Cultivating a Culture of Generosity

Okay, folks, well, great to be together this morning.

Let me just add my welcome.

My name's Graham.

I'm the pastor here at the church.

And let me encourage you to have that passage

in 2 Corinthians 8 open in front of you today.

What a passage this is.

And I really hope this thrills us as a local church

as we get into God's word again today.

But let's pray as we come to this passage.

Father, thank you for this new day.

Thank you for the gospel that we celebrate this morning,

that Jesus came, he lived, he died.

For our sins, he rose, he lives, he is at your right hand.

And so it's to him that we look today.

And we just pray that we would grow this morning

in our insight and in our understanding

and in our love for him,

all stemming from him who loved us

and who gave himself for us.

So Father, thrill our hearts this morning.

Help us leave with a greater picture of who you are.

And this is our prayer that we make confidently

in Jesus's name.

Amen.

Amen.

So I've got an American friend called Randall.

What an American name that is, right?

Randall.

Randall, before retiring, was a pastor

on the west coast of the United States.

And Randall once told me the story

about an older man in his congregation who died.

And one day, a number of months later,

Randall's phone goes.

And it's the lawyer for the man who's just died.

And he tells Randall that the man had left the church

a sum in the region of $100,000 in his will.

Now, Randall was, as you can imagine,

so incredibly thankful for the man's generosity.

What an incredible heart that is.

But sometime later,

Randall was walking through the local hospital.

And he, as the story goes,

he notices this man's name on the wall

amongst the list of names

of the hospital's major benefactors.

And it turned out that this man

had also left the local hospital a donation in his will,

a sum in the region of $10 million.

And here's what Randall realized in that moment.

And here's what he relayed to me.

Here was his line.

He realized in that moment

that the local hospital had pitched this man

a better vision of what to do with his money

after he died than he had as his local pastor.

And here's the two morals of the story.

Number one, what grabs the heart opens the wallet.

Right?

Remember that?

Take that all the way through

with this sermon this morning.

What grabs the heart opens the wallet.

And it's true for every single one of us here today.

No matter what you think about the God of the Bible,

no matter what has brought you here today,

all of us, what grabs the heart opens the wallet.

Have you ever thought about the fact

that what we do with our money

and what we don't do with our money

preaches visible sermons to the world around us

about the things that we love most?

You ever thought about that?

It's why people are happily paying £600

for a platinum ticket to go and see ACDC at Murrayfield

when they come in August.

It's why, if you're a Fulham fan,

you will happily pay £3,000 for an adult season ticket

to go to Craven Cottage for the year

and see 19 Premier League games

that only last 90 minutes.

That doesn't even include your halftime pie,

which I don't imagine in Fulham is cheap.

And here's my favourite.

It's why Carl Lagerfield,

the fashion designer for the House of Chanel,

when he died,

he left lots of money to his cat, Chupette.

And if you're on the ball,

you'll know that Chupette now has her own maids,

diamond necklaces,

and she even has her own Instagram account.

Our wallets follow what we worship.

And here's the moral of the story number two.

If that thing that grabs our hearts

is the gospel,

just imagine the kingdom possibilities.

And that's what the next few weeks are going to be,

just allowing God through his words

to grip our hearts with a vision

for radical generosity.

So come with me to 2 Corinthians A

and let's meet a church

who have been completely gripped

by this vision.

This is not a random blog post on giving

that Paul has dropped into the middle of his letter.

So often I think when I used to read

2 Corinthians 8 and 9,

that's what I used to think it was,

like he couldn't think of anything else to say.

So he thought,

why not do my sermon on giving?

If you look at verse 19,

Paul's talking about an offering.

Do you see it there?

In the text, verse 19,

he's talking about an offering.

Verse 3,

he calls it a service

to the Lord's people.

Do you see it?

So God has put something big

on Paul's hearts.

Now here is the thing

that's going on in the background here

of 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.

Paul has been collecting money

from all these churches

that he's planted,

or God through him has planted,

around what is modern day Turkey and Greece.

He's been gathering money

to support the Jewish Christians

back in Jerusalem

who are going through

some severe persecution

and trials.

If you want to get this

a modern day equivalent,

maybe think of this

like a first century equivalent

of a just giving page.

Okay, that's what Paul's doing here.

