Yeah, thanks. Thanks.
Good morning, everyone. It's nice to see you.
! Thank you.
Thank you. One response, not bad.
Please turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 8.
2 Corinthians chapter 8.
We took a break there just before Christmas
when we were looking at Isaiah 42.
And now we're back to 2 Corinthians again.
So we're going to read chapter 8,
verses 1 through to 15 together.
2 Corinthians 8, starting at verse 1.
Let's hear God's word to us.
And now, brothers and sisters,
we want you to know about the grace God has given the Macedonian churches.
In the midst of a very severe trial,
their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty
welled up in rich generosity.
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able
and even beyond their ability.
Entirely on their own,
they urgently pleaded with us
for the privilege of sharing in the service of the Lord's people.
And they exceeded our expectations.
They gave themselves first of all to the Lord
and then by the will of God also to us.
So we urge Titus,
just as he had earlier made a beginning,
to bring also to completion
this act of grace on your part.
But since you excel in everything,
in faith, in speech, in knowledge,
in complete earnestness,
and in the love we have kindled in you,
see that you also excel
in this grace of giving.
I'm not commanding you,
but I want to test the sincerity of your love
by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
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.
And here is my judgment
about what is best for you in this matter.
Last year you were the first not only to give,
but also to have the desire to do so.
Now finish the work,
so that your eager willingness to do it
may be matched by your completion of it
according to your means.
For if the willingness is there,
the gift is acceptable
according to what one has,
not according to what one does not have.
Our desire is not that others might be relieved
while you are hard-pressed,
but that there might be equality.
At the present time,
your plenty will supply what they need,
so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.
The goal is equality.
As it is written,
the one who gathered much
did not have too much,
and the one who gathered little
did not have too little.
Well, let's keep our Bibles open there
at 2 Corinthians.
We'll pray,
and then we'll get into God's Word.
So let's pray together.
Taste and see
that the Lord is good.
Father, help us now by your Spirit
to feed on your Word
so that we may see and experience
your goodness
in our lives
and that we may be changed
to be those who are good
in our generosity
and giving to others.
Help us now, we pray.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Back a number of years ago
when I was training for pastoral ministry,
I was given a list
by the minister
to visit people
I had to go and see.
One man that I went to see
was in a very exclusive care home.
I arrived one day
to find him in his right mind,
but all in a panic.
He had misplaced
a 20-cent coin
and he couldn't find it.
He'd become overwhelmed
with anxiety
and concern.
But the thing is,
this man was a very,
very wealthy man.
But yet he was concerned
for a missing few pennies.
How sad, I thought,
to get to that stage
and to be worried
about a few pence.
I also visited
an older lady.
She lived alone
in her small house
and on most occasions
whenever I was leaving,
she would hand me
an envelope
with a name on it
or a mission organisation
on it
and say,
make sure
this gets
to the right person.
She didn't have much,
but there was a desire
to give.
One was wealthy
and tight-fisted.
The other was poor
but open-handed.
Now what makes the difference
between those two people?
Well, very simply
and in one word,
grace.
Knowing God's goodness
and kindness
and love
and acceptance
made all the difference.
You see,
experiencing
God's grace
will transform us
into generous
givers.
Look at verse 1.
And now,
brothers and sisters,
so he's changing course here.
For the first seven chapters,
it's been an encouragement
about how we should live
our Christian life
and ministry.
Now the focus changes
to financial giving.
Verse 1.
And now,
brothers and sisters,
we want you to know
about the grace
that God has given.
God is a generous giver,
especially in the area
of grace,
in pouring out
his favour
and his kindness
and his goodness
upon people.
So,
look at the very end
of verse 7.
As we think about
the grace God has given,
end of verse 7,
and see that you also
excel in this grace
of giving.
Just as God has been
gracious and generous
to us,
may we excel
in the grace
of giving.
But why this sudden
change in the letter
to suddenly talk
about finances?
It seems a bit
random.
Well,
part of Paul's ministry
was taking up
a financial collection
to help the church
back in Jerusalem.
The church there
was experiencing
a lot of persecution.
People had lost
their jobs,
others were kicked
out of their homes,
and so when Paul
went visiting
these churches
and wrote to
these churches,
he reminded them
of the financial needs
and encouraged
the other churches
to give.
So,
have a look with me
back to
1 Corinthians
chapter 16,
just back a couple
of pages.
