Offerings & Giving
Giving with worship, gratitude, faith, and understanding.
Giving is an act of worship and obedience to God. Understanding why we give—and the purpose behind what we give—helps us approach God with wisdom, reverence, faith, and a willing heart.
“God loveth a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Christian giving is more than the transfer of money or possessions. It is one of the ways we honor God with what He has placed in our hands.
Everything we possess ultimately comes from Him. When we give, we acknowledge His provision, support His work, care for others, express gratitude, and exercise faith.
For that reason, giving should never become an empty routine, a competition between members, or something done merely because others are watching.
We give unto God.
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.”
Proverbs 3:9
An offering is something willingly presented to God in worship.
Throughout Scripture, people honored God with what He had placed in their hands. An offering may involve money or other things of value dedicated to God and His work.
“Offering” is therefore a broad term. Within that broader act of giving, the purpose of a gift matters.
A Collection is not the same thing as a Tithe. A Tithe is not the same thing as a Seed Offering. A Thanks Offering — Ope has a different purpose from Alms.
Understanding those differences helps us give intentionally rather than treating every act of giving as though it means the same thing.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Giving is not a competition between members.
Scripture teaches us to consider what God has actually placed in our hands.
One person may have much. Another may have little. The amount alone does not tell the whole story of a gift.
Paul taught that a willing gift is accepted according to what a person has, not according to what that person does not have. He also instructed believers to set aside their giving according to how God had prospered them.
The principle is simple:
“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”
2 Corinthians 8:12
“…let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him…”
1 Corinthians 16:2
Jesus Watched Them Give
Luke 21:1–4
Jesus watched as people placed their gifts into the treasury.
The wealthy gave from their abundance. Then a poor widow came and placed in two small coins.
Her gift was small when measured only by its monetary value. But Jesus drew attention to what the gift represented in relation to what she possessed.
He saw more than the amount.
He saw the giver.
He saw what she had.
And He saw what her gift represented.
Give faithfully from what God has entrusted to you.
The value of your worship is not determined by whether your offering looks large beside someone else’s.
Different forms of giving express different purposes. Select a type of giving below to understand what it means, what distinguishes it, and the biblical principles behind it.
Heart of It
I join the congregation in giving during worship.
What Is It?
Collection is the offering received from the congregation as part of worship.
It gives members an opportunity to willingly present an offering unto God as the congregation worships together.
Unlike the Tithe, Collection does not carry a fixed percentage.
What Do I Give?
Give willingly and according to what God has placed in your hands.
The purpose is not to look at what the person beside you is giving and imitate that amount. Your offering should come from your own heart and your own means.
Remember
Collection is worship, not competition.
Biblical Foundation
2 Corinthians 9:7 · 1 Corinthians 16:2
Heart of It
I honor God by bringing the tenth of my increase.
What Is It?
A Tithe is the tenth—10 percent.
The Tithe is distinct because its proportion is defined. It is not simply whatever amount a person chooses to give and then calls a tithe.
What Do I Actually Give?
The Tithe is 10 percent of your increase or income.
For example:
If your increase is $1,000, the Tithe is $100.
If your increase is $500, the Tithe is $50.
The amount changes with what has been received, but the proportion remains the tenth.
Where Is It Brought?
Scripture speaks of bringing the Tithe into God’s house. At Disciple Parish, members bring their Tithes to the Church where they are being spiritually fed.
Important Distinction
A general offering is not automatically a Tithe.
Calling a gift a Tithe does not make it one. The distinguishing feature of the Tithe is the tenth.
Biblical Foundation
Genesis 14:18–20 · Leviticus 27:30 · Malachi 3:10
Heart of It
God has done something for me, and I return to give Him thanks for what He has done.
What Is It?
A Thanks Offering — Ope is an offering brought before God in gratitude for something He has done in your life.
When we truly give thanks, we acknowledge God as the Giver of every good gift.
