Teaching Your Family About Tithing and Offerings

Each year, our church has an opportunity to grow in faith and generosity through the Year-End Offering. It’s a time to give back to God and remember everything we have comes from Him.

Before we talk about the offering, it’s helpful to understand what the Bible says about giving.

A tithe means “a tenth.” It’s the first 10% of what we earn that we give back to God through the church. Tithing is one way we show we trust God to provide for us. 

An offering is anything we give above and beyond the tithe. It’s a way to go further in generosity by saying, “God, You’ve been so good to me that I want to give more to help others and build Your kingdom.”

This week, use these short daily readings and questions to learn what the Bible says about tithing and offerings. If your child or teen wants to give, take time to talk and pray together about what that could look like. You can get an extra offering envelope for them from church on the weekend and return it to the church on December 14 during our Year-End Offering Sunday.

Monday

📖 Read Genesis 14:19-20 and 2 Chronicles 31:4-5 

People gave a tenth of everything they produced, including crops and animals. Today, we can give from the money we earn — from chores, allowance, or a job.

❓Ask: What’s one way you earn money, and how could you give a part of it back to God?

🙏🏽 Pray: God, thank You for giving us everything we have. Thank You for the ability to work and earn income and for helping us learn how to give back to You. Help us to be generous in all things. Amen.

Tuesday 

📖 Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 and Philippians 2:3-4 

❓Ask: What happens in someone’s heart when they choose to give generously? How can generosity change the way we see others?

🙏🏽 Pray: Jesus, thank You for being so generous to us. Help us have a cheerful, generous heart. Show us how to think about others, share what we have, and see people the way You do. Amen.

Wednesday 

📖 Read John 6:5-13 

❓Ask: What impact did Jesus make with the boy’s small lunch? What does this story show us about what God can do when we give what we have?

🙏🏽 Pray: Jesus, thank You for the story of the boy who shared his lunch. Remind us that nothing we give is too small for You to use. Help us trust that You can do big things when we give what we have. Amen.

Thursday 

📖 Read Matthew 6:21 

❓Ask: Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What’s one way you can show God you trust Him with what you have? 

🙏🏽 Pray: God, Help us trust You with not only our finances but with everything we have. Show us one way we can put You first and be generous this week. Amen.