#1. Why does the church talk about money so much?

First, the reason the Church talks about money is because God talks about money. Jesus talked about money often! He devoted many of his parables to the topic of money, and he spoke about money more than he did about heaven and hell combined. In the end, roughly 25% of Jesus' words in the New Testament deal with biblical stewardship. And that’s not all. There are more than 2,000 scriptures on tithing in the bible, money, and possessions in the Old and New Testaments. That's double the number of references to faith and prayer combined. The amount of time devoted to money and possessions in the Bible leads us to the next point. 

Second, money is frequently discussed in the Bible because there’s a direct correlation between the way we handle our money and our faith. In the words of Jesus, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34).   When it comes to money, we will either worship wealth or worship with our wealth.  Read that again. There’s a big difference between the two.  From the seduction of success to the lure of lust, many things in this world will vie for your affection and devotion. But the most significant idol we face is money (Matt. 6:24).  God desires our devotion, and he knows everyone will come face-to-face with the temptation of money, which is why he speaks so often about it. 

#2. What is a tithe?

The word tithe means tenth in Hebrew. Tithing is giving a tenth of your income to support the work of the local church and pastor.  According to Leviticus 27:30 (TLB), “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s, and is holy.” And Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” The gardening metaphors may have thrown you off, but these verses are essentially saying to give a portion, specifically a tenth, of whatever you make (aka your income) back to God. And firstfruits is just a biblical way of saying that you should give first—before you do anything else with your money

#3 What is the difference between tithe and offering?

A tithe is a specific amount (10% of your income) that you give first, and an offering is anything extra that you give beyond that.

#4. Why should I give to my church? 

Money can only stretch so far, and there are many worthy causes people can support. So, why should you give to this Church? Giving to a local church like the FLOCK is less about giving per se and more about participating in the life of the church. You see, when you place your faith in Christ, you become a part of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12). As a member of the body of Christ—the Church—God invites you to take part in his work, which includes giving to support the work of the Church. When talking about giving in this context, it is not only talking about donating money. Also have in mind serving the church with your time and skills as well, which are equal parts of what biblical stewardship is all about. In this response, I hope you see that giving to the FLOCK is more about identity and participating in God’s work and less about obligation. 

#5. Can I trust you with my money? 

Yes, in general, our ideal church budget probably falls within these parameters: 

Personnel: 33-45%   |   Building/facilities: 30-35%   |   Office expenses: <10%   |   Missions:<10%

We maintain records according to the IRS 501c3 regulations and guidelines.  

#6. Why do we accept credit or debit cards? 

Credit and debit cards are a payment system. Instead of using coins, cash, or checks to donate, you can use a credit or debit card instead. As for debit cards, they are attached to a bank account. So donations made with a debit card are pulled directly from someone's bank.  On the one hand, some people choose to make purchases or donations on their credit card and pay off the entire balance at the end of the month. We do ask that those giving via credit card consider the accruing interest charges on debt you accumulate donating to make the best decision financially or spiritually.