A GRACE GIVER
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Week 32 (2nd Sunday) Baptism Sunday
This Week’s Theme: Generosity: A Trait of a Saint
Word for the Week is Generosity: It is the willing and joyful giving of oneself and one’s resources to others. Generosity is motivated by love for God, enabled by His grace, and modeled after God’s own giving nature.
Memory verse: Proverbs 11:25 (NKJV) The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
Sermon Focus: GOD’S GENEROUS GRACE MOVES US TO BE GENEROUS.
Sermon Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
INTRODUCTION:
TRANSITION:
I. DESPITE UNUSAL PREDICAMENT
I. DESPITE UNUSAL PREDICAMENT
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: (Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea)
THE GREAT TEST
2 that in a great trial of affliction (a great tribulation or affliction designed to test the church)
the abundance of their joy
and their deep poverty
Needy AND Experiencing hardship
Resource-limited AND WERE Facing economic challenges
MANY OF YOU TODAY UNDERSTAND THIS
YOU MAY BE
Down to their last DIME
JUST Scraping by
Barely making ends meet
Living day-to-day
Lacking resources
On a limited income
Financially insecure
WILL YOU RESPOND LIKE THE MACEDONIANS
THEIR JOY WAS NOT TIED TO THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
EVEN IN POVERTY THEY STILL HAD JOY
FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH
THIS JOY IN PROVERTY DID SOMETHING
IT abounded in the riches of their liberality.
IT MOVED THEM TO BE GENEROUS
POVERTY causes some to lay up treasures for themselves rather than be rich toward God (Luke 12:21).
POVERTY moves some to gather much but give little (Proverbs 11:24).
POVERTY leads some to hide their talent in the ground rather than invest in the Master’s work (Matthew 25:25).
POVERTY results in storing up manna until it spoils instead of daily trusting God (Exodus 16:20).
POVERTY inclines some to heap up treasures on earth rather than in heaven (Matthew 6:19–20).
DESPITE AN UNUSAL PREDICAMENT THEY STILL HAD JOY AND THEY ABOUNDED IN GENEROSITY
A YOU A GRACE GIVER
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
II. DISPLAYS AN UNCOMMON PLEA
II. DISPLAYS AN UNCOMMON PLEA
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
THE SAINTS
PLEADED TO BE PARTNERS
THEY WANTED TO SHARE IN THE SERVICE
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
PLEADED FOR THE PRIVILEGE
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
PLEADED FOR PURPOSE
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
ARE YOU
IMPLORING TO BE INCLUDED
PLEADED TO PARTICIPATE
BEGGING TO BE A BLESSING
URGING TO BE USED
DESIRING TO DEMONSTRATE CARE
REQUESTED TO PLAY A ROLE
GRACE GIVER BELIEVE THAT
PARTNERSHIP IS IMPORTANT
SHARING IS IMPORTANT
AND SERVING THE SAINTS IS IMPORTANT
ARE YOU A GRACE GIVER?
ARE YOU LIKE THE WIDOW WITH ONLY A MITE
ARE YOU PLEADING TO PARTICIPATE?
DESPITE YOU DIFFICULTIES DO YOU HAVE AN UNCOMMON PLEA
THIS IS A GRACE GIVER
III. DIVULGES AN UNDENIABLE POSTURE
III. DIVULGES AN UNDENIABLE POSTURE
3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
3 For I bear witness
that according to [their] ability,
Giving without holding back what God has already provided (v. 3a)
Your capacity is God’s entrustment — use it fully (1 Peter 4:10; 1 Chronicles 29:14)
Illustration: The craftsmen in Exodus gave and worked unhindered until the work was complete (Exodus 36:5–7)
yes, and beyond [their] ability, SACRIFICIAL
Giving that is unreserved, going beyond the minimum (v. 3b)
True sacrifice measures the cost and chooses to pay it (2 Samuel 24:24)
Illustration: Mary of Bethany’s costly ointment — unreserved devotion (Mark 14:3–9)
[they were] freely willing,
Giving uncoerced, motivated by love, not obligation (v. 4)
God loves a cheerful giver 2 Corinthians 9:7
Illustration: The Macedonians’ eagerness to give despite deep poverty (2 Corinthians 8:2–4)
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
5 And not [only] as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and [then] to us by the will of God.
VOLUNTARILY GAVE THEMSELVES
If God owns the heart, He owns the hand.
When God has the soul, He has the savings.
The surrendered life carries a surrendered checkbook.
God’s ownership includes both the vessel and the valuables.
You can’t give yourself to God and keep your resources from Him.
When God has YOUR life, He has YOUR livelihood.
If God is Lord over you, He’s Lord over what you own.
True surrender includes treasures.
God rules the person, He rules the possessions.
REMEMBER David – Giving for the Temple
1 Chronicles 29:3–9
Out of devotion to God, David gave from his personal treasures for the building of the Temple and inspired others to do likewise.
The people’s joy came from giving willingly because their hearts belonged to God.
Zacchaeus – Repentance and Restitution
Luke 19:8
After encountering Jesus, Zacchaeus immediately surrendered his possessions—giving half to the poor and repaying fourfold.
His change of heart was proven by his open hand.
Barnabas – Selling Land for Ministry
Acts 4:36–37
Barnabas sold a field he owned and laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet, trusting God to use his resources for the work of the gospel.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
GRACE IN VERSE 6
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
7 But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--[see] that you abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
THE MACEDONIANS WERE TESTED AND NOW I’M TESTING YOU
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
THOSE WITHOUT CHRIST WILL EVENTUALLY CHOOSE
SELFISHNESS OVER SHARING
COVETOUSNESS OVER COMPASSION
LUST OVER LIBERALITY
YET IN CHRIST, YOU ARE ABLE TO
TO BE A
FLOWING RIVER VERSES A STAGNATE POND
YOU CAN BE A
FLOWING FOUNTAIN RATHER THAN A SEALED CISTERN
GOD WANT YOU TO HAVE A CHARACTER THAT
IS CONTENT RATHER THAN COVETOUS
WANTS YOU TO HAVE A
GIVING HEART RATHER THAN A GRASPING HAND
An open HAND RATHER THAN A CLOSED FIST
HE WANTS YOU TO BE
SERVANT-HEARTED AND NOT SELF-CENTERED
THE CHURCH AT MACEDONIA WAS
KINGDOM-MINDED
ARE YOU
