Lesson 3
SIDE EFFECTS OF GIVING:
The giver of gifts should be advised that the act of giving may result in the following side effects:
unexpected personal blessings
the receiver of the gifts is helped
God is glorified
bonds of Christian fellowship are strengthened
Side effects are known to be permanent. For assistance dealing with the eternal consequences of giving, contact pastor Lewis as soon as possible.
The giver is blessed
2 Corinthians 9:6-11: “6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
God promises whoever sows __________ will also reap __________, and whoever sows __________ will also reap __________.
Proverbs 3:9-10, “9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
God’s blessings __________.
Malachi 3:10-12, "10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.”
How does God assure us the floodgates will be opened?
Verse 12 tells us the giver enjoys the __________ of the nations.
The Christian’s decision to give is made in the __________.
Why is this such a blessing?
What might lead a person to give “reluctantly” or “under compulsion”?
We can afford to be generous because God’s grace __________ gives us the __________ and __________ to do good works.
In verse 9 Paul quotes from Psalm 112. The “he” is the believer who responds to to grace of God described in Psalm 111. __________ is a blessing such a giver receives.
The giver is made rich in __________ __________.
The giver becomes the object of __________.
People are blessed
2 Corinthians 9:12:“12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
The __________ of others are supplied by the giver.
The giver causes people to __________ in many __________ of __________ to God.
Give some examples of “expressions of thanks” a person might give after they have had their needs met.
God is praised
2 Corinthians 9:13:“13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
Our giving praises God because we are __________ what God has asked us to do.
God is praised because the giver is proof that God’s people __________ what they __________.
God is praised because the giver is proof that God __________ all people.
The Bonds of Christian Fellowship are Strengthened
2 Corinthians 9:14-15:“14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
Giving touches the __________.
How does giving bring the giver closer to the person in need?
How does giving bring the person in need closer to the giver?
Further Study
Ministers of Christ: A Commentary on 2 Corinthians, especially the comments on chapters 8 and 9 Johann P. Meyer, (Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963).
The People's Bible: Second Corinthians, especially the comments on chapters 8 and 9 *David J. Valleskey, (Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1992).
The Stewardship Call *Waldo Werning, (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1965).
The Power of Pure Stewardship *Carl W. Berner Sr.(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1970).
Lesson 1
“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops”
Proverbs 3:9
הוֹן Enough, riches, substance, wealth.
The noun means “wealth.” but its use is poetic. It is used twenty-six times, in Prov. (19 times) and in Ezk., Ps., and Song. The basic meaning of the noun is “goods” or “substance” in sufficient quantity to be considered “riches” or “wealth”. The meaning of “goods” or “wealth” may have developed from the idea of that which is usually considered necessary to make life “easy.”
—Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, p.213.
The management of wealth is called Stewardship. Comment on the following definitions of Christian stewardship. What are their strengths? their weaknesses? Which one(s) do you prefer? Why?Stewardship is the management of God's mission using God's resources.
Stewardship is a believer's response to divine truth.
Stewardship is what I do after I say I believe.
Stewardship is the practice of the Christian religion.
Stewardship is the action of the indwelling Christ.
Stewardship is a living expression of one's faith in Christ crucified.
Stewardship-in the broad sense-is sanctification.
Truth 1
A proper understanding of Christian stewardship begins with the understanding that stewardship is [a part of] the Christian’s life of sanctification.
Sanctification:
“A medical act of God performed in the heart of man, which produces an inherent habitual righteousness as compared with justification, which is “a declaratory act of God” performed outside of man, which imputes to man a foreign righteousness.”
Comment on the following
“Christ said, “Go make disciples.” He didn’t say “Go raise money.”
Truth 2
Sanctification, because of the lingering presence of the old man, is unlike justification, which is instant and complete. Sanctification is a process and is always incomplete (Luther says the Christian is “simul justus et peccator” “at the same time _________ and _________.")
Peccator
Ephesians 4:22 - What motivates Peccator?
1 Corinthians 2:14 - Why is Peccator unwilling and unable to accept what God says?
Romans 8:7-8 - What is the attitude of Peccator toward God? What can’t it do?
The effects of Peccator on stewardship
Peccator changes 1 Corinthians 10:31 to read, “whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of _______.”
Pecattor does not ask, “what can I do for _______? But what is in it for _______?
Peccator loves _______ rather than _______.
Justus
2 Corinthians 5:17 - What has Justus become?
Romans 6:6-7 - To what is Justus no longer a slave?
Romans 7:22 - How does Justus feel about God’s will?
The effects of Justus on stewardship
Justus confesses, “whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of _______.”
Justus does not ask, “what is in it for _______? But what what can I do for _______?
Justus loves _______ rather than _______.
Agree/Disagree
“How one chooses to use their money is a deeply personal issue and should not be discussed.”
