our church? A 2011 “Quarterly ECCU Report” on giving as it specifically applies to churches states that the average yearly donation per attendee was $599. Since our internals reveal that we average 71 adults each Sunday (data collected since our launch in January of 2013) consistent with national averages our yearly revenue should be $42,529. And yet, astoundingly C316 breaks the traditional church mold as we’re presently projected to end the year around $110,000. This means the average yearly donation for every member of our church will be $1549 (more than two and a half times the national average). 


Now before you get to proud… Not all 71 attendees give $1549 a year to C316.


According to a Barna Group study on charity, of Christians who give (keep in mind 20% of church attenders don’t so for ease we’re going to assume all 71 at C316 do)…



If you were to gage the income levels of C316 members via this analysis…



Here’s the point… C316 is in a wonderful financial situation because the vast majority of our “employed attenders” are actually tithing (this breakdown of those making above $5000 is probably very accurate). And yet, consider… Are there 37 people or a little over 50% of the adults in this room making below $5000 a year? 


The poverty line for a single individual in Georgia is $11,670 which should in theory yield a yearly tithe of $1167. Place that in context to the stats I just laid out. Can we honestly say 60% of the individuals who make up C316 are living in abject poverty?


Beyond the reality of our church specifically or the church universally, why is there such a disconnect? Do a majority of Christians reject the Biblical basis of tithing, being generous, or financially supporting the church they attend? I don’t think so… In actuality there is no data to support this belief. So… Why do so many Christians fail do tithe faithfully?


Sadly, a Huffington Post article written by David Briggs titled, “The Flesh is Weak: Churchgoers Give Far Less Than They Think” touches on a greater (and I believe more reasonable) explanation. The article begins with a scathing but true thesis, “Churchgoers like to think of themselves as generous and cheerful givers, but for many the flesh appears to be weak when it comes to living up to their own standards for charitable giving.”


You see I believe this giving disconnect originates not in our brains (we know we should), or in our hearts (we really want to), but rather in our disciplines. I think for many when they consider the tithing issue they could echo what Paul said in Romans 7:19, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”



Question: How do we develop the discipline of giving? The answer is found in the final four verses of Acts 11. Acts 11:27-30, “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”



Luke tells us that towards the end of this year long period of ministry a prophet who had come “from Jerusalem to Antioch… named Agabus” prophesied that a great famine was going to take place “throughout all the world.”


While the event would be global in scope it would seem that within context of Agabus’ prophecy the Christian “brethren dwelling in Judea” would be hit the hardest. Note: Jewish Historian Josephus makes two references to a great famine ravaging Jerusalem in 45 AD. 


This church-plant in Antioch (largely Gentile) hears of this coming need and immediately sends a financial care-package to the established church in Jerusalem (largely Jewish). Luke says “the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief.”


Four things emerge from our text that will help you develop the discipline of giving:


1. Take ownership of your church. 


It’s clear by the reaction of these believers in Antioch that upon hearing of this financial need within the church they immediately felt a responsibility to act! 


It’s interesting, but data substantiates an interesting correlation between giving to a church and involvement within a church. According to research, of those who tithe 10% or more: 96% attend church weekly, 70% read their Bible 4-7 times a week, 54% serve in some capacity within the church, and 53% are involved in a secondary group.


You see when someone plugs into a church not only is part of them now invested, but there comes a natural responsibility to insure the needs of the church are being met. If you struggle tithing, finding a way to plug in will help you develop this discipline.


And yet, beyond this reality… The Bible is clear that those benefiting from a ministry should carry a financial obligation to insure the ministry is being cared for regardless of their active participation. In Matthew 10:5-11 Jesus told His disciple before sending them out to minister, “take along no money… for the worker is worthy of the support." 


Paul would say in 1 Timothy 5:17-18, "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing… The laborer is worthy of his wages.” And again in 1 Corinthians 9:14 again Paul says, “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.”


The implication is that those who are preaching the gospel and performing the ministry of the church should be supported by the people to whom they minister. 


Even if you don’t want to plug into C316, think about ownership this way… If you and your family are being blessed by a church community and spiritually fed by a pastor, shouldn’t you assume enough ownership in order to insure the amenity you enjoy continues? 


According to the “United States Bureau of Labor Statics” the average American spends 5.6% ($2,827) on entertainment alone. Sadly, in context to all the data we’ve gone over American’s spend more on alcohol per year (1% or $454) and tobacco products (0.5% or $303) than they give to the church they view to be a blessing to their family.


2. Start giving in a way you can honestly maintain.


Luke tells us each disciple “gave according to his ability…” We can presume this meant each gave according to the ability of (A) their financial resources, and (B) their faith. 


When considering your financial giving there are two questions you would be wise to ask: (1) What resources do I have to give? (2) Do I have enough faith to trust that God can care for my needs with what remains? Figure out an honest way to balance out the two!


Illustration: Recount my Bible College experience.


Brian Kluth founder of the “Maximum Generosity Study” said, “The Scripture tells us to give from what we have. That is a biblical mandate. There are some seasons of our lives we have less than others, and so when you experience a downturn financially you don't stop giving, you give a proportion of what you have… I always like to say, you don't give to get, you give because you've received something already. You give because you've already gotten something from God."


3. Create a method whereby you can maintain your giving.


Once these believers honestly evaluated their “ability” Luke tells us they each “determined to send relief.” So often giving doesn’t boil down to our sense of “Biblical responsibility” or even “our ability” to do so, but ends up being a simple matter of determination. 


This word “determined” in the Greek is “horizô” meaning “to mark out the limit, to appoint, or ordain.” Basically, their generosity wasn’t casual, but premeditated and intentional.


This morning if we’re operating under the premise that you ought to tithe but you simply struggle to do so, determining the following two things will help you out tremendously: 


A. Determine how much of your income you are going to tithe. While it’s true that of actual tithers 23% give 10%, 54% give between 11-15%, 14% give between 16-20%, and 9% give more than 20%, never get hung up on a number. 


Truth be told, while there is precedent that 10% is a good place to start the Bible never dictates a percentage. The key is to set a percentage based upon your ability then make the determination to abide by that standard.


Illustration: Play the video of Rick Warren.


B. Determine a method of giving that will work for you.


Illustration: Friend who went to extreme efforts to give.


Once again data of actual tithers present an interesting reality… 28% started in the child/teen years, 35% in their 20’s, 19% in their 30’s, 18% in the 40’s or above. This tells us like so many other spiritual principles tithing is a matter of habit. 


4. Never forget why the discipline is important in the first place.


This detail that they “sent it to the elders” of the church in Jerusalem should not be overlooked. One of the reasons giving is important in the life of a believer is that it helps keep my heart and the money in my bank account in a proper balance. 


In Luke 12:34 Jesus would caution “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This is important for in 1 Timothy 6:10 Paul cautioned that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Giving of my “first-fruits” helps me remember that…


Everything I have is a gift of God…


It’s His job to care for my needs… 


And mine to faithfully steward His resources accordingly. 


This is why trusting a tithe to be faithfully administered by others is such an important part of the process of maintaining a healthy balance. Giving without conditions completely severs any connection or power money might have over your heart.


In conclusion… Since this giving disconnect originates not in our brains (we know we should), or in our hearts (deep down we really want to), but rather in our disciplines… We would all be wise to learn from these believers in Antioch.


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