2 Corinthians 8

The point is, we get to grow, do you see what I'm saying, in giving, which is what we have to do by training that muscle.

Paul told the church at Corinth, uh, 2 Corinthians 8, "Since you excel in so many ways, in your faith, you're gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us, I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving." He's saying, "I want you, because you're doing s- so well in so many ways, to also crush it in this way, but you're gonna have to try, you're gonna have to train, you're gonna have to trust." You don't get off the basketball court after not playing for a year and instantly have your timing come back, right? It takes being in it, the muscle memory, right? You have to hone that.

I want you to excel at it, but it's gonna take you working at it systematically and watching your life grow in this way.

Plus, I, I love the thought that our giving isn't really about what we're gonna accomplish when we give to God.

Now dwell more on 2 Corinthians 8, 9.

Discussion questions.

Why is the example of Jesus so crucial as far as stewardship is concerned? second corinthians 8 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 jesus was so poor that he not even had money to pay the temple tax remember that miracle that then he asked peter to go and fish a fish and found the two coins there to pay for his tax and for peter's tax that's it That's it.

He had nothing.

And he was the owner of the whole universe.

Second Corinthians chapter eight.

Second Corinthians 8:1, "Moreover, brethren, we make known unto you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

For to their power, I bear witness, yea, beyond their power they were willing of themselves; beseeching us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

And this they did, as we had hoped, but first gave themselves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

I want to spend just a little time on Sabbaths, the introduction to this lesson, stewardship and mission, and the memory text sets the tone for the entire lesson.

Our memory text is 2 Corinthians 8, verse 9.

Paul writes, "'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.

You know, this verse is not about money.

So during this week, we're going to see theological principles and Related to the practice of offering gifts, it's based on Christ offering himself actually for us and the hope that is given to us through his birth, his life, his death, and his resurrection.

So Sunday is the example of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 8.

Eight, one through five is where this message is going to be focused.

Good morning.

Today is Sunday, September 6, 2026, and we're studying the Bible Study Guide for the third quarter of 2026, 1st and 2nd Corinthians.

This is Lesson 11, Stewardship and Mission.

And today's reading is the example of Jesus.

We ask you this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

The context of 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 has to do with Paul's encouraging members in Corinth to complete a fundraiser for the impoverished churches in Judea.

Apparently they had already committed to doing that, but relationship issues between them and Paul had complicated things.