Truth 3
Growth in Christian stewardship, occurs as the new man gains ascendancy over the old man. Such growth is effected through a proper use of law and gospel.
The purpose of the Law
Romans 3:20 - For what purpose did God give us His law?
Romans 6:23 - With what does God’s law threaten the sinner?
The law’s effect on stewardship
The law can never, with all its commands, threats, and promises, produce a single _______ _______. Peccator can only bet to _______, not _______.
The law, therefore, can never produce the _______ _______ of Christian stewardship.
The law also serves the purpose of _______ grateful Christians in they lives as stewards.
The purpose of the Gospel
Matthew 9:13 - What does the gospel announce to the sinner?
1 Peter 1:23 - What does God bring about through the gospel?
John 15:5 - What does the gospel produce and empower?
The gospel's effect on stewardship
The gospel produces an “I _______” rather than an “I _______” attitude toward stewardship.
The gospel produces _______, even _______, displays of Christ-honoring love.
Comment on the following
“It is because of your greed and selfishness that we are running a deficit on our budget.”
Truth 4
All behavior is motivated, but not all behavior is properly motivated. God-pleasing stewardship motivation flows from the gospel, not the law.
What is gospel motivation?
Complete the following sentences:
Romans 12:1-2 - Gospel-motivated behavior is…
1 John 4:19 - Gospel-motivated behavior is…
2 Corinthians 5:15 - Gospel-motivated behavior is…
Agree / Disagree
Christians give because they love Jesus.
A lie
Happiness is found in the accumulation of wealth.
Contrary to popular opinion, the truth is happiness is found not in the _______ of wealth but in its _______.
Christians find happiness in the distribution of their wealth.
Proverbs 3:9 - Christians distribute wealth to…
1 Timothy 5:8 - Christians distribute wealth to…
Ephesians 4:28 - Christians distribute wealth to…
Romans 13:6-7 - Christians distribute wealth to…
Luke 5:16 - Christians distribute wealth to…
Lesson 2
“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops”
Proverbs 3:9
The Setting
1 Corinthians 16:1-4: “1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.”
In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul focuses on the need to complete the offering for the needy saints in Jerusalem. The offering began about a year before but was “put on the back burner,” evidently because of problems plaguing the congregation. As Paul encourages the completion of this offering, he places before the Corinthians and us some key principles of stewardship, principles that can guide individual Christians and Christian congregations yet today..
The Macedonians
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 “1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
Paul describes the financial stability of the Macedonian churches with the words __________ and __________.
Yet their giving is described as rich __________.
ἁπλότης. - Here, too, the basic meaning is a. “simplicity”: 2 Βασ. 15:11; 3 Macc. 3:21; Jos. Bell., 2, 151. And again this leads to such value concepts as b. “noble simplicity,” “characteristic of the psyche of heroes,” c. “purity” or “singleness of heart”
ἁπλότης giving does not have any __________, _____-_____ motives.
ἁπλότης points more to the ___________ of the giver than it does to the __________ given.
The __________ of __________ made it possible for the Macedonians to give like this.
In what three ways does Paul describe the remarkable nature of the giving of the Macedonians?
Verse 3 - They gave __________ their __________.
Verse 4 - They __________ for the __________.
Verse 5 - They gave in keeping with __________ __________.
What can we learn from the Macedonians about our giving? ______________________________________________________________________
2 Corinthians 8:6-7 “6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
Paul connects the act of giving to Jesus by calling it the __________ of __________.
Why is Paul quite certain that the Macedonians will excel in the grace of giving? ______________________________________________________________________
2 Corinthians 8:8-9 “8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
Why has Paul brought up the example of the Macedonian believers? ______________________________________________________________________
What does it mean that Jesus was rich? ______________________________________________________________________
How did Jesus become poor? ______________________________________________________________________
What are the riches we receive through His poverty? ______________________________________________________________________
2 Corinthians 8:10-12 “10 And here is my advice 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. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”
Paul’s advice is that our __________ to give be matched by the __________ of our giving.
Paul says if the __________ is there, the gift is __________.
With the words “according to what one has” Paul is reminding us that the __________ we give is not as important as the __________ we give.
Me
The Tithe - Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all Israelites were to give 10 percent of everything they earned and grew to the Tabernacle/Temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). In fact, the Old Testament Law required multiple tithes which would have pushed the total to around 23.3 percent, not the 10 percent which is generally considered the tithe amount today.
Proportion - Rich generosity does not necessarily mean a large amount of money. A family making $30,000 a year can have rich generosity at 10% giving and still give less money than a family making $200,000 giving three times as much at 5%. Basking in the light of God’s grace, spend some time this week comparing your rich generosity to that of the Macedonian churches.
Stability - As you are financially blessed or challenged your offering amount may go up or down but your percent stays the same