{"id":46097,"date":"2007-07-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2007-07-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/tithing-illustration-using-apples\/"},"modified":"2007-07-16T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2007-07-16T00:00:00","slug":"tithing-illustration-using-apples","status":"publish","type":"sermon-illustrations","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/tithing-illustration-using-apples\/","title":{"rendered":"Tithing Illustration Using Apples"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n\t\t\t<strong>Texts<\/strong>: Exodus 23:16, Exodus 23:19, 2 Chronicles 31:5<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Principle<\/strong>: We should give God the first and best of all that we have.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Objects<\/strong>: 9 red apples, 1 Golden Delicious apple (yellow apple), and a large cross<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Experience<\/strong>: While standing in front of a large cross and a table of ten apples (9 red, 1 yellow), speak about the generosity of God and how he has given us much (pointing to the ten apples).<\/p>\n\n<p>Emphasize that God owns all ten of the apples, but allows us to use 9 as we choose (point to the 9 red apples). Spend some time talking about the different ways we can enjoy using the 9 red apples.<\/p>\n\n<p>Explain that tithing means a tenth, and it is called the firstfruits of our means. A tithe is what God asks of us. Illustrate the tenth by holding up the yellow apple.<\/p>\n\n<p>After a clear explanation of the tithe, hold the yellow apple and offer a few thoughts on the uncanny way financial demands pop up. With each example, take a bite out of the yellow apple.<\/p>\n\n<p>Example: &quot;Oh! I just remembered we need new tires for the car!&quot; (Take a bite out of the yellow apple.)<\/p>\n\n<p>Example: &quot;And let&#39;s face it&mdash;it&#39;s been a while since our family has had a good vacation.&quot; (Take another bite out of the yellow apple.)<\/p>\n\n<p>Example: &quot;Soccer season&#39;s about to begin, and we&#39;re going to have to pay for uniforms, cleats, season dues.&quot; (Take another bite out of the yellow apple.)<\/p>\n\n<p>Continue in this vein until all that&#39;s left is the core of the yellow apple. Say, &quot;God, this was my tithe, but a lot of stuff came up. This is all I have left.&quot;<\/p>\n\n<p>Toss the apple core to the foot of the cross.<\/p>\n\n<p>To close, further illustrate God&#39;s generosity by pointing to the cross and the generous gift of God&#39;s Son.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"template":"","tax_ctp_audience":[],"tax_ctp_authors":[],"tax_ctp_categories":[165],"tax_ctp_format":[171],"tax_ctp_illustration_types":[408],"tax_ctp_multimedia":[],"tax_ctp_point_editor":[],"tax_publications":[140],"tax_ctp_tags":[3483,3543,3559,3640,3991,4043,4057,4100,4401,4435,4488,4557,4731,4821,4843,4869,4916,4931,5077,5081,5164],"tax_ctp_topics":[392],"class_list":["post-46097","sermon-illustrations","type-sermon-illustrations","status-publish","hentry","tax_publications-ct-pastors","tax_ctp_tags-benevolence","tax_ctp_tags-capital-campaign","tax_ctp_tags-character","tax_ctp_tags-commitment","tax_ctp_tags-finances","tax_ctp_tags-generosity","tax_ctp_tags-giving","tax_ctp_tags-greed","tax_ctp_tags-love-of-money","tax_ctp_tags-materialism","tax_ctp_tags-money","tax_ctp_tags-offering","tax_ctp_tags-prosperity","tax_ctp_tags-responsibility","tax_ctp_tags-riches","tax_ctp_tags-sacrifice","tax_ctp_tags-self-discipline","tax_ctp_tags-self-sacrifice","tax_ctp_tags-stewardship","tax_ctp_tags-stinginess","tax_ctp_tags-tithing"],"acf":{"scripture_references":[{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Tithing Illustration Using Apples - CT Pastors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/tithing-illustration-using-apples\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tithing Illustration Using Apples - CT Pastors\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Texts: Exodus 23:16, Exodus 23:19, 2 Chronicles 31:5 Principle: We should give God the first and best of all that we have. 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