TITHING: AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF OUR WORSHIP Main Text: Genesis 14:14 – 20 Memory Verse: “These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” - Matthew 23:23c Introduction •Tithe refers to giving one-tenth of one’s income to the work of the Lord•It is a way of honouring God with our substance•it does not mean simply giving in a general way TEXT ANALYSIS Genesis 14:14 – 20 • Melchizedek king of Salem blessed Abram for victory in battle •Melchizedek gave Abram bread and wine•Abram gave him a tithe of all USES OF TITHES: THE CASE STUDY OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST §Provide operating funds for the Church administrators to carry out the ecclesiastical programs of the Church, which include teaching the gospel, evangelistic outreaches and providing social interventions. §Help the church’s missionary programs. The church has established its presence now in over 151 countries of the world. §Help the church’s missionary programs. The church has established its presence now in over 151 countries of the world. §Build chapels (including CBCB’s), maintain the infrastructure, and other buildings (church buildings and mission houses). §Educate young people in Church schools both basic and second cycle, seminary, apprenticeship and tertiary (Pentecost University PU). The church predominantly funds Pentecost University (University A+)’s activities which has made it a University of choice and excellence. §Provide educational facilities such as school buildings, provision of teaching and non-teaching materials. The church runs over 87 schools. •Give scholarship to persons who hitherto could not have afforded to fund their education at all levels. Between 2019 and 2022, the church spent over GHS23.30m to sponsor the educational pursuits of members whilst in 2022 an amount of GHS10.70m was given as scholarship in that year alone. •Help offer employment to citizens of the nation. As of 31st December 2022, the church has employed a total of 442 non-ministerial staff and 1,863 ministers respectively in Ghana who are on the church’s official payroll whilst the total number of ministers worldwide stood at 3,233. •In God’s economy, He intends for the tithe to be the means whereby He prospers His people and from which the needs of His house will be supplied. If you are going to receive the God-kind of prosperity in your life, you must not overlook the basics. Paying the tithe is the first step you must take to experience God's financial blessings in your life.•(Source: State of Church Address SOCA 2023 by the Chairman CoP)