A Call to Generous Giving
The Patterns of Giving
Examples of Generosity (Liberality)
Paul is challenging the Corinthian Church to excel in the gracious act of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:1-9 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving
The Patterns of Giving
Examples of Generosity (Liberality)
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Examine the scriptures:
2 Corinthians 8:1-9 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving
The Patterns of Giving
Examples of Generosity (Liberality)
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,
Paul is speaking to the Corinthian Church.
- Paul is challenging the Corinthian Church to excel in the gracious act of giving. (v. 7)
what God in his kindness has done
What God has done.
through the churches in Macedonia.
Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea
2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy,
1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 NLT1
This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God give you grace and peace.
2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul knew that the abundant joy of the Macedonian believers came from their relationship with the Lord.
Psalm 28:7 NLT
7 The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
More about this in verse 5
which has overflowed in rich generosity.
Tested by many troubles and are very poor.
Filled with abundant joy.
Joy overflowed in rich generosity.
- Paul’s model: The churches in Macedonia.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.
- They gave far more than they could afford.
Biblical principles for giving:
Proverbs 3:9 NLT
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
Don’t give your leftovers!
1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT
2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.
And they did it of their own free will.
- They did it of their own free will.
2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
- They begged for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers.
5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
- The #1 priority of the Macedonian believers was to give themselves to the Lord.
Romans 12:1 NLT
A Living Sacrifice to God
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Mark 12:30-31 NLT
30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Philippians 2:3-4 NLT
3 …. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
- Their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to others.
6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.
Paul’s challenge to the Corinthian Church.
Finish what you started.
Follow through.
7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
God has blessed the Corinthians church in so many ways, the least they could do is to give generously to Christians in need.
8 I am not commanding you to do this.
2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
- God loves a person who gives cheerfully.
But I am testing how genuine your love is
Love is only expressed through giving. If there is no giving, there is no evidence that love exists. The only proof of love is giving. Giving is the action that demonstrates love.
- Giving is the action that demonstrates love.
John 3:16 NLT
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
- For this is how God loved the world: He gave …
by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
Comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Comparing it with Jesus.
Luke 6:38 NLT
38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
- Paul is challenging the Corinthian Church to excel in the gracious act of giving. (v. 7)
- Paul’s model: The churches in Macedonia.
- They gave far more than they could afford.
- They did it of their own free will.
- They begged for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers.
- The #1 priority of the Macedonian believers was to give themselves to the Lord.
- Their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to others.
- God loves a person who gives cheerfully.
- Giving is the action that demonstrates love.
- For this is how God loved the world: He gave …
