Can Volunteering Replace Tithing? Pastors & Church Members Disagree

I appreciate your response and I understand your point of view. I truly do. My point is that, perhaps, we should look outside the box and consider whether we can accomplish the same thing (i.e. a corporate prayer meeting) with a different model. Of course, each congregation needs to decide what is best for its own situation.

One size doesn’t always fit all. The Sunday School/Morning/Evening/Wednesday model works for some. It doesn’t work for all, and it doesn’t have to work for all. This isn’t an inspired model, and I know you’re not suggesting it is. But perhaps, we’re too tied to doing things a particular way, when we could do it better a different way.

First, let me repeat that if churches want to practice the traditional Sunday AM/PM and Wednesday model that’s fine. I did it myself for many years. I also lamented that people weren’t coming to prayer meeting or Sunday night services. I also concluded that it was because they were “too tired” or “too busy” and that those excuses didn’t wash because they could find time for other things. I even preached a Sunday AM sermon on John 20 titled “Thomas Missed the Meeting” in which I declared that people who were willingly absent from church meetings were sinning because they were forsaking the assembling of themselves together”. Thankfully an older man advised me to dial it back unless I was willing to practice church discipline on members who were continuing in open sin.

Then I started asking myself some of those questions similar to those posited by Bert. “Why weren’t they coming to MY prayer meeting?” “I’m the leader of this church, is it possible I might be part of the problem?” I also started talking to members one-on-one and listened to their reasons.

All that brought me to what I now prefer.This is what we do in our typical small group. We usually have a meal together at 630 followed by a Bible study that involves profitable discussion and application that goes beyond the typical “do you have any questions or comments?” BTW, members take turns caring for the little ones (and we have a lot of little ones) in another room. We follow that with a time of prayer and dismiss at 8. These meetings often take place at different places on different nights of the week to enable shift/retail workers an opportunity to participate. It seems that this models what the early church did until the advent of church buildings. We still meet for corporate worship on Sunday and have Bible classes and a time for corporate prayer as well.

Now let’s get back to the subject of whether or not I can deduct my time teaching Sunday School from my tithe.

Now let’s get back to the subject of whether or not I can deduct my time teaching Sunday School from my tithe.

No. 3 Esdras 47:29 forbids it. Next question?

Ron’s comment suggests to me that we might do well to remember that when the ancient church came together, there was food involved—it might have been as simple as knowing how many of their number were slaves, and how they did not always get fed well. Per James 2:14-16, feed the soul and stomach alike. Maybe our picture of what times of prayer ought to be is a bit skewed?

Although I said the previous post was my last: For those interested, here is a link to a copy of our church’s weekly Prayer Focus. Maybe some of you will find it helpful. https://www.dropbox.com/s/fjox1oluk82cpho/Prayer%20Focus1.pdf?dl=0