And he's not primarily interested

in the figure

of this collection.

This isn't Red Nose Day.

This is not Lenny Henry

with his totalizer.

What he's really concerned about,

his heart,

is in the thing

that this collection represents.

Now if he can get

Gentile Christians,

so Gentile,

just that word meaning non-Jew,

if he can get Gentile Christians

to show unity

and concern for

Jewish Christians

over the other side

of the sea,

what a witness

to the watching world

of the unity

that Jesus has created

between people

from all over the world

who follow him.

Right?

Different generations,

different ethnicities,

different social classes,

the vast majority

of whom

all across the world

will never meet each other.

And yet,

because of their faith

in Jesus,

they are united together

as a family.

Do you not know

one of the most special things

if you've ever had

that experience?

Remember before we came

to Brunsfield,

Alex and I spent

five months in Malawi

meeting people there

who are just so different

from me

in so many different levels

and yet instantly

you've got the biggest thing

in your life in common with.

It's incredible.

This is really special.

And maybe it counters

the accusations

of the false teachers

who are saying

that not only is Paul

unimpressive,

but the message

that he preaches

is actually divisive.

So if Paul can pull this off,

if he can get people

over on one side

of the world

to care about

the welfare of people

on the other side

of the world

because of their

common faith in Jesus,

then this is going to be

a massive win

for the gospel

and its credibility

in the eyes

of the watching world.

What seems to have happened

in the background

is that the Corinthians

had initially bought

into this ethos

of the collection.

However,

on the passing of time,

that enthusiasm

to be part of this giving

had just fizzled out

and Paul wants them

to get back in the game.

How is he going to do that?

Well, come with me

to verse nine.

What is the motivation

for giving?

And we're going to camp out

here for a little bit

because really this is

the motivation

and the bedrock

for everything

that follows

over the next chapter

and a half.

How can a church

cultivate

a culture

of generosity?

That's our question.

The only thing

that's going to work

is when God's people

capture a renewed sense

of who God is.

Are you ready for this?

A little stretch

as we hang out

in verse nine?

Here's the stretch.

Our God, friends,

is Trinity.

You take in the panoramic view

of the Bible,

you find here is a God

who has eternally existed

as Father,

Son,

and Holy Spirit.

He is one God,

three persons.

Why is that important?

We'll come to the opening pages

of the Bible

and you find that

because God has eternally existed

as Father,

Son,

and Spirit,

He is a God

who gives.

Opening pages of the Bible,

this God longs

to give life.

Here is a God

who's so radically different

from anything

that our finite minds

can comprehend

or concoct.

Here is a God

who is a giving God.

He longs to give life.

In particular,

here is,

as we get into the story

of the Bible,

here is a Father

who longs

to give

His Son.

Do you see it in verse 9?

The index of how much

the Father loves us

is how much He gave

to accomplish

our salvation.

If ever you're in doubt

as to whether God

the Father loves me,

we just look at

what He gave.

He gave His Son

and the Son

gave His life

on the cross

to save us

from the penalty

for our sins.

And the Son rose

and the Father

and the Son

give the Spirit.

And the Spirit,

He opened our eyes

to the work of the Son.

Remember chapter 4,

verse 6,

He shone into our hearts

to give us light

and life.

The only reason

that there's a gospel,

the only reason

that we're here

this morning

is because God exists

as Father,

Son,

in Spirit.

The only reason

is because this God

is a giving God.

You got it?

Stretch.

And Paul's particularly

talking in verse 9

about the gospel.

Look at it here.

He that was rich,

and he's talking

about Jesus,

he that was rich

became poor.

Now take that in.

Our hearts need that

this morning.

Jesus,

the one who inhabited

heaven's glory.

He left it.

He came down

and he stepped down

into our world,

into our mess,

into our brokenness,

into our sin.

Christmas time,

he stepped into poverty

and scandal

in Bethlehem.

His life,

he gives himself

to serve the lowly

and the outcast.

And his death,

he gave himself

even to the most

humiliating place

over to death

on a Roman cross.

He that was rich

became poor.

Why?

So that we who are poor

through what he has done

for us

might become rich.

He's talking

materially here.

He's talking

spiritually.

Now the rhythm

of verse 9,

it's got a rhythm

to it,

doesn't it?