Sometimes God’s answer is the very thing we prayed for.
At other times, His answer comes through direction. He may show us what to do, give us a solution to a problem, open a way forward, protect us from danger, show us mercy, provide unexpectedly, or elevate us.
When God answers, remember to give thanks.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Has the Lord spoken to you and given you direction?
Has He given you the solution to a problem that once troubled your heart?
Has He answered a prayer you once prayed in faith?
Has He protected you from dangers seen and unseen?
Has He shown you mercy, favor, or unexpected blessings?
Has He given you another day to worship Him?
Has He opened a door, provided an opportunity, increased you, or elevated you?
Has He brought you safely through childbirth, travel, sickness, difficulty, or danger?
Are you thanking Him for another year of life, a graduation, marriage, a new child, a new home, a new job, or another blessing?
Luke 17:11–19
Ten lepers cried to Jesus for mercy, and all ten were cleansed.
But one, when he saw that he was healed, turned back. He glorified God and gave thanks.
Jesus asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”
The lesson is difficult to miss:
Do not receive God’s goodness and forget the One who gave it.
A Thanks Offering should not become a token gesture made merely because it is customary.
Consider what the Lord has done.
Consider what He has placed in your hands.
Then give thanks accordingly.
If God has increased you, remember Him in your increase.
If He has elevated you, remember His Church in your elevation.
If He has answered the prayer you once cried to Him about, do not immediately move on to the next request without returning to acknowledge what He has done.
This does not mean that God’s blessing can be purchased or repaid. We could never put a price on His mercy.
It means our gratitude should be thoughtful, sincere, and consistent with what He has entrusted to us.
Recognize what God has done.
Consider what He has placed in your hands.
Give thanks accordingly.
Biblical Foundation
Luke 17:11–19 · 1 Thessalonians 5:18 · 2 Corinthians 8:12 · 1 Corinthians 16:2
Heart of It
I have a specific matter before God, and I am sowing a seed in faith concerning that matter.
What Is It?
A Seed Offering is an offering given in faith concerning a specific purpose, need, desire, or situation.
The distinguishing feature is the matter connected to the seed.
Think about the picture Scripture gives us of sowing.
A farmer takes something that is in his hand and deliberately places it into the ground. Once planted, the seed is no longer being held in his hand. It has been sown.
In the same way, a person may bring an offering before God concerning a particular matter and entrust that matter to Him in faith.
The seed has a purpose attached to it.
It is not simply:
“I am giving.”
It is:
“Lord, this is the matter I am placing before You. I sow this seed in faith and entrust the matter to You.”
A family needs a new car.
They have been praying and trusting God to make a way for their family.
They may bring a Seed Offering specifically concerning that need, praying in faith:
“Lord, we are sowing this seed in faith concerning a car for our family. We are trusting You to make a way for us.”
The same principle may be applied when someone has a specific matter before God concerning work, a home, education, family, marriage, a child, an opportunity, or another need.
A Seed Offering does not have the fixed 10 percent that defines a Tithe.
The giver determines what to sow.
Do not choose an amount merely because someone else gave that amount.
Give willingly, sincerely, and according to what God has placed in your hands.
A Seed Offering does not purchase an answer from God.
If someone sows $100 concerning a job, that $100 has not purchased a job.
God is not for sale, and His blessings do not carry price tags.
The offering expresses the giver’s faith concerning the matter. The giver gives, prays, trusts God, and leaves the answer in His hands.
Biblical Foundation
2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Heart of It
God has given me increase, and I honor Him with the first of that increase.
What Is It?
The biblical picture of First Fruits begins with increase.
For an agricultural people, that increase was seen in the harvest. When the land produced, the first produce was brought before God in acknowledgment that the harvest and provision had come from Him.
The principle is not simply “give something good.”
It is about remembering God at the beginning of the increase.
What Do I Actually Give?
In an agricultural setting, First Fruits meant the first produce of the harvest.
