Page 85 - Ecclesiology Textbook Masters

Study Section 11: Finances (continued)

11.1 Connect.

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You ever studied the Bible to find out how the 1 century church spent its money? You ever
looked into their priorities and compared them to the 20 century church’s priorities? I
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wonder if the early church raised money like today’s churches. Did the early believers tithe
10% of their income and did the apostles tell them that their tithe belonged to the church?
And if they did not tithe, perhaps the apostles told them that they were robbing God, as
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many 20 century pastors tell their churches today. Let’s take some time to look into
answering these and many other questions you might have about how to fund the activities of the
church.

11.2 Objectives:

1. The student should be able site verses in Scripture of how the 1 century church spent its
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resources.

2. Based on this study, the student should be able to establish the major priorities of the 1
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century church.

3. The student should be able explain the concept of tithing as presented in the Old and New
Testaments.

11.3 Early Church Spending

In contrast to facts from the previous lesson, here is a list of Scriptures of what the early New
Testament church spent their income on:

Acts 2:44-45 – Common needs, common things of life, material needs of members
Acts 4:32-35 – Distributed to those as they had need
Acts 6:1 – A daily distribution of food to the widows
Acts 11:29-30 – Provide help for those living in Judea (famine)
Acts 13:1-2 – To send off (provide financial means to travel)
Acts 15:2 – Appointed to go up to Jerusalem (provided financial means to travel)
Acts 15:22-23 – Sent them with the letter (provided financial means to travel)
Romans 15:24 – Assist me on my journey
1 Cor. 9:4-12, 14 – Do I not have the right to food and drink?
1 Cor. 16:1-4 – To send to Jerusalem (likely for famine)
2 Cor. 8:19-20 – Appointed to accompany us
2 Cor. 9:12 – Supplying the needs of God’s people
Phil 1:4-5 - Your partnership in the gospel
Phil. 4:14-18 – Assisting ministry needs
1 Tim. 5:9-10, 16 – Widows on the list (for distribution of food and goods)
1 Tim. 5:17-18 – The one who works for the church

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