Christian Faith_and_Giving(1).pptx 2 Corinthians

The word of God has many things to say about money and giving. It is said that a person’s understanding of and relationship with money tells a great deal about that person. Somebody said that ones own relationship to money is one of the greatest tests of ones spiritual maturity. Perhaps it can be said that a person’s maturity is well reflected in his/her giving. We serve a God who is a magnificent Giver (Jms.1.17). God’s greatest gift to us is His Son (John 3.16). And in Him God the Father freely gives to us all that we need abundantly (Rom. 8.32). The church of the Lord Jesus Christ was known by the interpersonal relationships its members had with one another. And this gave way to great giving (Acts. 4.32) among other things. Let’s see a little deeper into this aspect of Christian giving.
While we talk about giving, we talk of three things – giving to God in the first place and keeping all things available to Him, giving to God’s people and giving to people outside the church. Our love for the Lord should result in loving our fellow men and this love should result in giving. The word of God talks about all the three aspects of giving. Historic Christianity is full of innumerable examples of Christian giving which impacted the contemporary society and brought many to the Lord. Let us therefore think of the aspect of giving for a while.

1. Faith and Giving 2 Corinthians 8:1-16, March 2019 Sermon Series: Faith&Life 17-19 MAY 2019 NATIONAL STADIUM

2. 1. The Grace of Giving We want you to know, brothers about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 2 Cor 8:1,2

3. GRACE- CHARIS v1 - about the grace of God that has been given v4  - begging us earnestly for the favour ( charis ) v6 - …should complete among you this act of grace.  v7 - see that you excel in this act of grace also. v9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ….

4. 9 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 by his poverty might become rich.

5. 4 begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints

6. 6  Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you (Corinthians) excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

7. 2. The Discipline of Giving …but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 2 Cor 8:5

8. "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing..” Matthew 6:3

9. 3. The Blessing of Giving For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” 2 Cor 8: 12-15

10. 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. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 2 Cor 9: 10-11