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

Brentwood Park Brentwood Park

Today’s MessageToday’s Message

THE GRACE OF GIVING VERSES THE GRACE OF GIVING VERSES THE LAW OF GIVINGTHE LAW OF GIVING

II CORINTHIANS 8:1-5II CORINTHIANS 8:1-5


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


The purest form of Christian giving.The purest form of Christian giving.

The New Testament formula for givingThe New Testament formula for giving

The age old question as to whether or not The age old question as to whether or not a Christian should tithea Christian should tithe

In Today’s Message We Will Discover:In Today’s Message We Will Discover:

I NOW HAVE EVERYONE’S I NOW HAVE EVERYONE’S ATTENTION! ATTENTION!


IntroductionIntroduction1.1. 8-9 are all about “Christian Giving”8-9 are all about “Christian Giving”

a. It is abundant, gracious, and a. It is abundant, gracious, and hilarious, not wrongly hilarious, not wrongly motivated motivated

2. Paul never mentions money in 8-92. Paul never mentions money in 8-9

a. Therefore we will not talk a. Therefore we will not talk about money, we will talk about money, we will talk about giving about giving


The Macedonian ExampleThe Macedonian Example(Churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea)(Churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea)

And now, brothers, we want you to And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. Cont…rich generosity. Cont…


For I testify that they gave as much as For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. II Cor. 8:1-5with God's will. II Cor. 8:1-5


Background for 1-5Background for 1-5There Was Famine in PalestineThere Was Famine in PalestineThe Macedonian Gift Would Bring The Macedonian Gift Would Bring

Relief to the suffering Christian JewsRelief to the suffering Christian JewsThe Gracious Gesture Would Help The Gracious Gesture Would Help

to Bring Down the Cultural Partition to Bring Down the Cultural Partition between Jewish and Gentile Christiansbetween Jewish and Gentile Christians

Paul shares His joy with the Paul shares His joy with the Corinthians hoping to see the same Corinthians hoping to see the same grace coming from them.grace coming from them.


The Right Motivation for GivingThe Right Motivation for Giving

And now, brothers, we want you to And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given know about the grace that God has given

the Macedonian churches. v.1the Macedonian churches. v.1

1. The only motivation for true 1. The only motivation for true giving is the goodness of God giving is the goodness of God

If God has not been good to you If God has not been good to you then give nothing, but if he has, then let then give nothing, but if he has, then let your giving reflect that goodness.your giving reflect that goodness.


Lets take a look at motivationLets take a look at motivation


Wrong Motivations for GivingWrong Motivations for Giving

Tax write offTax write offReputation – Seen of menReputation – Seen of menBrownie points for GodBrownie points for God

2. God’s goodness was seen in severe 2. God’s goodness was seen in severe circumstances circumstances

Out of the most severe trial, their Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.V.2 poverty welled up in rich generosity.V.2


a. They were persecuteda. They were persecuted

b. They were quite poor b. They were quite poor

1) Yet full of joy1) Yet full of joy

If anyone had a good excuse not to If anyone had a good excuse not to give it was the Corinthians, but instead give it was the Corinthians, but instead they chose to walk in the grace of Godthey chose to walk in the grace of God


3.God’s goodness took them 3.God’s goodness took them beyond their means beyond their means

For I testify that they gave as much as For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, V.3Entirely on their own, V.3

1) They gave out of ability and 1) They gave out of ability and their need their need


4. God’s goodness put strong desire 4. God’s goodness put strong desire in their hearts to give in their hearts to give

they urgently pleaded with us for the they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. saints.

V.4 V.4

1) To the Corinthians, giving was 1) To the Corinthians, giving was not a duty, it was a joyful not a duty, it was a joyful privilege they earnestly privilege they earnestly

desired desired in which to participatein which to participateOne of God’s little secretsOne of God’s little secrets

Has not God chosen those who are poor in the Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith… James 2:5eyes of the world to be rich in faith… James 2:5


5. God’s goodness caused them to 5. God’s goodness caused them to first give their hearts to the Lord first give their hearts to the Lord

And they did not do as we expected, but And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. V.5then to us in keeping with God's will. V.5

Question Question

What is greater, the gift or the giver of What is greater, the gift or the giver of the gift? The pie, or the piece of the pie?the gift? The pie, or the piece of the pie?

IF GOD HAS YOU, HE HAS IF GOD HAS YOU, HE HAS EVERYTHING!EVERYTHING!


TO TITHE OR NOT TO TITHE, TO TITHE OR NOT TO TITHE, THAT IS THE QUESTIONTHAT IS THE QUESTION

The The $$earch For Truthearch For Truth


Will God Blast Me if I Don’t Tithe?Will God Blast Me if I Don’t Tithe?


Is this your attitude towards givingIs this your attitude towards giving


Questions people always ask me Questions people always ask me about giving. about giving.

Should I tithe if I can’t afford it due to Should I tithe if I can’t afford it due to excessive bills and financial excessive bills and financial obligationsobligations

Am I really commanded to Tithe in Am I really commanded to Tithe in the New Testament? the New Testament? If I don’t tithe am I robbing God?If I don’t tithe am I robbing God?

Should I tithe the Gross or the net? Should I tithe the Gross or the net?


A New Testament Answer to an Old A New Testament Answer to an Old Testament CommandTestament Command

Not once in the NT are Christians Not once in the NT are Christians commanded to tithecommanded to tithe

The sole purpose of the tithe in the law was to The sole purpose of the tithe in the law was to support the priesthood (33%)support the priesthood (33%)

Today every Christian is a priest unto God, Today every Christian is a priest unto God, there is no need of a special tax.there is no need of a special tax.

All giving today is to be done voluntarily, All giving today is to be done voluntarily, according to the grace of Godaccording to the grace of God


Did the Corinthian’s tithe?Did the Corinthian’s tithe?

Answer – They far exceeded the tithe, Answer – They far exceeded the tithe, first, they gave themselves, “the whole” first, they gave themselves, “the whole” then they gave their goods, “the part”.then they gave their goods, “the part”.

GOD’S POINT OF VIEW ON GOD’S POINT OF VIEW ON GIVINGGIVING

““If I have your heart, then I also If I have your heart, then I also have your pocketbook, your time, and have your pocketbook, your time, and your abilities.” your abilities.”


The purest form of Christian giving.The purest form of Christian giving.

Giving by the Grace of GodGiving by the Grace of God

The New Testament formula for givingThe New Testament formula for giving

Give yourself to God, then Your GoodsGive yourself to God, then Your Goods

The age old question as to whether or The age old question as to whether or not a Christian should tithenot a Christian should tithe

Tithing has Never Been Commanded to Tithing has Never Been Commanded to the NT Christianthe NT Christian

Today We DiscoveredToday We Discovered

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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