So,
this is a previous
letter
written about
a year before
2 Corinthians.
So,
chapter 16,
verse 1.
Now,
about the collection
for the Lord's people,
do what I told
the Galatian churches
to do.
So,
it's the same
message I've been
saying to all
the churches
I've been visiting.
On the first
day of every week,
each one of you
should set aside
a sum of money
in keeping
with your income,
saving it up,
so that when I come,
no collection
will have to be made.
In other words,
it'll all be there
ready to collect
and to bring.
Then,
when I arrive,
I will give
letters of introduction
to the men
you approve
and send them
with your gift
to Jerusalem,
the church
that was struggling.
If it seems
advisable for me
to go also,
they will accompany
me.
Let's go back
to chapter
8 of 2 Corinthians.
So,
there was the
reminder to give
to the other
churches.
Now,
the problem
we're getting to
in chapter 8
is that the
church,
it seems,
in Corinth
have forgotten
their promise
to give.
But instead
of berating
them and
telling them
off and
shoving the
collection bag
in their face,
Paul reminds
them of
God's
generous
grace.
You see,
experiencing
God's grace
will transform
us into
generous
givers.
In fact,
it's a sign,
it's evidence
that we are
Christians and
that we are
following the
Lord Jesus.
So,
we're going to
look at
three things
through this
text.
First,
that grace
leads to
rich
generosity,
loving
sincerity,
and genuine
equality.
So,
let's see
the difference
that grace
makes.
First,
it leads to
rich
generosity.
Let's go
back to
verse 1,
chapter 8.
And now,
brothers and
sisters,
we want you
to know
about the
grace that
God has
given the
Macedonian
churches.
But what's
so special
about these
churches in
Macedonia?
Well,
they were an
example of
a church
that had
been
transformed
by grace.
Look at
verse 2.
In the
midst of a
very severe
trial,
their
overflowing
joy,
and their
extreme
wealth
welled up
in rich
generosity.
Is that
what your
Bible says?
No,
extreme
poverty.
It's
extraordinary
isn't
it?
It literally
doesn't
add up.
Do the
math.
Severe
trial
plus
extreme
poverty
equals
what?
It's
amazing.
Rich
generosity.
We don't
know what
the trial
was.
Perhaps it
was also
persecution
like in
Jerusalem.
them.
But
whatever
they were
going
through,
the impact
was
devastating.
They were
now living
in poverty.
But here's
the amazing
thing, and
it's wonderfully
beautiful to
think about.
They're not
anxious.
They're not
sad.
Verse 2,
overflowing
with joy.
Have you
ever been in
financial
difficulty?
I wonder
if you
would describe
that moment
as
overflowing
joy.
It's a
challenge,
isn't it?
They had
come to
experience
God's
saving
and
sustaining
grace,
and it
had
utterly
changed
and
transformed
their
lives.
Look at
the way
it had
changed
them.
First,
their
sacrificial
giving.
Verse 3,
For I
testify that
they gave
as much
as they
were able
and even
beyond
their
ability.
They not
only gave,
they gave
in a way
that was
costly.
Their
giving was
putting their
own lives
at risk.
It was
sacrificial.
But more
than that,
look at
their
joyful
desire.
No
moaning
minis here
when it
came to
giving
their
money.
Look at
the end
of verse
3.
Entirely
on their
own,
they
urgently
pleaded
with us
for the
privilege
of sharing
in the
service
of the
Lord's
people.
Now,
you could
imagine
Paul
saying to
them,
listen,
guys,
you don't
have to
give
anything
because,
well,
look,
you're
going
through
your
hard
time
at the
minute.
Just
keep
it.
no,
Paul,
we want
to give.
Please let
us be part
of this
giving.
God has
been so
good and
kind to
us.
Please
don't say
no.
Extraordinary,
isn't it?
This joyful
desire in
their extreme
poverty,
their
joyfulness
in wanting
to give.
but there's
more.
Verse 5,
look at
their
faithful
response.
They
exceeded
our
expectations.
They
gave
of
themselves
first
of
all
to
the
Lord
and
then
by
the
will
of
God
also
to
us.
Not
only
were
they
willing
to
give
what
pennies
they
had
left,
they
gave
of
their
very
lives.
Because
the
only
right
and
best
response
to
God's
grace
is
first
to
give
yourself
to
God
and
then
to
give
ourselves
to
others.
You
see,
giving
financially
is not
a way
to
earn
God's
grace
and
favour
and
acceptance.