He that was rich

became poor

so that we who are poor

might become rich.

The rhythm of it

tells you that he wants

people to remember it.

More than remember it,

though,

he wants us

to cherish it.

And these words

have been the anthem

of the church

down the generations,

have they not?

Some of us will remember

that old hymn,

Thou who was rich

beyond all splendor,

all for love's sake

becameth poor.

Darkness to light,

guilty to acquitted,

orphans to children.

That word rich,

it needs to grab

our affections

today.

That God

has given us

every

spiritual

blessing

in Christ.

This is not

he that was rich

became poor

so that we

who are poor

might get in.

No,

we have been given

every spiritual

blessing

in Jesus

this morning.

We are,

no matter what

your material

circumstances

are saying,

you are in Christ

if your faith

is in him,

you are rich

beyond your

wildest imagination,

spiritually speaking.

Now have you

ever heard that

phrase,

I'm trying not

to look at anyone

when I'm saying

this,

board of London,

board of life.

You heard it?

Board of London,

board of life.

Love it in Fife,

they have that

board of London links,

board of Fife,

love it.

Board of London,

board of life.

But we talk about

things like that,

don't we?

As if there are

places on this

earth that can

provide endless

fascination

and fun.

And all you need

to do,

looking at no one

in particular,

all you need to do

is spend more than

five minutes on the

tube down in London

and look at the

faces of the people

and that bubble

is instantly

burst for you,

right?

But that word

rich,

when Paul uses it

here,

means,

dear friends,

that truly there

is an endless

ocean of depths,

of wonder and

glory when we

bask in what

Jesus has done

for us.

In the words of

C.S. Lewis,

we are people

who are far

too easily

pleased.

We are,

by nature,

inward-focused

people.

We throw out

the boomerang

of praise because

we're praise-hungry

creatures we long

to worship.

We throw out

the boomerang

and it just

comes straight

back to us.

When it comes

to loving ourselves,

the Bible assumes

that we are

doing just fine.

But when God

saves us and

he puts his

spirit in us,

he begins that

grand and

gradual process

of turning us

from the

inward-looking

self to the

outward-looking

self so that

we begin to

reflect more

of his heart.

We are not

designed to

look inward.

We are designed

to look outwards,

not self-serving.

We are designed

to be as we

reflect the heart

of God,

self-giving

people who

love our

neighbour as

ourselves and

love the Lord

our God with

all our heart,

soul, mind

and strength.

He turns us

outward.

He turns us

into give

people who

long to give

this God,

this holy

God praise.

Now what does

Paul want for

this church in

Corinth?

See verse 9.

He wants them

to excel,

not in the

act.

He wants

them to

excel.

Notice the

language,

he's picked

it very

carefully,

in the

grace of

giving.

In other

words, this

is not

something we

have to

do because

God is this

kind of God.

It's something

that we get

to do.

And when a

church gets a

heart for

generosity,

what a

special spirit

inspired thing

it is.

Can I suggest

that there is

no more

wonderful community

to be part of

than a

church who

has grasped

God's grace.

It's got

under their

skin and

they turn

outward and

just want to

give away

praise.

And so here's

two things that

happen to a

church when the

gospel gets

into our

blood steam

real quick.

Firstly, the

gospel creates

in us a big

heart for

places and

people.

So as far as

churches being

gripped by the

gospel go,

come with me to

verse 1.

Here it is,

says Paul,

exhibit A.

Paul says

verse 1,

do you see

them?

Let me tell

you about the

believers in

Macedonia.

Do you see

it?

So Corinth,

remember the

map, was in

this region to

the south

called Achaia

and Macedonia

is that area

to the north.

So when he

says Macedonia

here, this is

an umbrella term

for the churches

in Thessalonica,

Berea and

Philippi.

churches who

are going

through, do

you see it,

a period of

severe trial

and extreme

poverty and

yet here is

the amazing

thing.

They jump at

the chance of

joining in this

collection for

saints, brothers

and sisters,

the other side

of the world

who are also

going through a

really hard

time.

Do you see

what he says?

They urgently

pleaded with

us to let

them play a

part.

They wanted

in on this.

And this is

the opposite

of what so

naturally comes

to us all,

is it not?

