"How To Become A Generous Christian"

Wise Men Still Bring Him Gifts

Sermon on 2 Cor 8-9 by Pastor Brian Kluth bk@kluth.org

Matt 2:11 (The wise men) saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Give to Christ sacrificially

2 Cor 8:2-5 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.   They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.     

2 Cor 8:9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Give to Christ increasingly

2 Cor 8:7  Just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Give to Christ faithfully

2 Cor 8:10-11 Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 

2 Cor 9:2-5 I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians…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. 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. 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. 

Give to Christ proportionately

2 Cor 8:12 If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

Deut 16:16-17 No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.

Give to Christ expectantly

2 Cor 9:6, 8, 10  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously…And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…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.     2 Cor 9:12-13 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ.

Matt 6:19-21 (Jesus said) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Give to Christ cheerfully

2 Cor 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

To listen to all of Brian’s sermons on the internet: www.1freechurch.org

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