2 Corinthians Ch8v16-Ch9v5 - Generous Grace, Generous Giving: Part 2

On page 1164 of your church Bible.

So that's 2 Corinthians chapter 8, beginning at verse 16.

2 Corinthians 8 · chapter mention

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And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.

What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering,

which we administer in order to honour the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.

We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift,

for we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of man.

In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous,

and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you.

As for our brothers, they are representatives of the church and an honour to Christ.

Therefore, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,

so that the churches can see it.

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 and Achaea 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.

Thank you so much, Chris.

Let's keep our Bibles open there at 2 Corinthians 8.

Thank you.

We've been looking at these couple of chapters, 8 and 9,

which have a theme of giving.

So I couldn't come up with another title, so I just put part 2.

And you'll get part 3 next week,

because it is generous grace, generous giving.

Let's ask for our generous Father's help

as we look at his word together.

Let's do that.

Our Father God, you are so good.

You are so kind.

We have received much from you today already.

the blessing of gathering together as your people,

being able to sing together,

to be reminded of truth

and of your love.

And we ask now that you would continue on

giving to us according to our need.

You know us individually.

You know us corporately as your people.

And we ask that you would speak to us in a way

that causes us to marvel at your grace

and respond in generosity.

Help us now, we ask.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, we could call them the three musketeers.

Three good men who are out to help

a life-saving, life-changing cause.

I wonder if you spotted them

as we listened to God's word being read.

In the three musketeers,

the first we have Titus.

Have a look at verse 17.

For Titus not only welcomed our appeal,

we'll come to that in a minute,

but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm

and on his own initiative.

Well, Titus isn't going to travel on his own.

Look at verse 18.

We have the second member of the team.

And we are sending along with him,

that's Titus,

the brother who is praised by all the churches.

And then to make up the team,

the third member,

verse 22.

In addition,

we are sending with them

our brother who is often proved to us

in many ways

that he is zealous.

So here we have these brothers,

this team,

and they're on a mission.

Chapter 9, verse 3.

Paul,

the writer says,

I am sending

the brothers.

And what we got to know is,

is that Paul is currently

in the north

of Greece,

and he's going to send

these three brothers

to Corinth,

to the city,

and to the church there,

which is in the south

of Greece.

So why does he have to send them?

What's their mission?

Well, we see in 9, verse 5.

He says,

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.

You see,

what's going on here

is that the church

in Jerusalem

was in financial need.

They were suffering

severe persecution.

There was a famine

in the area.

People had lost their jobs

and their homes.

The church was suffering

desperately.

And so as Paul went around

visiting these churches

and writing letters to them,

he reminded them

of their need

and the plan

that he was going

to take up a collection

and bring it all together

and give it to the church

in Jerusalem.

Verse 17,

For Titus not only

welcomed our appeal,

he was on board.

Yes, this idea

of getting together

a collection

is a good idea.

Now the church in Corinth

knew all about this collection.

They had heard of the needs

and they knew the plan.

They knew their brothers

and sisters were suffering,

but they had become complacent.

In fact,

they had even promised

that they were going to give,

but so far it was all words

and not action.

All a lot of hot air.

Now I don't know about you,

but if I counted up

all the times

I have promised myself

to give to something

and fail to do so,

I would be embarrassed.

You know how it is.

A special collection

is organized

or there's an event

or something's happening

and you feel in that moment

compelled to give.

You want to give,

but it just doesn't seem

to happen.

Well, not all the time.

Well, enter into this

our three brothers.

Chapter 9, verse 5.

I thought it necessary

to urge the brothers

to visit you in advance

and finish the arrangements

for the generous gift

you had promised.

Now we need to be careful

how we understand this role.

It's not like Paul

is sending the three heavies

down into Corinth,

you know,

to sort them out.

You know,

you promised to give,

we're coming,

to apply a little arm twisting.

No, it's not that.