Listen, our

kids at home,

they have a

sweetie drawer

in the bottom

shelf of the

cupboard in the

kitchen.

See, occasionally

when it's been

topped up,

they've hit the

jackpot, the

stocks are high,

they'll occasionally

offer me a

squashy or

something.

But see,

when those

supplies are low,

it's a totally

different story.

Right?

It's what we all

do, isn't it,

with our things.

But imagine

the scenario

whereby they

actually begged

me to accept

their sweets.

They came to

me, they

longed that I

would have

them, even

when they

had next to

none.

It just flips

the way that we

naturally think.

So when Paul

says they gave

beyond what

they were able,

they earnestly

begged us to be

part of this,

that's what he's

saying.

It speaks of

what?

Loving

sacrifice.

sacrifice.

We care.

What a

description of

a church.

How does a

church get to

be like that?

Would you

not long

love to be

part of a

community like

that?

He tells us

how it gets

to be like

that.

Verse 5,

because they

gave themselves

first of all

to the Lord,

and otherwise

they were

gripped by

this God of

grace and

what he's

done for

them in

Jesus.

And from

there, by

the will of

God, also

they bought

into this

collection.

Here is a

deeply

generous

church.

Now what

did they

hear there

was over

in Jerusalem?

Verse 14,

they heard

there was

a need.

Do you

see it?

And they

responded.

And so

Paul says,

cheeky

chappy that he

is to the

Corinthians.

So you

kind of want

to follow

their example

as well.

Because you

are going

through a

spell of

plenty.

Now remember

we said

Corinth is

like Manhattan

and Benador

rolled into

one.

Here's the

Manhattan

bit.

Corinth is

a place

because of

where it

is on

the map.

This is a

place where

money is

easily made.

Remember

verse 10,

Paul says

that you

had that

desire last

year.

You're

plenty.

You

long to

be part

of this

and be

part of

supplying

their

need.

And Paul

is saying

you stop

doing it.

Go ahead

and finish

what you

started.

You can

argue that

this is one

of the

major themes

of this

letter.

He wants

them to

buy back

into

this

collection.

Because what

is God's

heart for

his people?

See verse

14 there?

It's

equity

that all

his people

are provided

for all

over the

world.

And that's

a principle

that's written

into and

woven all

the way

through the

fabric of

the Old

Testament when

God tells

his people

how he

wants them

to live.

Paul quotes

there from

Exodus 16.

It's the

episode where

God provided

manna and

quail daily

as his people

wandered in

the wilderness.

God's showing

and saying

that I'm

going to

provide and

I'm going

to provide

for all

of you.

Friends,

the gospel

creates a

big heart

for places

and people

and secondly

it creates

in us

a deep

desire for

honour and

service.

And still

talking about

this collection

once we

hit verse

16 down

Paul begins

to talk

about people.

Do you see

it?

Why?

I take it

he wants

the

Corinthians

and everyone

else in

earshot of

this letter

to be

reassured

because this

is handling

money in

Old Testament

times,

right?

There's no

bank transfers.

You're physically

going around

with this.

He wants

them to be

reassured that

the best

people are

on the

case.

So often

when Paul

does that

in his

letters

here's a

little tip

he's not

name dropping

like we

would do.

He's holding

up people

as people

worth

emulating.

And up

pops our

friend Titus

again.

Do you see

him?

We met

him at

chapter 2.

We met

him last

week in

chapter 7.

What a

guy.

Notice

verse 16.

And is it

not so

refreshing when

people compliment

others behind

their backs?

Here's what

Paul says

at verse

16.

just like

God did

with

Nehemiah

all those

years before

when Nehemiah

was in

Susa

and God

stirred in

him a

desire to

go back

and help

God's

people in

Jerusalem.

Here is

God doing

it again

and he's

doing it

in the

heart of

Titus.

God has

put this

where?

Into his

heart.

And Titus

is coming

to Corinth

presumably

with this

collection

money because

he too

wants the

Corinthians

to buy

into it

as well.

Now see

the two

others

mentioned

here.

The first

brother

verse 18.

Just see

how he

has spoken

about.

Of course

brothers

is just

that term

for a

fellow

Christian

man.

That's

what that

term

means.

Verse

18.

He is

praised

by all

the

churches.

