Cheerful Giving

2 Corinthians 9:1–12 NIV

There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

Acts 4:32–37 NIV

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Introduction: Facebook Post with article detailing the amount of money high profile pastors have. - Comment section not friendly to the Church. - Because of this often people are concerned about talking about money.

25 - We don’t like talking about money.

“The church is always asking for money!” Maybe you have thought that. We can look at any discussion about giving money and think that the pastor is learning from the villainous Bible salesman Big Dan from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? He cons the main characters, telling them it’s about “making money in the Lord’s service”

Talk about how difficult it is for me to give or even buy on the spot. - Paul here is encouraging a thoughtful, prayerful approach to giving, so that it is not just sprung on them. One year process to collect this offering!!!!

Quote from Commentary - How the Acts church was not communist

- It was not forced to give,

- it was giving out of the freedom in Christ.

- It was not a demand from all and at all times - It happened from Time to Time.

-Anania and Saphira - Peter acknowledged that the sale of their property was for them to do whatever they wanted - God was upset because they were dishonest in their giving.

From Paul’s teaching to the church in Corinth, we see that believers are called to be generous in their giving of money to those in need and generous in supporting what God is doing in the world. A person should decide what they will give, having faith that God will take care of their financial needs.

Because....

26 - God Loves a Cheerful Giver.

The early church was known for being very generous and giving of their money, resources, and possessions. Acts 4:32–35 describes the early Christian community: “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.” Tim Keller writes, “Christians were also unusually generous with their money, particularly to the poor and needy, and not just to their own family and racial group” (Tim Keller, “What We Need to Learn from the Early Church,” The Gospel Coalition, January 6, 2017, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-we-need-to-learn-from-earlychurch/). This relationship of money, giving, and generosity has been a part of the church since the beginning. Though there have been charlatans in the church, that doesn’t mean the challenge to give monetarily is necessarily always driven by greed.

God’s Generosity - We are God’s Dinner Party Guests - And like Guests at a party when we see someone alone, we want to include them.

The generous gift that Paul is speaking of concerns a monetary gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. Even at this time, there was an animosity between Jewish and gentile Christians. It would be easy for churches outside of Jerusalem not to want anything to do with Jewish Christians. “Instead, Paul prayed and lobbied for churches from Macedonia to Achaia and to Asia to set aside money regularly for alleviation of the physical needs of Jewish Christians in Palestine, the hotbed of resistance to the Pauline churches” (Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013], 279).

The Jerusalem Church along with all of Judea at the time had dealt with some severe famines and social/political circumstances that put their financial situation at less than it was in Acts 4.

Have different banks to illustrate thinking thoughtfully and cheerfully about different areas of your life and what are you going to give to that.

In an earlier letter Paul had encouraged everyone in the Corinthian Church to set aside what God had called him to give on a weekly basis for over a year, so that when he came he could take that offering to the Church in Jerusalem. This was no spur of the moment offering. It was well thought out, planned out and prayed over.

This is why we encourage people periodically to come up with a plan - Pledge cards. - It makes your giving a part of what you do as a believer, brings intentionality and increases the cheerfulness of giving.

We are not giving to make someone rich. Yes, we pay staff to help lead the church this is one of the reasons for giving, but here are the many other reasons believers give. These are ultimately the real reasons.

27-Through Giving Video | The Skit Guys

And here is the promise...

25 - Cheerful Giving Magnifies Spiritual Blessing.

Definition of Potluck - And how giving of our finances is like a potluck "Tieing into we are Guests at God's Dinner Party idea - Potlucks seem to always work out.

Talk about my thoughts on God's Creation this week - the birds and the fish and God's resting - How amazing it is to see how God created in a way for the whole system to supply needs and to multiply. - Back to the purpose of the Fruit.

complex issue arises when we ask, “Is Paul preaching a prosperity gospel message? One in which God will bless us if we give a lot of money?” Theologian Sam Storms clarifies the 2 Corinthian passage for us: “A closer look at 2 Corinthians 9 confirms that the reaping Paul has in mind—as well as in Galatians 6—isn’t for the purpose of building personal wealth. God will grant a bountiful harvest to the one who sows bountifully, so that the Christian ‘may abound in every good work’—namely, being even more generous ‘in every way.’ … Paul’s language is designed to counteract the fear that people experience with giving. They’re terrified that if they give, they won’t have enough to meet their own needs. But God promises to supply abundantly those who give generously” (Sam Storms, “Did Paul Teach the Prosperity Gospel?” The Gospel Coalition, September 16, 2019, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/paul-teachprosperity-

gospel/).

Action Steps:

Children - Make a plan with your parents - If you have no money, then how can you use your time and talents.

Make a plan - Pledge

3. Then cheerfully give.

Conclusion:

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 55 Belgic Confession: Article 28