SUNDAY TEACHING NOTES
November 1, 2026 (Sunday Worship @ 9:00am and 11:15am)
MALACHI | Week 4: It's More Than A Number
TODAY'S TEXT: Malachi 3:6-12
QUESTION: If I can trust God to _______________ me, can I trust God to _________________ me?
DRIFTING FROM GOD (v. 6-7)
ISRAEL ASKS HOW THEY DRIFTED (v. 7-8)
WHAT TITHING ISN'T AND WHAT IT IS
THREE REASONS TO TITHE
1. I tithe because ___________________________ it.
THE TEST OF TRUST (v. 10)
QUESTION: If I can trust God to _______________ me, can I trust God to _________________ me?
DRIFTING FROM GOD (v. 6-7)
- “I the Lord do not change. ...[But] Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees...” (3:6, 7a)
- Israel had drifted, but God remained the fixed point.
- “Return to me, and I will return to you.” (3:7b)
ISRAEL ASKS HOW THEY DRIFTED (v. 7-8)
- “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’” (3:7b)
- “Will a mere mortal rob God?...In tithes and offerings.” (3:8)
- Tithe: The Hebrew word is ma’aser. It means one-tenth, or 10%.
- Offering: A financial/goods gift given above the tithe.
- Point: According to God, giving is a key indicator of spiritual drift.
WHAT TITHING ISN'T AND WHAT IT IS
1. Tithing is not _________________________ God.
2. Tithing does not ______________________ your salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
3. Tithing isn't to _________________________ your conscience.
4. Tithing does not _______________________ God's blessings.
Tithing is giving God what is _____________________ His.
THREE REASONS TO TITHE
1. I tithe because ___________________________ it.
- In Matthew 23:23, Jesus affirms tithing when he rebukes the pharisees for giving “...a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin” but “neglecting justice, mercy and faithfulness.” He says, “You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."
2. I tithe because it teaches me to put ___________________ first.
- “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.” (3:10)
- “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits ... then your barns will be filled to overflowing…” (Proverbs 3:9-10)
3. I tithe because it reminds me that God is my ___________________.
- “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven...” (3:10)
- “Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” (1 Chronicles 29:14)
THE TEST OF TRUST (v. 10)
- “Test me in this… and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (3:10)
- Everywhere else in Scripture, God tells His people not to test Him. This is the only place where God says, "Test me," because He wants us to personally and experientially know that we can trust Him.
- If God would give us His Son, then why wouldn't He give us what we need?
- “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
- “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also...graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
If you'd like a New Songs packet for August-December 2026, please contact the office or see Sean-Alex.
You can listen to the new songs on these playlists:
Spotify Acapella | Spotify Instrumental or YouTube Acapella | YouTube Instrumental
You can listen to the new songs on these playlists:
Spotify Acapella | Spotify Instrumental or YouTube Acapella | YouTube Instrumental
Our WEEKLY GUIDE is a great resource for group discussion questions and a deeper study into this week's lesson.
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