May 19, 2024 · Pastor Steve Rahter
2 Corinthians
Pastor Steve Rahter
Romans 15:25-26
“but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.”
1st Corinthians 16:1-3
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem.”
2 Corinthians 8:1-3
“Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord
2 Corinthians 8:4-6
begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.”
2 Corinthians 8:7
But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.”
2 Corinthians 8:8-9
I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
It’s Hard to Argue!
Jesus’ Giving vs. Our Giving
2 Corinthians 8:10-11
I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
2 Corinthians 8:12-13
For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 1 For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality.
2 Corinthians 8:14-15
at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
2 Corinthians 8:16-17
But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
2 Corinthians 8:18
“We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches.”
2 Corinthians 8:19
“and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness”
2 Corinthians 8:20-21
taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; 21 for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of other people.
2 Corinthians 8:22
We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
2 Corinthians 8:23
“As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 8:24
Therefore, openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
2 Corinthians 9:1-2
“For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.”
2 Corinthians 9:3-4
But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; 4 otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence.
2 Corinthians 9:5
So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised generous gift, that the same would be ready as a generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.
Galatians 6:7
“for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
2 Corinthians 9:9
as it is written,
“He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,
His righteousness endures forever.”
James 2:15-17
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
1 John 3:18
Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
2 Corinthians 9:11-12
you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.
2 Corinthians 9:13
Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all
2 Corinthians 9:14-15
while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Things That Flow from Our Giving:
1. You will be enriched in everything.
2. Your giving will produce thanksgiving to God.
3. You will supply the needs of your fellow saints.
4. People will glorify God for your obedience.
5. The Gospel will become real to others.
6. Those who receive your generosity will be praying for you and desiring to fellowship with you.
7. The surpassing grace of God will abound in your life.
2 Corinthians 8:8
“I am not speaking this as a command.”
1 Samuel 16:7
“God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
