If You Ain’t First, You’re Last (A Study of Firstfruits)

Slide 1: What is a firstfruit?
The first, and best, of anything you have

Slide 2: What is a firstfruit? It could be…
Praise – Heb. 13:15
Thanksgiving – Ps. 50:14
Our children – 1 Sam. 1:11, John 3:16
Our lives – Rom. 12:1
An offering – Lev 2:12

Slide 3: Let’s talk tithes. Three O.T. tithes…
Levitical – Num. 18:21-24
Feasts – Deut. 14:22-27
Poor – Deut. 14:28-29

Slide 4: Why we shouldn’t tithe.
We’re not under law – Rom. 6:14-15
We make only freewill (spontaneous, voluntary) offerings – Gen 14:18-20

Slide 5: Our giving should be…
Planned, proportionate, and private – 1 Cor. 16:1-4
Generous, given cheerfully – 2 Cor. 9:5-7

Slide 6: Why are firstfruits important?
Keeps us dependent and makes us grateful – Hag. 2:8
As an act of congregational worship
So that each member of the Body experiences participation in the ministry of the church – Matt. 28:19-20, 1 Cor. 9, 1 Tom. 5:17
Keeps our eyes on the prize – Rom. 8:23, 1 Cor. 15:20-23
So we will prosper – Prov. 3:9-10, 2 Cor. 9:6, 10-11

Slide 7: Take a day this week, or even a meal, as an individual or as a family to fast and pray. Ask God that He would help you to give Him the firstfruits of your lives in 2019.