It's
the
evidence
that
you
have
already
received
that
grace.
Paul
Tripp,
some of
you will
know,
he's an
author,
put it
like
this,
if
you
gave
every
cent
of
every
euro
that
you
ever
earned
in
every
job
that
you
ever
had,
you
could
not
give
enough
to
deserve
God's
grace.
No,
giving
is the
sign
that we
have
received
and
experienced
the
life
transforming
wallet
opening
grace
of God.
God.
This
was the
message
to the
church
in
Corinth
and
it's
the
message
to the
church
in
Carigoline.
Now it
seems
the
church
in
Corinth
had
lost
sight
of
all
God's
goodness
and
grace
to
them.
That's
why
he's
reminding
them
of how
God
had
worked
in
the
Macedonian
churches
and
saying
he
can
do
the
same
in
you.
So we
urged
Titus
just as
he had
made
an
earlier
let me
start
again
verse
6
so we
urged
Titus
just as
he had
earlier
made
a
beginning
to
bring
also
to
completion
this
act
of
grace
on
your
part.
He
had
sent
Titus
to
Corinth
to
start
the
collection
and
now
he's
saying
finish
what
you
started.
You
see
they
had
become
tight
fisted
not
open
handed
instead
of
writing
the
checks
they
were
counting
their
pennies
and
it's
not
just
a
Corinthian
problem
I've
discovered
in
doing
the
studies
on
this
that
it's
actually
a
me
problem
you
see
I
like
to
keep
a
firm
grip
on
my
wallet
to
my
shame
I
excel
in
spending
but
lack
in
giving
what
about
you
are
you
tight
fisted
or
are
you
open
handed
do
you
sacrificially
give
do
you
plead
for
opportunities
to
give
do
you
faithfully
offer
your
life
as a
gift
now
those
are
questions
only
we
as
individuals
can
answer
but
if we
have
experienced
the
grace
of
God
the
evidence
will
be
seen
in
our
giving
so
end
of
verse
seven
see
that
you
also
excel
in
this
grace
of
giving
so
first
of all
grace
leads
to
generous
giving
second
grace
leads
to
loving
sincerity
loving
sincerity
let's go
to verse
eight
I'm
not
commanding
you
I'm
not
berating
you
but I
do
want to
test
the
sincerity
of your
love
by
comparing
it
with
the
earnestness
of
others
you
say
that
you
love
your
brothers
and
sisters
you
say
that
you
want
to
be
able
to
give
to
the
Lord's
work
well
prove
your
love
prove
the
sincerity
of
your
love
but
if
you're
like
me
and
you
struggle
to
part
with
your
hard
earned
cash
if
you
find
it's
hard
to
prize
open
your
wallet
or
to
flash
revolute
and
do
whatever
else
you
might
do
well
let me
talk
about
three
ways
in
which
you
possibly
might
be able
to
change
to be
a
generous
giver
three
ways
the
first
two
are
wrong
the
last
one
is
right
if
you
want
to
change
my
heart
you
could
try
manipulation
look
at all
the
bombing
that is
going
on
in
Ukraine
what
about
those
poor
people
how
about
giving
to
them
what
about
those
poor
children
who
make
all
those
clothes
for
Sheen
what
about
them
you
could
try
couldn't
you
by
manipulation
to
try
and
force
some
pennies
out
of
my
wallet
or
you
could
try
guilt
Johnny
you
say
you're
a
Christian
you
say
you
really
do
care
you
say
that
you
love
people
why
aren't
you
doing
anything
about
it
you
could
heap
on
guilt
and
shame
well
manipulation
what
happens
when we
watch
enough
pictures
and see
the news
of children
starving
and wars
that are
going on
but we
become
desensitized
to it
don't
we
it
doesn't
really
last
and the
guilt
where
you
can
put
on
guilt
upon
guilt
and
shame
upon
shame
but
eventually
we
just
become
hardened
to all
of that
and it
doesn't
take
effect
at all
no
manipulation
and guilt
isn't going
to change
a thing
not in
the long
term
the only
motive
the only
thing
that is
going
to
change
us
is by
looking
at
God's
grace
not
looking
at
how
difficult
it
is
for
other
people
not
by
looking
inside
my
own
heart
and
how
bad
I
am
but
by
taking
our
gaze
and
looking
at
Christ
and
his
amazing
grace
because
you
are
very
rich
look
at
verse
nine
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
if
you're
going
to
change
the
bad
habits
in
my
life
if
you're
going
to
change
the
habits
in
your
life
if
we're
going
to be
sincere
