Podcast Episode Summary

River Valley Church Podcast

Episode: Message | Build On The Tithe
Speaker: Pastor Rob Ketterling
Date: February 15, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode continues River Valley Church’s "giving series" with Pastor Rob Ketterling teaching on generosity, specifically how to "build on the tithe." The main focus is understanding tithing as a foundational biblical principle and introducing "Kingdom Builders" – giving above the tithe to further God’s mission locally and globally. Pastor Rob unpacks both the heart and practical steps for financial stewardship and generosity as a church family, highlighting spiritual, personal, and global impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Update on Community Impact and Generosity ([00:00])

• Community Initiatives: Pastor Rob shares an update on the church’s recent acts of generosity, citing nearly $90,000 given to local food shelves, immigrants (both documented and undocumented), and law enforcement.
• Expanding Reach: Convoy of Hope is partnering with River Valley to send a semi truck full of supplies for distribution.
• Inspiring "Loving in All Directions": The phrase made its way to the White House, prompting national recognition.

2. Recap on Tithing and Biblical Foundations ([03:10])

• Old Testament Roots:

  • Tithing introduced in Genesis 14 with Abraham and in Genesis 28 with Jacob—“not law, it’s pre-law.”
  • “A heart touched by God wants to tithe...to fuel your kingdom moving forward.” – Pastor Rob, [05:00]

• Tithe as Worship: The tithe (10% of increase) is seen as declaring, “God, you’re my source. I honor you.” ([05:30])

• New Testament Principle: Grace builds on the foundation of tithing—generosity extends beyond 10%.

3. The Principle of First Fruits ([08:00])

• Sequence Over Size:

  • First Fruits is a distinct offering, typically 1.5%–2.5% of a harvest, given before any needs are met or tithes are calculated.
  • “It wasn’t about the size of the gift. It was about the sequence. The first things go to God.” – Pastor Rob, [09:40]

• Anecdote: In Israel, Pastor Rob learned people would burn the first loaf as a symbolic act of dedicating the first to God.

• Spiritual Consequence: Paul in Romans 11:16—“If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy.”

• Application: The 90% left after tithing is “holy, set-apart, money on assignment for a believer.” ([13:40])

4. Living Generously With the 90%—Kingdom Builders ([14:00])

• Setting the Goal: The church sets a $15 million Kingdom Builders goal—giving over and above the tithe.

• Clarification on ‘Kingdom’:

  • “People ask, ‘Whose kingdom are we building?’—Jesus'! …Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” – Pastor Rob, [15:10]

• Kingdom Defined: A “kingdom” is a realm ruled by a king; for Christians, that’s every area of life under Jesus.

• The Church as God’s Instrument: The church is God’s method to advance his kingdom in the world.

5. Impact Stories and Participation ([19:00])

• Breaking Down Giving:

  • Data: 3,831 families/individuals contributed to Kingdom Builders last year; only two gave over $1 million while 2,562 gave under $999—“This is for all of us.”
  • “We’re all holding this money under assignment and we’re doing this now.” – Pastor Rob, [21:10]

• $1,200 Example Impact:

  • 762 people received God’s Word in their language
  • 200 kids received Bible storybooks
  • A church was started in India
  • Disaster relief provided, meals to kids, pastors sent to Bible college, and more ([22:10])

6. The ‘Plan, Vision, Dream’ Tool ([26:00])

• The Origin:

  • Inspired by a visit to New Life Orphanage in Kenya, learning from Clive and Mary:
    • Plan: Start with what’s in your hands
    • Vision: Dream about what God might place in your hands
    • Dream: The biggest hope—“the greatest gift you could ever give to God” ([28:20])

• Process for Kingdom Builders Giving:

  1. Plan: Give from what you already have.
  2. Vision: Pray and ask God for a faith number beyond your current ability.
  3. Dream: Hold onto an audacious dream amount.

• Encouragement: Write the vision down, hold on to the dream, start where you are.

