Fasting &
Giving
Twenty questions
1
What is the Spirit saying
to ----- ----- about
fasting and giving?
2
Statement
True
False
1. Jesus fasted regularly and
commanded his disciples
to do the same.
3
False
 The Son of Man came eating and
drinking… [Luke 7:33]
 Then John’s disciples came and asked
him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees
fast, but your disciples do not fast? Jesus
answered, “How can the guests of the
bridegroom mourn while he is with them?
The time will come when the bridegroom will
be taken from them; then they will
fast.[Matthew 9:14-15]
4
Statement
True
False
2. What you spend your
money on shows what’s
important to you.
5
True
 For where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also. [Matthew 6:21]
6
Statement
True
False
3. Fasting is primarily done in
order to free up time for prayer
and meditation.
7
Its not in the Book
8
Statement
4. God doesn’t judge your
giving by how much you give,
but by how much is left over
afterwards.
True
False
9
True
 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the
offerings were put and watched the crowd
putting their money into the temple treasury.
Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a
poor widow came and put in two very small
copper coins, worth only a few pence.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell
you, this poor widow has put more into the
treasury than all the others. They all gave out of
their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in
everything - all she had to live on.” [Mark 12: 4144]
10
Statement
True
False
5. The call to give tests the
sincerity of our love for God
and our neighbour
11
True
 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the
sincerity of your love by comparing it with the
earnestness of others. [2 Corinthians 8:8]
 “The inner reality is not a reality until there is an
outward expression” Richard Foster, Celebration
of Discipline.
12
Statement
6. Regular fasting will help to
keep you right with God.
True
False
13
False
 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a
Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee
stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I
am not like other people - robbers, evildoers,
adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a
week and give a tenth of all I get.’
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would
not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and
said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you
that this man, rather than the other, went home
justified before God. For all those who exalt
themselves will be humbled, and those who humble
themselves will be exalted.” [Luke 18: 9-14]
14
Statement
True
False
7. Fasting is abstaining from
food in order to feast on the
word of God.
15
True
 Jesus answered, “It is written; Man does not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes from the
mouth of God.” [Matthew 4:4]
 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you
know nothing about.” [John 4:32]
 Then Jesus declared, “I am the Bread of Life. He who
comes to me will never go hungry and he who
believes in me will never be thirsty.” [John 6:35]
 Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is
thirsty, let him come to me and drink…” [John 7:37]
16
Statement
8. Do I have to give 10% of my
income to the church?
Yes
No
17
No, you are free to give more
than that!
18
Statement
True
False
9. “I do not believe one can
settle how much we ought to
give. I am afraid the only safe
rule is give more than we can
spare”.
19
True
 we want you to know about the grace that God
has given the Macedonian churches. In the
midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy
and their extreme poverty welled up in rich
generosity. For I testify that they gave as much
as they were able, and even beyond their
ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently
pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this
service to the Lord’s people. And they
exceeded our expectations. [2 Corinthians 8]
20
Statement
10. Fasting is a way of
“unlocking” answers to prayer
True
False
21
Hmmm… not sure
22
Statement
11. If you fast (or give), God
will reward you.
True
False
23
True
 …and your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you. [Matthew 6. 18]
 Command them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves
as a firm foundation in the coming age, so that
they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
[1 Timothy 6:18-19]
 And whoever sows generously will also reap
generously. [2 Corinthians 9: 6]
24
Statement
12. Giving should always be
spontaneous and Spirit led
True
False
25
False
 On the first day of every week, each one of you
should set aside a sum of money in keeping with
your income. [I Corinthians 16:2]
26
Statement
13. Giving is a matter of
personal conscience.
True
False
27
True
 Each man should give what he has decided in
his heart to give, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [2
Corinthians 9:7]
28
Statement
True
12. Fasting should always be a
private matter.
False
29
False
 …. so that it will not be obvious to others that you
are fasting. [Matthew 6]
 While they were worshipping the Lord and
fasting…
 So after they had prayed and fasted. [Acts 13]
30
Statement
True
13. Regular fasting and regular
giving can help you feel
secure in your relationship to
God.
False
31
True, unfortunately
 The Pharisee is Jesus’ story from Mark 12 felt he
was in a good place with God because he was
disciplined about both giving and fasting. But he
was mistaken!
 Beware the dangers of spiritual pride!
32
Fasting can express
14. Sadness
True
False
15. Humility & dependence
16. Worship
17. Hunger for God
33
 I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no
choice food, no meat or wine touched my lips.
 I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble
ourselves before our God and ask him a safe
journey.
 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.
For some days I mourned and fasted and
prayed.
 She never left the temple but worshipped night
and day, fasting and praying.
 My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a
dry and weary land where there is no water.
34
Statement
18. Giving to those in need
can be a kind of fast.
True
False
35
True
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to
loose the chains of injustice
and untie the
cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke? Is it not to share your
food with the hungry
and to provide the poor
wanderer with shelter
[Isaiah 58]
36
Statement
True
False
19. Christians should practice
joyful unconcern for
possessions
37
True
 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the
flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his
splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how
God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today
and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much
more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry,
saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’
or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all
these things, and your heavenly Father knows that
you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you
as well. [Matthew 6]
38
20. Which will you be?
✔
✖
The word is not understood
and is snatched away?
Enjoyed, but quickly
forgotten?
Choked by the “worries of this
world and the deceitfulness of
wealth”?
Good soil – bearing fruit?
39