givers
look
at
the
beauty
and
wonder
of
Christ
had
it
all
every
atom
and
every
planet
belongs
to
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
he
made
it
he
owns
it
but
what
did
he
do
he
made
himself
nothing
he's
king
of
the
universe
but
he
became
a
servant
and
he
embraced
our
poverty
walking
in the
midst
of a
broken
world
but
not
just
materially
spiritually
he
took
on
our
poverty
what
does
that
mean
well
have
a
look
back
to
chapter
5
verse
21
here's
a
good
summary
of
what
it
means
that
Christ
took
on
our
poverty
and
gave
us
his
riches
2
corinthians
5
verse
21
god
made
him
that
is
christ
who
had
no
sin
to
be
sin
for
us
so
that
in
christ
we
might
become
the
righteousness
of
god
isn't
that
wonderful
that
christ
took
on
himself
my
sin
debt
all
the
mess
and
all
my
brokenness
and
all
my
failure
and
he
paid
that
debt
for
me
by
dying
in
my
place
on
the
cross
he
took
my
condemnation
that
I
deserve
so
that
I
might
receive
his
salvation
as
I
trust
in
him
you
see
the
only
way
you
will
change
the
bad
habits
in
my
heart
and
enable
me
to
release
whatever
in
my
wallet
is
by
not
looking
at
others
not
looking
inside
my
own
heart
but
by
helping
me
focus
on
the
goodness
and
kindness
of
our
lord
jesus
christ
so
if
you
have
trusted
in
jesus
if
you
are
a
recipient
of
god's
gracious
generosity
if
he
has
taken
the
poverty
of
your
sin
and
you
have
received
his
riches
forgiveness
of
all
of
your
sin
and
life
forever
in
his
eternal
kingdom
you
are
exceedingly
wealthy
you
have
you
have
all
that
you
ever
need
in
christ
he
loved
us
sincerely
so
let's
keep
each
other
focused
on
the
grace
of
god
you
are
rich
and
that
has
an
impact
complete
the
task
that's
what
follows
in
verse
10
Paul
is
writing
to
the
church
in
Corinth
here
is
my
judgment
about
what
is
best
for
you
in
this
matter
last
year
you
were
the
first
not
only
to
give
but
also
to
have
the
desire
to
do
so
now
finish
the
work
you
said
you
were
going
to
do
it
you
promised
you
were
going
to
do
!
now
show
the
sincerity
of
your
love
and
do
the
job
write
the
check
set
up
that
direct
debit
revolute
towards
that
mission
put
the
cash
in
the
envelope
do
it
just
as
Christ
followed
through
on
his
promise
to
give
his
life
for
you
just
as
he
proves
the
sincerity
of
his
love
by
dying
for
you
and
for
me
so
follow
through
on
your
promise
to
give
what
you
said
let's
prove
the
sincerity
of
our
love
and
let's
continue
to be
generous
in
our
giving
but
let's
also
remember
that
it's
according
to
our
means
our
giving
our
sincerity
must
be
matched
by
what
we
have
not
what
we
don't
have
look
at
the
end
of
verse
11
according
to
your
means
for
if
the
willingness
is
there
the
gift
is
acceptable
according
to
what
one
has
not
according
to
what
one
does
not
have
now
this
is
going
to be
different
for
each
of
us
some
of
us
have
more
some
of
us
have
less
we
all
give
but
we
don't
all
give
the
same
there's
no
point
in
promising
oh
I'm
going
to
give
300
euro
a
week
if
we
can
only
give
20
euro
a
week
or
two
euro
a
week
whatever
it
might
be
but
the
command
is
give
according
to
your
means
you're
not
accountable
to
one
another
but
accountable
to
God
who
has
given
to
us
what
we
have
you
see
there's
only
one
kind
of
Christianity
and that
is
sincere
Christianity
a
sincerity
that not
only
speaks
about
love
but
is
active
in
loving
the
gift
of
giving
to
those
in
need
so
grace
leads
us
to
sincere
giving
and
then
third
grace
leads
to
genuine
equality
it's
also
very
practical
for us
isn't
it
verse
13
our
desire
is not
that
others
might
be
relieved
while
we
are
hard
pressed
but
that
there
might
be
equality
at
the
present
time
your
plenty
will
supply
what
they
need
so
that
in
turn
their
plenty
will
supply
what
you
need
the
goal
is
equality
you
see
there's
going to
be
seasons
in
life
when
we
have
very
little
but
then
there'll
be
seasons
in
our
life
when
we
have
much
maybe
that's
been
your
experience
in
your
life
the
times
when
you've
had
and
the
times
