The Rewards of Generosity
Letters to the Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 24 views[NOTE TO THE TEACHER] The central focus of this sermon is to reframe generosity not as a mere financial transaction, but as a powerful spiritual discipline with a three-fold impact. Your primary goal is to guide the group beyond the simple act of giving to understand its profound effects: it meets the real needs of others, it positions the giver to receive more of God's provision, and most importantly, it results in praise and glory for God from everyone involved. The key takeaway for your group is that cheerful, willing generosity is a tangible expression of our faith that creates a cycle of blessing, deepens our dependence on God, and serves as a powerful witness to the gospel.
Notes
Transcript
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Start with Application Testimony
Start with Application Testimony
[Give people an opportunity to share a testimony from last week’s exhortation]
Last week’s exhortation: Revisit and challenge, not just the way you steward your money, but the way you think it and its purpose in your life.
INTRO
INTRO
We are going verse-by-verse, in a topical study through I & II Corinthians
Current Topic: Church Relationship - The holy work of being the Body of Christ.
Starting last week, we began talking about building the personal discipline of generosity in our lives, as a natural part of being in community and sharing our resources for mutual care and the work of the ministry.
In today’s lesson we will continue into 2 Corinthians 9, which continues the topic from chapter 8. Paul was collecting money to bring to the church in Jerusalem as they were experiencing famine and persecution. Macedonia - a poorer region where the churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea were located - had already eagerly given to this cause, while Corinth - which was wealthier - had yet to make good on their promises to contribute.
After talking to them about the importance of discipline and diligence when it came to generosity, Paul will now go on to talk about the blessings that flow from providing for one another.
READ
READ
1 Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. 2 For I know your eagerness, and I boast about you to the Macedonians, “Achaia has been ready since last year,” and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said. 4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation. 5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion. 6 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 9 As it is written: He distributed freely; he gave to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. 10 Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. 14 And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
EXAMINE
EXAMINE
#1 | Generosity makes a real difference in people’s lives
#1 | Generosity makes a real difference in people’s lives
2 Corinthians 9:12 “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
We cannot miss this obvious but deeply profound reality: when we give to others we are providing for their needs and being the answer to the prayers they have prayed.
This is why God loves a cheerful giver (v.7) - it means His answer to a prayer is flowing through a person who is aligned with His character and His heart for people.
If we truly care about others, we should have a genuine concern for their needs to be met, and we should be excited for the opportunity to bless them.
#2 | God rewards generosity with more blessing and provision
#2 | God rewards generosity with more blessing and provision
2 Corinthians 9:8–11 “...God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work… Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed… You will be enriched in every way for all generosity...”
As we give to others, God will give back to us, so that we all are blessed and have what we need. (Proverbs 11:25)
God doesn’t want to make you poor through your generosity. He wants to bless everyone through your generosity - yourself included. (2 Cor. 8:13)
The degree to which we see God’s provision in our lives is the degree to which we are generous with what He has already given us. (Luke 6:38)
If we are fearful and selfish with our resources, then we rob and impoverish ourselves by removing ourselves from the process that God uses to provide for us.
#3 | Generosity results in Glory for God
#3 | Generosity results in Glory for God
2 Corinthians 9:13–14 “Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. 14 And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.”
If we truly love God, then we love when people grow in their love for Him.
One of the most tangible ways to be a part of that process is to be used by Him to answer their prayers.
When someone prays for God to provide a need, and then we provide it out of our love for God and our love for them, they see God in two ways: through their needs being met, and through His character being reflected in us.
The result is that our love grows for them, their loves grows for us, and all our love grows for God.
REFLECT
REFLECT
Let’s take a moment to pray
Let’s take a moment to pray
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide our attention and lead our conversation, helping us see and understand what He wants us to apply in our lives.
APPLY
APPLY
Process the passage together with these questions:
Process the passage together with these questions:
[Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want people to feel the liberty to explore the topics of the passage that stand out to them. Select the questions from below that you think are right for the conversation, or add your own. Questions should be focused, yet open-ended. Wherever the conversation goes, help your group “land the plane” on the core idea of the lesson when you wrap up.]
Can you share a time when someone's generosity was a direct answer to a prayer you had?
How does our generosity serve as "proof" of our obedience to the gospel, as mentioned in verse 13?
In what ways beyond finances does God enrich us to be generous toward others?
Where we want to “land the plane”
Where we want to “land the plane”
Our finances are not a stockpile to be guarded, but a seed to be sown for a spiritual harvest. Cheerful, generous giving is an act of faith that God uses to answer the prayers of those in need. As we give, we find that God doesn't empty our hands, but rather refills them so we can participate in a beautiful cycle of provision and blessing. Ultimately, our generosity becomes a powerful testimony, proving our faith is real and causing everyone to give glory back to God.
Exhortation for the Week
Exhortation for the Week
Pursue the rewards of generosity in your life, and in the lives of others.
FOOTNOTES
FOOTNOTES
Reaping and Sowing. Why should the Corinthians give generously? (v. 5) Paul gave two reasons. (1) A principle holds true in both the natural and the spiritual spheres: the size of a harvest corresponds to the scope of the sowing (cf. Prov. 11:24–26). A man may enjoy all his grain by eating it, or he may “lose” some of it by sowing it and later reaping a bountiful harvest. A spiritual harvest, of course, may differ in kind from the seed sown. Material seed may reap a spiritual harvest (2 Cor. 9:9; cf. 1 Cor. 9:11). (2) Another reason for giving generously is that God loves generosity. God prizes not the size of the gift (cf. Acts 11:29; 1 Cor. 16:2), but the giver’s sincerity (not reluctantly), spontaneity (not under compulsion), and joyful willingness (a cheerful giver). David K. Lowery, “2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 575.
