Discipleship_101_Part_4_Giving_Generously
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The document summarizes passages from 2 Corinthians about generosity among churches in Macedonia. It discusses how the Macedonian churches generously gave beyond their means out of their deep joy and poverty. Paul urges the Corinthians to excel in generosity as the Macedonians did. True generosity is a reflection of God's grace and comes from a willing heart, not dictated by amount but by sacrifice according to one's means.
Discipleship_101_Part_4_Giving_Generously
- 1. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. www.networkbible.org
- 2. 2 Corinthians 8:3-5 For I testify that they gave us much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. www.networkbible.org
- 3. 2 Corinthians 8:6-7 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us— see that you also excel in this grace of giving. www.networkbible.org
- 4. 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. www.networkbible.org
- 5. 2 Corinthians 8:10-12 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. www.networkbible.org
- 6. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: ‘He who gathered much did not have too much and he who gathered little did not have too little.’ www.networkbible.org
- 7. Generosity is the outworking of God’s GRACE in your life. POVERTY is a description of their physical circumstances, GENEROSITY a statement reflecting the attitude and heart. God’s grace to us is TRANSLATED into generosity through us.
- 8. Generosity, by definition, is VOLUNTARY, and a reflection of the heart. They are urgently pleading for the PRIVILEGE to give. The grace of giving generously is a voluntary RESPONSE to the grace of God RECEIVED.
- 9. Generosity is measured not by the AMOUNT given, but the SACRIFICE made. Generosity is more than good THOUGHTS; it is the WILLINGNESS to follow through… Generosity is an act of WORSHIP.
- 10. Jesus is the model to govern how we LIVE, including how we GIVE. God doesn’t ask you to give what you don’t have, but to STEWARD faithfully what you do. We are called, as disciples, to a LIFESTYLE of generosity.
- 11. Please take a moment to fill out your Communication Card My Next Step Today is to: ( ) Do the home life help (in bulletin) ( ) Evaluate if my view of money is shaped more by the world’s view or God’s ( ) Prayerfully consider what a generous life looks like and if I am living it ( ) Examine if I am honoring God through my giving habits ( ) Study scripture to see what God says about money and giving and see where He leads ( ) Other________________________