when
you
haven't
had
I
think
of my
own
parents
when we
were
growing
up
they
served
in
pastoral
ministry
without
a
guaranteed
regular
income
they would
often get
towards the
end of the
month
and there
would be
nothing
and I
mean
literally
nothing left
in the
bank account
we
laugh
about it
now
but my
mum used
to water
down
the
milk
it was
lovely
not
but that's
what they
did
because they
didn't
have
but you
know what
people
were
kind
checks
would
arrive
anonymously
in the
post
they
out of
their
plenty
gave
to those
like my
parents
who were
in need
but things
changed for
my parents
support
became more
regular
and they
in turn
were able
to support
others
they were
and they
are
generous
givers
you see
sometimes
we are
receivers
other
times
we are
givers
but never
is there
to be a
time
when there
is
inequality
no one
should
ever
be
in need
and we're
given an
example
aren't we
as we
finish here
verse 15
as it is
written
so this is
taking us
back to
Exodus
the one
who gathered
much
did not
have too
much
and the one
who gathered
little
did not
have too
little
remember
the account
in Exodus
where God
graciously
intervened
and rescued
his people
out of
Egypt
out of
their slavery
and bondage
and took
them
through the
desert
but there
was a
problem
when they
were walking
through the
desert
there was
no done
stores
or super
value
there
nowhere
to buy
food
so God
provided
manna
that bread
like substance
that appeared
every morning
every day
around the
camp
they would
wake up
and there
would all
be these
flakes of
bread on
the ground
and God's
command to
the people
was very
simple
gather
what you
need for
the day
and no
more
don't gather
for tomorrow
don't gather
for the
weekend
just take
what you
need for
that day
so
verse 15
the one
who gathered
much
did not
have too
much
and the
one who
gathered
little
did not
have too
little
you see
God
graciously
gave
according
to each
family's
need
so in
the same
way
just as
God
has given
to us
so we
are released
to give
to those
who are
in need
and let's
be clear
that means
we spend
what we
have to
meet our
needs
not our
wants
or our
luxuries
so that
we are
enabled to
give to
those
who are
most
needy
the
principle
is this
work as
hard as
you can
to save
all
you can
so that
you give
as much
as you
can
you see
in chapter
eight
we have
a most
beautiful
example
of churches
who in
their extreme
poverty
were able
to give
richly
and joyfully
and if
we are to
become like
that the
only way
that we
will truly
be released
and set
free to
be generous
givers
is by
directing
one another's
gaze
not to
our hearts
or to
others
but to
Christ
and to
see his
amazing
grace
and all
that he
has done
for us
and how
wealthy
and rich
we are
in the
Lord Jesus
Christ
and that
releases us
and gives
us the
freedom
to help
all those
in need
you see
as we
experience
God's
grace
we are
transformed
into
generous
givers
to rich
generosity
loving
sincerity
and
genuine
equality
let's
just
pause
before
we
pray
and
maybe
there's
something
that
the
Lord
has
been
pressing
upon
your
hearts
in
terms
of
giving
let's
just
take
a
moment
to
reflect
on
what
we
have
heard
and
how
we
should
respond
Lord God
thank you
so much
for all
that you
have
provided
for us
all of
us
come
from
homes
where
we
are
warm
where
we
have
been
fed
and
where
we
are
kept
safe
for
most
of us
we
will
go
to
work
tomorrow
!
and
at the
end
of the
week
or the
end
of the
months
we
will
receive
a
wage
you
have
been
very
kind
to
us
and
you
have
blessed
us
as a
church
and
we
thank you
father
for
generous
givers
who
have
given
out
of
all
that
they
have
father
please
help
us
to
keep
our
eyes
firmly
fixed
on
the
Lord
Jesus
remembering
all that
he did
for
us
taking
our
poverty
our
sin
and
giving
his
riches
his
righteousness
so
that
we
might
be
blessed
father
thank
you
so
much
encourage
us
and
help
us
to
give
to
those
in
need
around
us
and
those
whom
we
come
to
know
we
pray
in
Jesus
name
Amen