7. Divine Guidance and Free Will Giving ([32:40])

• Hearing God in Generosity:

  • “I don’t know any other religion that has divine guidance…in the area of giving.” – Pastor Rob, [33:27]

• Biblical Freewill Offerings:

  • Old Testament: Everyone who was “willing and whose heart moved them” gave to build the Tabernacle. ([34:40])
  • New Testament: 2 Corinthians 9:7—“Each of you should give what you’ve decided in your heart…God loves a cheerful giver.”

• No Pressure: Kingdom Builders is purely voluntary—“free will, not compulsion.”

8. Key Biblical Principles for Kingdom Builders ([36:20])

• Loose Grip on Generosity:

  • Proverbs 11:24–25: “There’s one who scatters and yet increases all the more…”
  • Analogy to seeds in a barn versus scattered seed—“Seed that is sown has a forever potential.” ([38:00])
  • “God’s economy is agricultural before it’s mathematical.” – Pastor Rob, [39:10]

• Blessings, Not Hoarding: Encouragement not to hoard, but to have open hands, trusting God with blessings.

9. Partnership—Koinonia ([42:20])

• True Biblical Partnership:

  • Philippians 1:3–5—Koinonia means sharing in the mission, not just giving money.
  • “We don’t fund missionaries; we stand with them. We are koinonia with them, partners.” – Pastor Rob, [44:00]

• All In, Not Spectators: Everyone participates; “our fingerprints” are on gospel projects worldwide.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Heart of Giving:
  “A heart touched by God wants to tithe…to fuel your kingdom moving forward.” ([05:00])

• About Sequence, Not Size:
  “It wasn’t about the size of the gift. It was about the sequence. The first things go to God.” ([09:40])

• Kingdom Focus: “People ask, ‘Whose kingdom are we building?’—Jesus’!” ([15:10])

• Impact Testimony:
  “All that from $1,200. That’s changing the world.” ([22:10])

• Generosity Principle:
  “God’s economy is agricultural before it’s mathematical.” ([39:10])

• On Partnership:
  “When we give to Kingdom Builders, our fingerprints are all over the world saying, God, we’re koinonia with them…It goes from being their ministry to ours.” ([44:30])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] – Community generosity update; impact reaches the White House
• [03:10] – Tithing: Old Testament roots and New Testament application
• [08:00] – First Fruits: sequence over size, honoring God first
• [13:40] – The 90% left is “holy, set apart, on assignment”
• [14:00] – Kingdom Builders: vision, goals, and clarifying purpose
• [19:00] – Participation breakdown: every gift matters
• [22:10] – $1,200 giving example and its multi-faceted impact
• [26:00] – Plan, Vision, Dream: the tool for giving—a story from Kenya
• [32:40] – Freewill, divine guidance, and biblical basis for generosity
• [36:20] – Loose grip on generosity: Proverbs 11, the agricultural metaphor
• [42:20] – Koinonia: financial partnership, not mere funding
• [44:30] – Everyone’s fingerprints—"from their ministry to ours"

Conclusion & Final Encouragement

• Call to Action: Pastor Rob ends with a prayer, challenging everyone to consider how they will use what God’s placed in their hands for Kingdom Builders. He urges the church to be partners—koinonia—in gospel work, aiming for $15 million as a corporate family.
• Final Hope:
  “May we give generously on every occasion and realize we are participants in this together with you, God, for your glory and your honor….We’re asking God to help us change the world.” ([47:20])

Summary at a Glance

• Tithing is the biblical foundation for giving—honoring God as first.
• Generosity with the remaining 90% is "money on assignment"—Kingdom Builders is how River Valley Church is called to steward this.
• Plan, Vision, Dream tool encourages everyone to start with what they have, envision God’s potential increase, and hold onto generous dreams.
• Freewill giving, not compulsion, is rooted in biblical teaching, partnering together (koinonia) for global mission impact.
• Every person’s contribution matters—whether small or large, collectively making a world-changing difference.