Growing Stronger in your Giving
Stewardship: God-given responsibility with accountability
1. God owns everything. I own nothing.
2. God entrusts me with everything I have.
3. I am responsible to increase what God has given to me.
4. God can call me into account at any time. It could be today.
I. Our Giving must be Sacrificial
A. The sacrifice of the Macedonians (8:2-3)
2 Corinthians 8:2-3a - 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…
B. God’s desire for each to contribute their sacrificial share (8:7-15)
C. Organized through careful planning (8:16 – 9:5)
2 Corinthians 9:3-5 - 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; 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. So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.
D. With the understanding that reaping is based on what you sow (9:6)
II. Our Giving must be Joyful
A. Joy is seen in the attitude of the Macedonians (8:3-5)
2 Corinthians 8:3-5 - For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 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.
B. Remember that God loves a cheerful giver (9:7)
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
C. Results in the benefit of others and a blessing for you (9:8-15)
Take Aways:
1. Take one step because big goals begin by taking the first step
2. Seek resources, if necessary, for there are resources here to help
3. Fill out the stewardship commitment tab