Cheerful Giving
Introduction
God loves joy. What more joy can we have than being cheerful?
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Paul teaches us God’s formula for receiving God’s blessings as a cheerful giver. We learn that we will get back the magnitude of what we give. He will increase our base so that our generosity is increased. He will bless us for blessing Him with thanksgiving.
Teaching Points:
1. You reap what you sow.
If you give little, you will get little. You cannot give just a tiny little bit too God and expect a huge return. God isn’t an ATM. He will bless you for your sacrifices towards His Kingdom movement.
2. We must chose to give or not, without compulsion or reluctance.
With this in mind, we are now at a crossroad. According to Jeremiah 6:16, this is an ancient crossroad, and we should chose the ancient path. A path that is led by God. Obedience to giving cheerfully while taking up His challenge (Malachi 3:9-12).
3. God will bless you abundantly.
Because we have chosen to obey and give in abundance, cheerfully, God will then bless us by increasing our base. With this increased base, we can give more.
4. Your contributions to ministry will overflow your thanksgiving to God.
Not giving means you are thankless to God. Giving means you are pouring out your thanksgiving to Him. Give to your church and other ministries. Give to the poor. God will bless your life abundantly. Over time you see Him give you a little bit more, and a little bit more, and a little bit more.
Discussion Question
1. What is your favorite way to give or serve others, and why does that bring you joy?
2. Can you share a memorable experience when you witnessed generosity in action?
3. What key themes or messages about giving do you see in this passage?
4. How does Paul emphasize the importance of readiness in giving in these verses?
5. What do you think this passage reveals about God's character as a giver?
6. How does the idea of cheerful giving reflect our relationship with God?
7. In what ways do you think generosity contributes to spiritual growth and maturity?
8. How can adopting a posture of generosity affect our personal faith journey?
9. How can we apply Paul's teachings on generosity in our daily interactions with others?
10. What steps can we take to cultivate a more generous spirit in our lives?
Conclusion
The debate should end on whether or not Malachi 3:10 still applies to us today. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t the the Bible without refute from Jesus. Jesus never told us that we wouldn’t receiving blessings for our giving, or to give less. He told a parable of a poor person giving all that they had.
By coupling it with this passage, we have a very powerful path to God’s blessings, and a financially stable life. A life that won’t always be perfect, but it will always be the perfect path.
God loves joy. What more joy can we have than being cheerful?
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Paul teaches us God’s formula for receiving God’s blessings as a cheerful giver. We learn that we will get back the magnitude of what we give. He will increase our base so that our generosity is increased. He will bless us for blessing Him with thanksgiving.
Teaching Points:
1. You reap what you sow.
If you give little, you will get little. You cannot give just a tiny little bit too God and expect a huge return. God isn’t an ATM. He will bless you for your sacrifices towards His Kingdom movement.
2. We must chose to give or not, without compulsion or reluctance.
With this in mind, we are now at a crossroad. According to Jeremiah 6:16, this is an ancient crossroad, and we should chose the ancient path. A path that is led by God. Obedience to giving cheerfully while taking up His challenge (Malachi 3:9-12).
3. God will bless you abundantly.
Because we have chosen to obey and give in abundance, cheerfully, God will then bless us by increasing our base. With this increased base, we can give more.
4. Your contributions to ministry will overflow your thanksgiving to God.
Not giving means you are thankless to God. Giving means you are pouring out your thanksgiving to Him. Give to your church and other ministries. Give to the poor. God will bless your life abundantly. Over time you see Him give you a little bit more, and a little bit more, and a little bit more.
Discussion Question
1. What is your favorite way to give or serve others, and why does that bring you joy?
2. Can you share a memorable experience when you witnessed generosity in action?
3. What key themes or messages about giving do you see in this passage?
4. How does Paul emphasize the importance of readiness in giving in these verses?
5. What do you think this passage reveals about God's character as a giver?
6. How does the idea of cheerful giving reflect our relationship with God?
7. In what ways do you think generosity contributes to spiritual growth and maturity?
8. How can adopting a posture of generosity affect our personal faith journey?
9. How can we apply Paul's teachings on generosity in our daily interactions with others?
10. What steps can we take to cultivate a more generous spirit in our lives?
Conclusion
The debate should end on whether or not Malachi 3:10 still applies to us today. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t the the Bible without refute from Jesus. Jesus never told us that we wouldn’t receiving blessings for our giving, or to give less. He told a parable of a poor person giving all that they had.
By coupling it with this passage, we have a very powerful path to God’s blessings, and a financially stable life. A life that won’t always be perfect, but it will always be the perfect path.
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