Their planned visit

was to help the church

to be generous givers.

So the first thing

we want to see this morning

is that gospel partnerships

encourages our giving.

Gospel partnerships

encourages our giving.

The brothers are sent

to encourage the partnership

that existed.

So look at Titus, verse 16.

Thanks be to God

who put into the heart of Titus

the same concern

I have for you.

Well, Paul's heart

for the church

was deep

and it was extraordinarily wide.

And so it was for Titus.

Titus had come to love

the people in Corinth.

And so when he thought

of the church

he was compelled

into action.

He was moved

by compassion.

His heart

was for them.

But look at the other brother,

verse 18.

We're sending along

with Titus,

the brother who is

praised by all the churches

for his service

to the gospel.

We're not given his name

but all the churches

know him.

He's the gospel guy.

The one who's always

talking to his friends

and neighbours

about Jesus.

Don't you remember him?

His constant longing

and desire

to see the gospel

proclaimed.

And then there's

the third brother,

verse 22.

We're sending him

with our brother

who has often proved

to us in many ways

that he is zealous.

And now even more so

because of his

great confidence in you.

This guy is passionate

for Christ

and he's eager

for the church

to know

more

of Christ.

Christ.

What a great team.

Wouldn't you love

if these three characters

turned up in

Carigoline Baptist Church?

Wow, you'd sure know

they were in the congregation,

wouldn't you?

Here are three men

who have a concern

for the church,

a love

for the gospel,

and are zealous

for Jesus.

Look at the end

of verse 23.

They are representatives

of the church

and an honour

to Christ.

You see,

these three brothers

were travelling

not to be heavy-handed

but to express

their gospel partnership.

They want to remind

the church in Corinth

of what truly matters

because gospel partnerships

encourages giving.

Verse 24.

Paul writes

in the light of their visit

and going down

to encourage them.

Verse 24.

Therefore,

show these men

the proof

of your love

and the reason

for our pride in you

so that the churches

can see it.

Go on.

Welcome the three brothers

who are coming to you,

who love you,

who are devoted to you,

who pray for you.

Show them

their love

and give.

Make sure

the gift is ready.

You see,

gospel partnerships

are so precious

in the means

of giving.

Now,

as a church here,

Karagaline Baptist Church,

we have chosen people

and specific churches

and mission organisations

to support financially.

We prayed for some of them

just now.

People like Amy

in Sheffield

working amongst

the Pakistani community

and Leticia

who's down in Marseille

in the south of France

working amongst students,

many of whom

who have come

from North Africa.

Mickey and Kennet

in a country

where no Westerner

can go,

but yet they're there

working away,

seeking to plant

churches.

We support mission organisations

like Asia Link

who supply resources

and Bibles

to people

who don't have it.

Pastors,

churches

that don't have

the word of God.

They are smuggling

and bringing

God's word to them.

Radstock.

Churches

helping other churches

to plant churches

in some of the most

difficult places

in the world.

And Christian Unions Ireland.

students

on campus

seeking to reach

their fellow students

with the good news

of Christ.

And churches

like Kinsale

where they persevere

and keep on

holding out

the light

of the good news

of Christ.

And other churches

in the Cork Kerry project.

Not to mention

the ministries

of this church.

Sunday school

happening right now.

Polo on Thursday.

The Rock and Rooted

on Friday.

Core on Sunday evening.

And of course

our gathering here

now.

All these great

ministries.

And why do we

support them?

Why do people give?

Because together

they have a deep

concern for the church.

A great love

for the gospel.

And they're

passionately

zealous

for Christ.

They long

to see the church

grow and mature.

They desire

that the gospel

will be spread.

They're unashamed

in their longing

for Christ

to be honoured.

Who wouldn't

want to give

to gospel

partnerships

like this?

These are the things

that truly

matter

most.

These gospel

partnerships

are what cause us

to open our wallets

and set up

that direct

debit

and reduce

our own

personal spending.

