3.20.22 Huddle

Zach Below   -   March 20, 2022

Lesson Intro: This week, we continue our “Excel” series, asking, what does it really look like to excel in the grace of giving? How do we actually do that? Pastor Bret gives us 3 principles to guide us through the discussion. Our text this week is 2 Corinthians 8.

BIBLE ENGAGEMENT: 2 Corinthians 8-9

Leader Note: This will be a very long reading. Be sure to break it up among members of your group. Scholars claim that these two chapters (8-9) have the highest concentration on giving in the entire Bible.

Context: Paul has planted a number of churches by this time. One of the churches that he did not plant, the “mother church” in Jerusalem is going through a famine. What Paul does is travel to and write to different churches asking them to help the church in Jerusalem. This was a long undertaking, and this text is his final letter. In it we see key principles that can guide us to excel in generosity.

READ 2 CORINTHIANS 8-9

8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very 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 Lord’s people.5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 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. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

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 sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10 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.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 one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 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, 15 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.”[b]

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

16 Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

9 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

Generosity Encouraged

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, 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:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”[c]

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 enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others 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. 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!

BIBLE ENGAGMENT QUESTIONS

Leader Note: Encourage your group members to remember to process this in light of the context we spoke of earlier. Spend some time looking at the text together and asking the following questions. Don’t rush through. The longer you look the more you will find.

 

  1. What stands out to you from the text?

  1. What questions does it raise?

  1. What principles or insights into giving can you pull out from it? (Make a list as a group)

GROUP ACTIVITY

Intro: The church in America is struggling. Since COVID hit in 2020, churches are declining, financial support for churches is shrinking, and a number of Christian Universities have either closed their doors or been forced to completely change their strategy. In light of that, here is the activity . . .

  • As a group (or smaller groups), brainstorm how you would try to pull off Paul’s mission today. Would you write a letter? Send an email? Make a YouTube channel?
  • What would it say?
  • How would you show people the importance of their financial support?

FINAL QUESTIONS

Intro: In his message, Bret gave us 3 key principles for excelling in generosity.

  • Give yourself to the Lord first.
  • Intentionally move from inspiration to completion.
  • Give sacrificially but not reluctantly.

  1. Where is the first principle (give yourself to the Lord) supported in the text? What do you think it means?

  1. Respond to the following quote: “It is easy to mistake positive feelings with action.” Would you agree?

  1. Bret suggested that one way to give sacrificially but not reluctantly is by “praying through to proper perspective.” What do you think this means? What does it look like in practice?

CLOSE IN PRAYER