A man

of good

standing.

There's

brother

number

one.

Verse

22.

Another

brother.

How is he

described?

Great

word if

you get

this in

Scrabble

with a

Z.

Zealous.

Now

people,

if you

read the

commentators,

they've

got their

thoughts on

who these

brothers were.

Why are

they nameless?

I just

wonder if

it's as

simple as

this.

The fact

that they're

not named

is the

whole point.

In a

city like

Corinth,

we've seen

this as

we've

traveled

through this

letter,

we're

chasing a

name and

chasing fame

is the

name of

the

game.

How

refreshing

is it to

read about

two men

who don't

want any

of the

limelight?

And he

also talks

to see

about how

everything

that's being

done is

being done

above board

and he

also talks

about how

everything

that's being

done is

being done

with huge

enthusiasm

and it's

all flowing

from this

deep desire

to help.

Verse 20,

what does

Paul say?

We want to

avoid any

criticism.

So he's

saying we're

going above

and beyond

to do what

is right

in the

sight of

the Lord

and just

notice what

he says

next,

and of

man.

So Paul

cares about

how God,

the all

seeing God

sees what's

going on

here.

He cares

about the

witness to

the watching

world.

And it's

true today

in our

culture,

isn't it

friends,

that what

really gets

us going

as a

culture is

when people

are trusted

with money

and then it

comes out,

it's proven

to be true

that they

were dishonest

with that

money.

You take

your pick

as you look

at the

headlines.

Can I

say it's

why we

as a

church,

we take

the

production

of our

yearly

accounts

really

seriously.

It's why we

produce that

and make it

known for

absolutely

anybody,

anyone can

take that.

It's why we

take things

like safeguarding

really seriously

here.

Just want to be

above board

because we

realise if it

goes wrong

in these

areas,

the witness

to the

watching world

will be

seriously

damaged.

because Paul

knows,

let's say

for example

that if

they leave

Corinth with

300 denarii

and they

turn up in

Jerusalem

with 200

denarii,

then the

game's over

as far as

the credibility

of the

gospel goes

in the

eyes of

the

watching

world.

So Paul

is saying

that we're

doing

everything

above board,

we're doing

everything to

be right in

the sight of

God and

in the sight

of man.

What a

wonderful

lesson for

us in

life,

as

believers,

as we

witness to

the

world.

The

gospel

creates in

us to

see a

big heart

for places

and people

and it

creates in

us a

deep

desire for

honour

and service.

And so

just as we

begin to

wrap this

up this

morning,

here's two

questions as

we begin to

think about

maybe the

real application

for this

for us

today.

Let me

just give

you really

quickly a

what and

a where.

You ready

for these?

A what and

a where.

And this

is going to

lead us

really well

into next

week's

chapter.

A what and

a where.

Here's the

what.

Really simply,

what are our

means?

Which is

another way of

saying what

has God

given us

and how

can we

use it

for His

glory?

This is not

about a

figure as

much as

it's about

firstly the

receptiveness of

our hearts.

Notice what

he says,

verse 12,

the word

beginning with

W that he

uses there.

He talks

about a

willingness.

Are we

willing?

That's the

question that

Paul's asking.

Are you

willing,

Corinthians?

Are you

willing?

Every generation

since you will

read this.

God calls us

to be faithful

stewards with

what He's

given us.

Whenever that

is right now,

He's called us

to be faithful

stewards.

So friends,

are we

willing?

I say we're

going to be

thinking about

giving next week

a bit more.

I just

say as

somebody who's

just about

to hit 40,

I wish I'd

put this

habit into

my life

earlier than

I did.

See,

when I

started earning

out of

university and

I started

getting money

and all that

stuff,

not knowing

what to do

with it,

I wish

someone had

come along

in my life

earlier on

and said,

it's all

God's.

God's.

Because if

you can

establish

when you

have a

little,

it will

be part

of just

what you

do when

God entrusts

you with

more.

And you

might think,

I've not

got anything

just now.

Maybe the

circumstances

of your

life are

so that you

think,

actually what

I can

give,

what I

can do

is really

small.

We all

go through

those phases.

God is

sovereign over

the seasons.