You might

like to consider

giving to

Christian Unions

Ireland today.

We prayed

about it

starting on the

9th of February

this month.

They're going to

have a mission

week.

Reaching students

through different

activities.

for their

costs to cover

or to cover

their costs

it'll take

450 euro.

So maybe

today

right now

you want to

give

to that.

Click on the

QR code

talk to our

treasurer

Joy

this morning

and give

to the work

of CUI

as you are

able.

But maybe

you're thinking

wider and

broader

and the

things that

we're doing

together as

a church

helping support

those in the

different places

we just

mentioned.

Maybe you

haven't given.

Maybe you

want to start

giving with a

direct debit.

Seeking to

give ways

so that the

gospel continues

to go around

the world.

You see

gospel partnerships

encourage our

giving.

gospel

integrity

strengthens

our giving.

Gospel

integrity

strengthens

our giving.

Gospel

integrity

strengthens

our giving.

You see

sadly and

all too

often we

hear about

financial

corruption

in the

local church.

Maybe you've

heard of it.

People claim

to have a

concern for

the church,

a love

for the

gospel and

a passion

for Christ

but in

reality

they're only

stuffing their

own wallet.

We see it

in extreme

cases with

what we

call prosperity

teachers.

You've maybe

seen them or

heard of them

on television.

Benny Hinn,

Joe Lustine,

Creeflo Dollar.

I mean the

names just

give it away.

What about

Johnny Euro

or something

like that?

Paula

White,

Joyce

Meyer.

Between them

they've earned

hundreds of

millions

taking money

from people

when they're

saying it's

for Christ.

And this

was something

that could be

common in

Corinth.

Have a look

back to

chapter 2

verse 17.

Chapter 2

verse 17.

Paul wants

to make it

abundantly

clear that

he's above

board in

the work

that he's

doing.

Chapter 2

verse 17.

Unlike so

many we

do not

peddle the

word of

God for

profit.

On the

contrary

in Christ

we speak

before God

with sincerity

as those

sent from

God.

We're not

peddling

the word,

we're not

trying to

make money

out of it

for ourselves,

rather we're

wanting to

see Christ

proclaimed.

Let's go

back to

chapter 8

and 9.

You see

these so

called

preachers

were coming

into town

but rather

than serve

God's

glory

they saw

it as a

way to

get

wealthy.

So you

could imagine

when Paul

was saying

I'm taking

up a

collection

for the

church in

Jerusalem.

Oh I?

Really?

You see

Paul had a

concern for

the church,

a love for

the gospel.

He was

zealous for

Christ and

he was

concerned for

gospel

integrity.

That people

knew where

the finances

were going

and how it

was being

conducted.

Look at

verse 20.

chapter 8

verse 20.

We want

to avoid

any

criticism

of the

way we

administer

this

generous

gift

for we

are taking

pains to

do what

is right

not only

in the

eyes of

the Lord

but also

in the

eyes

of man.

You see

a preacher

of the

gospel

who lines

his own

pocket

brings the

gospel

into

disrepute.

How can

we expect

anybody

to listen

to the

word of

God

to trust

Christ

if they

can't

trust

the

preacher?

So Paul

sends these

brothers

to make

sure there's

complete

transparency.

Paul is

putting himself

at distance

between

himself

and the

gift

and sending

others on

his behalf

to gather

it together.

He's

ensuring

that the

gospel he

preaches

is for

God's

glory

not for

his own

means.

Now this

is extremely

practical

for us

and I

think there's

lessons we

can learn.

Here's three

that I could

come up

with

as we

think about

gospel

integrity.

Here's the

first one.

Ensure

the

pastor

keeps

away

from the

church's

finances.

So the

practice of

this church

is that the

pastor

which presently

is me

I do

not collect

gifts from

people.

I don't have

access to

the church's

account.

I don't

set or have

any input

on salary

or wage.

In fact we

don't even

call it a

salary.

