1 Second Corinthians “Paul – A Minister of Christ” Lesson 10 Second Corinthians 9:1-15 Page 12

2 Last Lesson: A ministry of sacrifice: the Macedonians. 8:1-5 A ministry of fairness: the Corinthians. 8:6-15 A ministry of honor: Titus. 8:16-24 Today’s Lesson: A ministry of preparedness. 9:1-5 A ministry of generosity. 9:6-15

Read Second Corinthians 9:1-5 1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. 3

4 (2 Corinthians 9:1-5) His Was A Ministry Of Preparedness (2 Corinthians 9:1-5)   Preparedness is always a great advantage in achieving our goals. See chapter 8:10: “And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago. (11) But now you also must complete the doing of it”   Paul felt it was superfluous [unnecessary] to write to them about their goal which was made a year earlier [probably referring to 1Cor. 16:1,2]

5 (2 Corinthians 9:1-5) His Was A Ministry Of Preparedness (2 Corinthians 9:1-5)   Preparedness is always a great advantage in achieving our goals.   Preparedness is the outcome of a genuine desire to serve Christ. (v.2) o o These Christians were ready to participate in a good work. See 8:10. “I boast of you…that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal has stirred up the majority.” (v.2)

6 (2 Corinthians 9:1-5) His Was A Ministry Of Preparedness (2 Corinthians 9:1-5)   Preparedness is always a great advantage in achieving our goals.   Preparedness is the outcome of a genuine desire to serve Christ. (v.2) o o These Christians were ready to participate in a good work. See 8:10.   Preparedness avoids embarrassment and disappointments. (vs.3,4) “I have sent the brethren…that your may be ready” (v.3) “Lest…[they]…find you unprepared” (v.4)

7 (2 Corinthians 9:1-5) His Was A Ministry Of Preparedness (2 Corinthians 9:1-5)   Preparedness is always a great advantage in achieving our goals. See chapter 8:10.   Preparedness is the outcome of a genuine desire to serve Christ. (v.2) o o These Christians were ready to participate in a good work. See 8:10.   Preparedness avoids embarrassment and disappointments. (vs.3,4)   Preparedness fosters better responses from those who participate. (v.5) “…prepare your generous gift beforehand…that it may be ready…and not as a grudging obligation” (v.5)

Read Second Corinthians 9: But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 8

9 (2 Corinthians 9:6-9) His Was A Ministry Of Generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)   Generosity springs from trust in the law of sowing and reaping. (v.6) o The person that sows little must expect to reap little o The person who sows generously will also reap generously o A man shall reap in proportion to what he sowed o God will bestow rewards in proportion to what is given toward the needy disciples of Christ

10 (2 Corinthians 9:6-9) His Was A Ministry Of Generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)   Generosity springs from trust in the law of sowing and reaping. (v.6)   Generosity springs from good planning. (v.7) o “Purposed in his heart” is that which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished o “In his heart” is that a man should ponder or mediate over the amount he is going to give and that no one else can do this for him o Giving should never be done grudgingly or as if he “had to” o For God loves a cheerful giver

11 (2 Corinthians 9:6-9) His Was A Ministry Of Generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)   Generosity springs from trust in the law of sowing and reaping. (v.6)   Generosity springs from good planning. (v.7)   Generosity springs from faith in God’s grace -- He will furnish the sufficiency and abundance necessary for success. (vs.8,9) o The divine blessing rests upon the liberal man -- God keeps him from want o Otherwise, one is made poor by his lack of liberality o Psalm 112:9, “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn [strength] will be exalted with honor.”

Read Second Corinthians 9: Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 12

13 (2 Corinthians 9:10-12) His Was A Ministry Of Generosity (2 Corinthians 9:10-12)   Generosity springs from confidence in how the gift will be used -- the benefits both to givers and to receivers. (vs.10,11) o From this collection for the saints, the needs of the receivers would be met, but deep gratitude for the gift would return to the givers as well. (v.12) o As God increased the Corinthians ability to give, and they increased in generosity, the rewards from God would increase accordingly o It is certainly clear from these scriptures that a person never impoverishes himself by giving to the Lord o When the Lord is being thanked, it is important!

14 (2 Corinthians 9:13-14) His Was A Ministry Of Generosity (2 Corinthians 9:13-14)   Generosity fulfilled the purpose of Paul’s ministry to the saints. (v.13) o God was glorified when his children obeyed Him. (v.13) –The generous gift to the Jewish Christians was proof that Christ was working in the Gentiles o Jews and Gentiles thus learned to share as members of the same family! (v.14) –Jewish Christians would pray for the Christians in Corinth –There would be strong ties of affection between them

15 (2 Corinthians 9:15) His Was A Ministry Of Generosity (2 Corinthians 9:15)   Generosity among God’s people reflects His generosity toward God’s people! o This is Paul’s basic lesson throughout chapters 8 and 9. See especially 8:9: o “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”