When the increase is financial, the same principle may be expressed through the first proceeds of that increase.
The focus is on the first of what has been received—not merely what remains after everything else has already been used.
This is why First Fruits carries the principle of giving God the first and the best rather than treating Him as an afterthought.
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.”
Proverbs 3:9
If a farmer receives a new harvest, the first produce represents First Fruits.
If a person begins receiving a new financial increase, the first proceeds of that increase may be brought before God as First Fruits.
The important question is not simply:
“How much money should I give?”
The first question is:
“What increase has God now placed in my hands, and what is the first of that increase?”
These ideas should not be collapsed into one another.
The Tithe is distinguished by its proportion.
First Fruits is distinguished by priority—the first of the increase is brought in acknowledgment of God as the source.
First Fruits should not be presented as a universal rule that every CCC member must surrender an entire January paycheck.
Do not reduce the teaching to a particular month.
The biblical principle is the first of the increase.
Remember
God should not be remembered only after everything else has been taken care of.
First Fruits teaches us to honor Him at the beginning of the increase.
Biblical Foundation
Exodus 23:19 · Deuteronomy 26:1–11 · Proverbs 3:9–10
Heart of It
I see someone in need, and I give to help.
What Is It?
Alms are gifts directed toward helping people in need.
This distinguishes Alms from giving that is directed toward the general work or worship of the Church.
Almsgiving expresses mercy, compassion, and practical love toward another person.
What Can Alms Look Like?
Alms may include financial assistance or practical help given to someone who is struggling or in need.
The purpose is not recognition.
Jesus specifically warned against helping the poor merely so that other people would see and praise the giver.
Remember
Alms are about the person in need—not the reputation of the giver.
Important Distinction
Money placed in an ordinary Church collection should not automatically be called Alms.
Alms are distinguished by their purpose: helping those in need.
Biblical Foundation
Matthew 6:1–4 · Acts 10:4 · 1 John 3:17–18
During CCC Sunday worship, different forms of giving should not be treated as though they are all the same thing.
The Order of Service distinguishes the receiving of Collections and Tithe from the later Thanks Offering.
Collection gives the congregation an opportunity to present an offering during worship.
Tithe remains distinct as the tenth.
Thanks Offering — Ope provides an opportunity to come before God specifically in gratitude for what He has done.
Understanding those distinctions helps us participate in worship with understanding rather than simply giving whenever something is being collected.
This section explains the purpose of the giving. For the complete sequence of worship, see the Order of Service.
If you are unsure how these forms of giving differ, begin with the purpose of the gift.
| Type | In Simple Terms | Amount / Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Collection | Giving together during worship | Willingly, according to your means |
| Tithe — Owo Idamewa | The tenth of your increase | 10% |
| Thanks Offering — Ope | Giving thanks for something God has done | Give thoughtfully in keeping with what God has done and what He has placed in your hands |
| Seed Offering | Sowing in faith concerning a specific matter | No fixed percentage; determined by the giver |
| First Fruits | Honoring God with the first of an increase | The first proceeds / first of the increase; distinct from the 10% Tithe |
| Alms | Helping someone in need | According to the need and your ability |
Designated Giving
Sometimes a member wants to give specifically toward something the Church needs.
Examples may include building or maintenance needs, welfare, ministry work, media equipment, outreach, or another special project.
This is designated giving: the giver identifies what the gift is intended to support.
Naming a purpose for a gift does not automatically create another theological category of offering.
It simply tells the Church where the giver intends that particular gift to be used.
Understanding the categories matters, but Scripture continually brings us back to the heart of the giver.
God sees the gift.
He sees what He entrusted to the giver.
And He sees the heart with which it is given.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Giving has long formed part of the worship and Christian discipline of Celestial Church of Christ.
For those who want to study the Church’s teaching and practice further, the Church Constitution and other CCC teaching materials provide additional historical and doctrinal context.
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