It's

support to

enable me

to do

what I'm

doing.

The members

of the

church are

the ones

that set

the wage

or the

support.

So make

sure that

the pastor

keeps away

from the

church's

finances.

That brings

about the

right way

of thinking

of finances.

Second,

ensure that

the church

maintains

transparency.

transparency.

The church's

finances should

not be a

secret.

So again

the practice

of the church

here is that

at least

four times

a year

as we

gather

together

for our

members

meeting

the accounts

are presented

to all

the church.

Full

disclosure.

Everybody

can see

where every

penny was

given and

every penny

was spent.

We want

to have

transparency.

we're not

hiding

things.

And the

third one

is this.

Ensure

that the

church

does not

build up

a reserve.

The church

is not

about saving

but about

being good

stewards.

The people

of this

church,

the members

of the

church,

those who

come and

give,

give

generously.

I know

that to be

true,

people are

faithful

in their

giving.

You

are

generous

people.

And I

know that

you give

so that

the gospel

can be

proclaimed,

that gospel

workers can

be supported,

that gospel

needs can

be met.

The church

receives in

one hand

and gives

out with

the other

hand.

We're not

to be

savers

but stewards.

Now why

is this

so important?

Well,

look at

verse 21.

For we

are taking

pains to

do what

is right,

not only

in the

eyes of

the Lord,

we want

to honour

him,

but also

in the

eyes of

man.

You see,

if I know

that what I

give to is

trustworthy

and

transparent,

if I

know that

what I

give to

is going

to be

used for

gospel work

and God's

glory,

then it's

going to

strengthen

my giving.

But if

on the

other hand

I haven't

a clue

what the

church does

with the

money,

or if

there's

some shady

dodging

dealing

going on,

then I'm

going to

keep my

money in

my pocket.

I'm not

going to

give.

So

gospel

integrity

is crucial

for the

local

church.

And it's

an encouragement

to us

all to

make sure

that the

church

behaves

rightly,

God

honouring,

with our

spending

and our

using of

it.

So

second,

gospel

integrity

strengthens

our

giving.

There's

another

reason,

our third

reason,

why these

brothers

visit.

Gospel

grace

ensures

our

giving.

Gospel

grace will

ensure

our

giving.

The

brothers are

going

ultimately

to remind

the church

in

Corinth

of

God's

grace.

Look at

chapter 9

verse 3.

Paul says,

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.

You see

here he's

boasting

about the

church in

Corinth.

He's

delighting

at God's

grace in

their

life,

how God

has worked

in them.

You

received

God's

grace.

Now you

in turn

be gracious.

Make sure

that your

response to

God's

grace is

not empty

or doesn't

prove to

be hollow.

To help

us understand

this,

the same

idea is

seen in

chapter 6

verse 1.

Have a look

at that

verse with

me.

Chapter 6

verse 1.

This

business of

making sure

that it's

not empty

or hollow.

Look what

it says,

chapter 6

verse 1.

As God's

fellow workers,

we urge

you not

to receive

God's

grace in

vain.

He's

saying make

sure that

when you

receive God's

grace,

it's not

in vain.

It doesn't

prove to

be empty

or hollow.

Make sure

that when

God's

grace is

in your

life,

it actually

takes effect

in your

life.

We urge

you not

to receive

God's

grace in

vain.

Let's go

back to

chapter 9

and verse

3.

You see,

he's saying

here,

you've

experienced

God's

grace in

your life.

Now prove

it.

Show it

in your

giving.

In other

words,

make sure

that what

you promised

will be

fulfilled.

Your

readiness

to give

is the

evidence

that you

have

received

God's

grace

and that

it

hasn't

been

in

vain.

So let's

ask ourselves

the searching

questions.

Have I

received

God's

grace

in vain

or is it

taking effect

in my

life?

do I

say I

have a

concern

for the

church

but actually

do nothing

in terms

of giving

to the

church?

