1. Brentwood Park Today’s Message Today’s Message THE GRACE OF GIVING VERSES THE LAW OF GIVING II CORINTHIANS 8:1-5 II CORINTHIANS 8:1-5

2. Brentwood Park I find that most Christians today, and I mean most, do not understand how to give properly. Many of them are giving for wrong reasons, giving in wrong ways, or not giving at all, so we desperately need some teaching in this area.

3. Brentwood Park The purest form of Christian giving. The New Testament formula for giving The age old question as to whether or not a Christian should tithe In Today’s Message We Will Discover: I NOW HAVE EVERYONE’S ATTENTION! I NOW HAVE EVERYONE’S ATTENTION!

4. Brentwood Park Introduction 1.8-9 are all about “Christian Giving” a. It is abundant, gracious, and hilarious, not wrongly motivated 2. Paul never mentions money in 8-9 a. Therefore we will not talk about money, we will talk about giving

5. Brentwood Park The Macedonian Example (Churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea) 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. Cont…

6. Brentwood Park 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. II Cor. 8:1-5

7. Brentwood Park Background for 1-5 There Was Famine in Palestine The Macedonian Gift Would Bring Relief to the suffering Christian Jews The Gracious Gesture Would Help to Bring Down the Cultural Partition between Jewish and Gentile Christians Paul shares His joy with the Corinthians hoping to see the same grace coming from them.

8. Brentwood Park The Right Motivation for Giving The Right Motivation for Giving And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. v.1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. v.1 1. The only motivation for true giving is the goodness of God If God has not been good to you then give nothing, but if he has, then let your giving reflect that goodness. If God has not been good to you then give nothing, but if he has, then let your giving reflect that goodness.

9. Brentwood Park Lets take a look at motivation Lets take a look at motivation

10. Brentwood Park Wrong Motivations for Giving Tax write off Reputation – Seen of men Brownie points for God 2. God’s goodness was seen in severe circumstances Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.V.2

11. Brentwood Park a. They were persecuted b. They were quite poor 1) Yet full of joy 1) Yet full of joy If anyone had a good excuse not to give it was the Corinthians, but instead they chose to walk in the grace of God

12. Brentwood Park 3.God’s goodness took them beyond their means For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, V.3 1) They gave out of ability and their need 1) They gave out of ability and their need

13. Brentwood Park 4. God’s goodness put strong desire in their hearts to give they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. V.4 1) To the Corinthians, giving was not a duty, it was a joyful privilege they earnestly desired in which to participate 1) To the Corinthians, giving was not a duty, it was a joyful privilege they earnestly desired in which to participate One of God’s little secrets Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith… James 2:5

14. Brentwood Park 5. God’s goodness caused them to first give their hearts to the Lord 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. V.5 Question What is greater, the gift or the giver of the gift? The pie, or the piece of the pie? IF GOD HAS YOU, HE HAS EVERYTHING!

15. Brentwood Park TO TITHE OR NOT TO TITHE, THAT IS THE QUESTION The $earch For Truth

16. Brentwood Park Will God Blast Me if I Don’t Tithe?

17. Brentwood Park Is this your attitude towards giving Is this your attitude towards giving

18. Brentwood Park Questions people always ask me about giving. Should I tithe if I can’t afford it due to excessive bills and financial obligations Am I really commanded to Tithe in the New Testament? If I don’t tithe am I robbing God? Should I tithe the Gross or the net?

19. Brentwood Park A New Testament Answer to an Old Testament Command Not once in the NT are Christians commanded to tithe The sole purpose of the tithe in the law was to support the priesthood (33%) Today every Christian is a priest unto God, there is no need of a special tax. All giving today is to be done voluntarily, according to the grace of God

20. Brentwood Park Did the Corinthian’s tithe? Answer – They far exceeded the tithe, first, they gave themselves, “the whole” then they gave their goods, “the part”. GOD’S POINT OF VIEW ON GIVING “If I have your heart, then I also have your pocketbook, your time, and your abilities.”

21. Brentwood Park The purest form of Christian giving. Giving by the Grace of God The New Testament formula for giving Give yourself to God, then Your Goods The age old question as to whether or not a Christian should tithe Tithing has Never Been Commanded to the NT Christian Today We Discovered