Q: What is an offering? Offerings are what you give over and above your tithe. For example, if you give money to R&R or to help support a missionary, this would be an offering.
Q: Is tithing really biblical? The Bible calls believers to tithe. (Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10; Numbers 18:26-29) Giving God our first and our best through the tithe is a way to honor Him—a way to give thanks for all He’s given us.
Q: How can I give to the church when I can barely pay for gas? Good question. But God says put Him to the test in this. (Malachi 3:10) He can make the 90% stretch further than you can make the 100% stretch. At any rate, when we honor God with all we are and own, things like gas prices don’t seem to matter as much. We know He’s taking care of us and will provide for all we need.
Q: What do tithes and offerings pay for, exactly? The tithe is God’s provision for the local church. As such, tithes and offerings provide for the building, electricity, the pastor and staff salaries, all the ministries, missionaries, etc.
Q: Do you tithe on gross or net income? In response to this question, (and we get it A LOT), I can only say that I tithe on the gross because we are told to give the “first fruits” to God. If I tithe on the net, my first fruits are going to the government. That is my personal conviction.
Q: Are leaders required to tithe? Yes. All leaders and followers of Jesus are required to tithe through the local church. But leaders, especially, call others into the Kingdom by example.
Q: How can I tithe? You can bring your tithe to church and put it in the tithe slots any time. You can also send a check to the church office, or tithe online at our website, www.mtzn.com.
Q: Are tithes tax-deductible? Yes. As long as any goods or services are not received in exchange for your money. (i.e.: a registration fee for the women’s conference is not a tithe nor tax-deductible). You will receive quarterly and yearly statements of your tithes and offerings.
Q: How do I know my donations are being used appropriately? When you give to Mt Zion Christian Church, every dime is accounted for. All tithes are used to support ministry and Kingdom purposes - either here at Mt Zion or through ministries and missionaries that we support. In addition, an independent accounting firm audits our finances on a regular basis.
