Session #6:
Financial Issues in the Lord’s Work
Passages to Read and Consider:
Acts 11:27-30;
Romans 15:25-27; 1Corinthians 9:1-14; 16:1-4; 2Corinthians 8-9;
Philippians 4:15-17
Discussion Points:
1. Discuss the weekly collection of funds.
a. Is there scriptural authority for a weekly collection?
b. Is the church authorized to raise money in ways other than a Sunday collection?
c. Is there scriptural authority for a church to maintain a “treasury?”
d. In what way does giving in New Testament churches differ from tithing?
e. Besides our traditional method, how else could we scripturally take the collection?
2. Discuss the scriptural limitations on church funds.
a. What did churches in the New Testament spend money on?
b. Would it be appropriate for a church to sponsor, fund or organize social programs?
c. Why and how did churches send funds to the churches in Jerusalem?
d. Do we have any examples of one church donating money to fund another church’s work projects?
e. Do we have an example of a church donating money to an outside institution?
f. Would it be proper for the church to pay a needy saint’s hospital bills? Would this be any different from sending a monthly donation to an orphan’s home?
3. Discuss proper and improper attitudes toward financial expenditures and the Lord’s work.
a. There are two extremes when it comes to spending money – Anything and Nothing!
b. Should our view of church funds be different than those of a business? If so, how?
Is our attitude toward the church’s funds and work in harmony with scripture?