But friends,

this principle,

this willingness

to give

God,

to think

about everything

that we have

as God's,

if you can

put it in

your life

sooner rather

than later,

it will stand

you in great

stead.

What are

our means?

And it

takes us to

the second

question,

which really

is going

to be a

bridge to

next week.

Where is

the need?

And how

can our

means be

the answer

to that

need?

Two angles

on this,

maybe think

about it,

and you can

just pray

about this

over the

next week

or so.

Think about

the need

in here.

I know we

heard at

the age

GM a few

weeks ago

about the

financial need

of the

church.

We're going

to carve

out some

time next

Sunday

morning to

hear more

about that

in detail,

and you

can be

praying about

that over

the course

of this

week.

But it's

more than

just we

want to

make ends

meet.

It is we

realize what

God is doing

amongst us

here.

Honestly,

being the

pastor here

for a number

of years,

and the

spiritual growth

that I'm

seeing amongst

us is

wonderful.

It's more

than we

want to

make ends

meet.

It is

actually how

can we

take full

advantage of

the things

that God

has for

us,

those good

works that

he has

prepared in

advance that

we can

walk in.

Can I give you

some thoughts?

We'd love to

be able to

invest more

in women's

ministry.

Right?

We would

love to get

our trainee

program back up

and running

again.

as we

seek to

keep being

a training

and sending

church.

And Al

prayed for

Archie.

If you heard

in the prayers

at the beginning

there's someone

who's going

to peoples

that we have

sent to be a

blessing to

another church.

We don't want

to be a

church that

hoards.

We want to

be a church

that gives.

In terms of

people wanting

to train for

ministry,

here's my

observation.

See,

five years

ago,

I would say

that we had

the funds,

but there were

no people

coming forward

and saying,

actually,

when I think

about full-time

ministry,

God's not

put that

in my

heart.

We had

the funds,

but not

the people.

Can I

just say

now,

it's

completely

flipped.

And it's

wonderful to

hear some

of you

coming forward

and saying,

actually,

I would

love to

consider

full-time

ministry.

Friends,

could you,

what God

has given

you,

could you

be an

answer

to that

need?

To see

more people

trained

and sent.

But this

is bigger

than just

money,

you've got

to understand

that.

Let Titus

encourage you

in prayer

this week.

Do you

see what

he's saying?

Verse 16,

what is the

Lord laying

on your

heart?

What is the

Lord,

has the

Lord put

in your

heart?

What are

the areas

of our

country that

God is

putting on

your heart?

What are

the projects

that God is

putting on

your heart?

What are

the missions

opportunities

that God

is putting

on your

heart?

What are

the opportunities

that work

that God

is putting

on your

heart?

Friends,

where are

the needs?

What do

we look

out and

see?

Where are

the needs?

What are

our means?

And where

is the

need?

And talking

of which,

just as we

close, let

me tell you

about a

lady who

used to be

part of

this church

family,

some of us

will remember

her,

called Rita.

Now that's

a generational

name, isn't

it?

Rita.

All I can

tell you about

Rita, people

will remember

her, she

was the

smallest lady

you'll ever

meet,

with the

biggest heart

for God

I've ever

seen.

Right?

And she

saw a need

in this

church.

She saw

that when

we have

church

lunches

upstairs,

in the

upstairs

hall,

she saw

that sometimes

an older

generation

couldn't get

up those

stairs to

join in

everyone

else.

And she

saw that

this was

creating a

divide in

our church

between the

old and

the young.

And she

wanted to

help.

And so for

her 90th

birthday,

we had it

down at

Braith's

Hells Hotel,

if you go

out that

way.

We had a

massive party,

she didn't

want any

presents,

she encouraged

people to

give towards

the start

of a church

lift project.

And that

money there

was the

seed fund

to the

lift that's

out there.

Now if you

go out that

door, if you

stay long

enough and

those doors

are locked,

you'll be

forced to

go out that

side.

You'll see

the lift,

that was

Rita's

birthday money

that was the

seed fund for

that lift.

And she

died a matter

of weeks,

if I'm right,

in my head,

a number of

weeks after her

90th birthday.

But friends,

what a legacy.

She used her

means and

she realised

there was a

need and

she put two

and two

together.

And what a

blessing she

has been to

our church

family.

Because what

grabs the

heart opens

the wallet.

and so if,