2026 THEME — “SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE”
February – Seeing Stewardship and Giving from God’s Perspective
NEXT SUNDAY
From where we serve, missions is not a theme or moment but daily life, and when you connect live with the Wacharia family in Kenya you will hear firsthand how your prayers, giving, and obedience reach real people—children now sleeping safely, believers being discipled, and families finding hope where there once was none. You will also hear from Marli as she shares how Medical Missions Worldwide brings life-saving care into places of extreme poverty, where compassion and healing open doors for the gospel among those who often feel forgotten. As you listen, we invite you to pray not only about giving but about availability, asking whether God may be calling you to participate in a future two-week medical mission trip or another form of service, stepping beyond comfort to let Him use your hands, heart, and obedience. Whether through praying, supporting, or going, your faithfulness matters more than you know, and we ask you to join us in asking one simple question: “Lord, what would You have me do?”
SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY
Missions Month is a sacred season where our church steps back to see giving and missions from God’s perspective—not as pressure, guilt, or obligation, but as loving obedience rooted in trust. As pastor, it is my responsibility to teach the whole counsel of God, including giving, because honoring God with our firstfruits and responding in Faith Promise is not about money but about surrender, alignment, and freedom. Through personal testimony, Scripture, and decades of ministry impact, we are reminded that when we stop leaning on our own understanding and start obeying God’s voice, He uses our prayers, gifts, and trust to bring light into darkness, care for the forgotten, sustain missionaries, rescue children, and extend the gospel far beyond our walls. Missions is not a program or an occasional project—it is love in motion, obedience with a face, and our ongoing privilege to partner with God’s eternal plan to reach the world through faithful, willing hearts.
GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
The Tithe: Where Trust Begins
“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.” — Proverbs 3:9
The tithe is one of the first places where faith becomes practical. It forces us to answer a quiet but powerful question: Who do I trust to take care of me? God does not ask for leftovers or what feels convenient; He asks for the firstfruits. That request reveals whether our faith lives in theory or in obedience. The tithe is not a financial transaction—it is a spiritual declaration of ownership, order, and trust.
The Tithe Establishes Ownership
The tithe reminds us that everything we have ultimately belongs to God. When we give the first ten percent, we are acknowledging that we are stewards, not owners. This act places God back in His rightful position as Lord over our resources. Refusing the tithe subtly declares independence; honoring it declares surrender. God never competes with our money—He simply asks us to recognize where it truly comes from.
Fear Is the Real Battle
Most struggles with tithing are not rooted in rebellion, but fear. Fear whispers that there won’t be enough left. Fear urges calculation instead of trust. Fear says, “Wait until things improve.” But Scripture never ties obedience to circumstances. God designed the tithe to confront fear at its root and to train the heart to trust Him as Provider rather than relying solely on visible resources.
Obedience Precedes Understanding
God rarely explains everything before He asks us to obey. The tithe is one of those places where obedience must come first. When we wait until it “makes sense,” we miss the opportunity to grow in faith. The tithe is not about affordability—it is about alignment. Trust always begins with a first step, and for many believers, this is that step. Think of the tithe like setting the foundation of a house. No matter how beautiful the structure above ground, if the foundation is weak or missing, everything else is unstable. You can budget, save, and plan wisely—but without honoring God first, the structure eventually cracks under pressure. The tithe doesn’t guarantee an easy life, but it establishes a firm spiritual foundation. God never designed the tithe to impoverish His people. He designed it to position them. When we honor Him first, we realign our hearts, our priorities, and our trust. The tithe is not about loss—it is about lordship. And when God is first, everything else finds its proper place.
Warfare Prayer: Father God, I recognize that fear has tried to influence my obedience. I reject the lie that honoring You will harm me. I declare that You are my source, my Provider, and my sustainer. I choose trust over fear, faith over calculation, and obedience over hesitation. I place my finances under Your lordship and ask You to align my heart fully with Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Daily Challenge: If you have delayed, adjusted, or avoided the tithe, take a step of obedience today. Pray first. Ask God for clarity and courage. Then honor Him—not under pressure, but in trust—believing that obedience always leads to spiritual alignment.
TUESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Darlene Kelley – Cancer Treatment
Don And Carol Franklin – Mae’s Uncle
Ed Franklin’s Son In Law – Heart Surgery
Sandra Mitchell
Tammy Shelnutt
Jean Partee – Newton Medical
Aston Savage
Gloria Young
Amy Garner’s Dad
Bentley Smith – Broken Leg
Carol Lawhead – Riverside in Conyers
Joni Oberhage
Linda Mays
Myles Elliott
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Brando Echarte
Debbie Foskey
Don Franklin’s Daughter, Darlene, Son, David
Ed Adkins – Friend of Brian Edwards
Jake Jenkins
June Cronan
Jean Partee’s Sister
Kim McClain’s Daughter, Amanda
Deon Lotter
Doris Loyd
Nancy Brown
Annette Ford
Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shelnutt’s
Angela Bryan’s Sisters
Ann Stanley
Danny Jarrard
Darlene Wiggins
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gayle Sparks
James Burnette
Jessica Headrick
John McClain’s Mother
June Cronan’s Sister
June Davis
Kailey Bateman
Kim McClain’s Mother
Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda
Lee Cronan
Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom
Lonzo Christian
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Williams
Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom
Mrs. Franklin
Nora Allison
Ron And Johnnie Barry – Friends Of Ashton & Glenda Bateman
Scott Lanier
Scotty Nix
Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shelnutt’s
Steve Michaels
Tom Witcher