AN ADVENTIST THEOLOGY
OF OFFERINGS
Erika F Puni, PhD
Stewardship Ministries Director
General Conference
“Stewardship is ALL of me in response to ALL of God”
NARROW VIEW
BROAD VIEW
Tithes & Offerings Lordship of Christ
Church Member
God as God
Behavior
Values
Pocket and Wallet
Heart
Program
Lifestyle
Jesus Is Lord Of All
Worship
Leadership
Relationships
Possessions
Finances
Language
God, Offerings And Giving
1.Giving is central to God’s nature
2.God gave first in everything
3.God gave the best in Jesus Christ
4.God’s giving saves us from the death
5.God expects and will accept the best
from His people
6.Freewill offerings are an expression
of the giving of one’s self first to God
The Nature of Offerings
1.Offerings are tangible expressions of a
heart commitment to God
2.What is given is something of value
and meaning – it has a cost to the giver
3.There is a benefit or blessing
associated with the giving of offerings
4.Offerings is a means of thanksgiving
and praise to God
5.Worship and joy are common
denominators in the giving of offerings
Jesus and Offerings
1.Jesus received and accepted gifts of
worship and thanksgiving
2.For Jesus, giving to God must be
consistent with our love for others
3.In giving, the motive and condition of
the heart matters
4.Giving is both personal and communal
5.Worship includes giving in support of
Christian ministry and the poor
Acceptable Giving
1. Giving of our total self to God
2. Giving that recognizes that God is first
3. Expression of faith and total trust in God
4. Response of love to God’s saving grace
5. Voluntary act from a grateful heart
6. Reflection of commitment to the mission
and ministry of God through the church
7. Outflow of a right relationship with God
and my neighbor
8. Giving is spontaneous, systematic and
sacrificial
Expressions of Financial
Stewardship
TITHE
OFFERINGS
Belongs to God
Belongs to God
It is holy
It is holy
God specifies it
Believer sets it
Act of worship
Act of worship
Spiritual response
Spiritual response
Express loyalty
Express gratitude
Giving Paradigm
OLD
NEW
Financial Matter
Spiritual Act
Focus on Self
Focus on God
Work oriented
Grace oriented
Emphasize obligation
Emphasize lordship
Maintenance driven
Mission driven
Members are Donors
Members are Stewards
DONORS or STEWARDS
DONORS
STEWARDS
It’s About Me
It’s About God
It’s My Money
It’s God’s Gifts
It’s My Project
It’s God’s Work
I’m In Control
God’s In Control
Giving Is In-frequent
Giving Is A Lifestyle
The Amount Matters
The Heart Matters
Seventh-day Adventist Practice
Tithe
10% or 1/10th
Freewill
Offerings
+ More than Tithe
= Equal to Tithe
- Less than Tithe
Charity and
Project Giving
+ More than Tithe
= Equal to Tithe
- Less than Tithe
Freewill Giving
1.Is giving that recognizes God’s
blessings that comes freely through His
grace in Jesus Christ (Deut 16:17)
2.Is giving that goes out of a heart full of
gratitude and joy because of the love of
God in Christ (2 Corinthians 8:12)
Freewill giving is NOT about giving nothing;
but the choice to give beyond the minimal
(tithe).
Systematic Giving
1.Is planned giving NOT impulse giving
2.It starts with the return of tithe
3.Follows with giving of offerings
4.Make allowance for project giving
5.Understands global and local needs
6.Is regular giving
7.Always focus on God and mission
Tithes and
Offerings
flow up and
down the
Church
structure
GC
General Conference
DIVISION
UNION
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CONFERENCE
LOCAL CHURCH
SDA ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
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Stewardship Strategy
Stewardship
Offering Systems Education
Pastor
Local Church
Information and
Communication
Strategy
Our Stewardship Message
God made all things and He has sustained
them by His power. As Creator God He owns
everything including us – the totality of our
human life and experience. This God – Jesus
Christ - is Savior and King of the universe. As
His subjects, we live for Him; and our purpose
in life is to honor Him by surrendering our
hearts and everything that we are and have to
His control. As stewards of His kingdom,
we’re also partners with Him in His mission in
the world to make disciples of all peoples.
Department Contact
Penny Brink
Assistant Director
Email: BrinkP@gc.adventist.org
Mario Nino
Associate Director
Email: Ninom@gc.adventist.org
Erika Puni
Director
Email: PuniE@gc.adventist.org
Website: www.adventiststewardship.com