Gifts, Grace and Offerings (2 Corinthians 8:1-15)
Gary McManus, 08/26/2018Part of the Life With Jesus is Better series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
August 26, 2018
There are over 1,000 verses in the Bible
about money.
The preacher’s gotta preach!
Last week there was more in the
Corinthian letter than could be
covered COMFORTABLY in
one sermon. Here is part 2.
Review of Part 1:
The Apostle Paul wrote to several congregations
about an offering “for the poor.”
(See Acts 15, Galatians 2:10)
Paul outlined HOW this offering would be done:
1 Corinthians 16 : 6
Giving as Paul is asking it
and doing it is part of a bigger picture. . .
Paul taught that giving wasn’t
JUST BECAUSE OF NEED.
Giving proves you believe in Jesus Christ.
That one does give is a gift in and of itself.
The gift is a gift and the giving is also a gift.
The Lord God provides both the gift AND
the giving!
For context see The First Urban Christians
by Wayne Meeks.
“. . .set aside a sum of money, each,
as he has prospered. . .”
The giving and this gift are a TEST.
Jesus GAVE HIMSELF . . .FOR US
(Galatians 1:4, 2:20; Ephesians 5:2, 5:25;
1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14)
Equality is the word repeated twice--
not political or economic equality.
The issue is FAIRNESS . . .
. . .a fair exchange. . .
Reciprocity might be a better word
--that the giving and receiving
might be reciprocal!
This is Christ at work, isn’t it?
Jesus commends the poor widow’s
offering (Mark 12:41-44)
Paul taught that rich generosity
is not decided by dollar amount.
Paul turns the tables on the Corinthian
Christians. “If you have so many spiritual
gifts then, here is another place to show it
. . .sharing in this offering. . .”
Therefore, we have one table for offerings
(and communion; which is an offering, right?)
If tithing is a goal, it is a worthy goal.
But tithing does not RESTRICT our
generosity!
God’s generosity is not restricted.
How can our generosity be restricted?
Amen.
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