Do I

say,

oh,

I love

the

gospel

but actually

have no

interest in

gospel

workers?

Do we

express on

the outside

a passion

for Christ

but keep

my bank

account

far from

Christ?

If you

were to

cut me

open right

now,

would I

be hollow

and empty

or would I

be filled

with generous

grace?

You see,

the evidence

that we

have received

grace is

that we

are generous

givers.

Look at

verse 5.

So I

thought it

necessary to

urge the

brothers to

visit you

in advance

to finish

the

arrangements

for the

generous

gift you

had promised.

Then it

would be

ready as

a generous

gift,

not one

grudgingly

given.

Literally,

it won't

become a

stingy

gift,

the few

coppers that

we find in

the bottom

of our

pocket.

Rather,

it will be

free and

generous.

for

haven't we

received

freely

so that

we can

freely

give?

Remember

the verse

that we

looked at

in Romans

8?

That God

did not

spare his

son but

gave him

up for

us all?

How will

he not

also along

with him

graciously

give us

all things?

We have

the very

best gift

in Christ

and he

has given

to us

so much

more on

top of

that.

And that's

why the

brothers were

ultimately

sent to

remind the

church of

gospel grace,

of God's

kindness and

goodness.

And isn't

that what we

are to do

with each

other?

To remind

each other

of God's

grace to

each one

of us.

I need

you to

take me

back to

the cross

and I

need to

bring us

back to

the cross.

Don't we

see it in

chapter 8

verse 9?

Let's read

it there

together.

Do you

see it?

Chapter 8

verse 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 through

his poverty

might become

rich?

You see

it's as we

come back

to the

cross

and see

Christ

taking our

sin on

himself

and giving

us forgiveness

and his

righteousness

how rich

we truly

are.

You see

without God's

grace we're

empty and

hollow but

as we

come to

Jesus again

and again

so we are

filled afresh

with his

grace.

Do not

receive God's

grace in

vain.

Make sure

it takes

effect.

Make sure

it gets

worked out

in our

life so

that we

like the

church in

Corinth would

become

generous

givers.

I'm sure

you all

remember and

know the

story of

Zacchaeus in

Luke's

gospel.

Do you

remember

Zacchaeus?

The one

who was the

tax collector?

The one

who kept

scooping off

the top for

his own

pocket?

And there

he encountered

Jesus.

And Jesus

said to

Zacchaeus,

today I'm

coming to

your house.

And what

was Zacchaeus'

response to

the welcome,

to the

grace that

Jesus showed

to him?

He says

right now I

give half

of all that

I have,

50% right

now to

the poor,

done and

dusted.

And I

will give

four times

back to

anyone I

have cheated.

Jesus

said today

salvation

has come

to this

man's

house.

he had

received

grace and

it wasn't

in vain.

He generously

gave and

it was

evidence that

salvation had

become his

experience.

How good

and kind

our God

is to us.

Let us

pray that

God will

work in

each of our

lives and

as us as

a church.

Let's pray

together.

Amen.

Father, thank

you for all

that you have

done for us

and all that

you have

given.

Thank you for

the kindness

of your

grace to

us as a

church family,

for faithfully

providing for

us in all

of our

needs,

in giving

to us the

finances so

that we can

support and

encourage workers

across the

world and

at home.

Thank you for

those who give

generously so

that the

ministries of

this church

can continue.

Father, we

pray that you

would fill us

afresh with a

concern for

your church,

a love for

the gospel,

that we would

be passionately

zealous for

Jesus.

Father, thank

you for all

that you are

doing amongst

us and we

ask that you

would kindly

and generously

give to us

that we may

be good

stewards of

all that we

have and

that it may

be all for

your good

and for your

glory.

In Jesus'

name we

pray.

Amen.

We're going to

sing about the

grace of the

Lord and the

effect that it

has in us

that it calls

us to follow

him.

And as we

follow him

it's to give

us a

love.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.