Motivations for Giving
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying, we must ask the following questions:
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
READ THE SCRIPTURE (Multiple times & translations, and notice the words that stand out)
Biblegateway (NIV, CSB, NLT) (My choice of all-round site. It is a great app, better on computers or on a smartphone) Biblia.com (New Century Version) (Great on a computer, especially if you have a Logos account)
OUTLINE AND LINKS TO PERICOPES (considering ebible & Serendipity)
Summarize the main story: Describe the events and context of the chapter in your own words.
2 Corinthians 9, penned by the Apostle Paul, instructs the Corinthians about the blessings that come from generous, cheerful giving. It encourages Christians to give what they have decided in their hearts to give, without reluctance or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. This chapter is a powerful reminder of the divine promise that our generous giving on earth yields an eternal return in heaven.
Historical Context of the Collection for Jerusalem
• Famine and economic hardship in Judea (Acts 11:28–30) made the Jerusalem church dependent on aid.
• Paul coordinated a multi-church relief effort (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; Romans 15:25-27). Corinth, a prosperous port city, was crucial.
• Delegates (“the brothers,” v. 3) ensured transparency, protecting Paul and the gift from suspicion (2 Corinthians 8:18-21).
• Such inter-church sharing modeled the unity Jesus prayed for (John 17:20-23).
2 Corinthians Chapter 9 discusses the importance of generosity in supporting the Lord's people. The author expresses confidence in the eagerness of the recipients to give, having previously boasted about their readiness to help. To ensure they are prepared, the author sends brothers to finalize arrangements for their promised gift. Emphasizing that giving should be done willingly and cheerfully, the text highlights that generous sowing leads to generous reaping. The service provided not only meets needs but also generates gratitude towards God, showcasing obedience to the gospel and fostering connections through shared generosity. The passage concludes with thanks for God's indescribable gift.
OUTLINE
2 CORINTHIANS 9
Paul completes a subject he began in the previous chapter—namely, the grace of giving.
I. The Monetary Gift by the Corinthians (9:1–14)
A. The review (9:1–5)
1. Paul’s confidence in the church at Corinth (9:1–2): He brags about their past enthusiasm to collect an offering for the saints at Jerusalem.
2. Paul’s charge to the church at Corinth (9:3–5): He urges them to complete this task, for he is sending some men to receive the offering.
B. The reminder (9:6–9)
1. The principle (9:6, 8–9)
a. To sow little is to reap little (9:6a).
b. To sow much is to reap much (9:6b, 8–9).
2. The participant (9:7): Each person should determine the amount of his or her gift freely, not in response to pressure.
C. The rewards (9:10–14)
1. The giver will be blessed by the Lord (9:10, 13).
2. The giver will be blessed by the recipient (9:11–12, 14).
II. The Magnificent Gift by the Father (9:15): He gave us his own Son, Jesus Christ!
Potential Sermon Titles: ??
Intro Questions to get us thinking:
OBSERVATIONS (Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)
Pericopes and links to deeper study
Outline for Chapter from Bible Hub
ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought) Bible Project (NLT) (Helpful videos and instructions for the bigger picture) Bible Hub = Outline, Themes, Topics, People, Locations, and Questions
STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work, and here are more resources than you can go through completely)
Going Deeper: Go to the "Pericope" for a more specific study.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
APPLICATION (God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)
ESV (English Standard Version) Good translation with some helpful resources. Biblegateway (CSB, NLT, The Message, ERV, CEV) has some application resources. Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- What transformative move needs to be made?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Take Away Challenges
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts, or actions need to be addressed or changed?
PRAYER: In the Name of Jesus.
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Please let me know if you find any broken links or corrections that need to be made. Thank you for helping to make this useful. -- Kevin Rayner
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