CG Coaching for Week #9 of 2 Corinthians: A Church Compelled
Sunday, August 2nd sermon by Pastor Kyle Van Tine
"Compelled by Generosity" - (2 Cor 8:1-24)
Growing deeper
Money is entwined with our lives. We spend our lives thinking about money- how to get it, how to kept, how to spend it. Authentic salvation changes how we live and think; it loosens our grip on material things and strengthens our gaze upon God. Jesus’ act of giving was the pinnacle example. He, who spoke the stars into being, left His throne, His majestic riches in heaven and died alone and naked on a bloody cross for us, giving Himself to save us. When gratitude toward Jesus for what He has done to save us fills our hearts, there is no room for anything else. Gratitude motivated the poor Macedonians to beg Paul to be able to give, even beyond their ability. Like rocks displacing water in a bowl, gratitude displaces the idols of our hearts releasing our hold on temporary things and creates in us a deep joy to give. Gratitude motivated giving is a here and now process. Our faith is always being worked out in the now, in the day to day. Daily, we must be ready and willing to lay our hearts in God’s hands, trusting Him with our poverty and our riches. Spiritual maturity is linked to our giving hearts because it is linked to our gratitude and joy in Christ who gave us undeserved salvation in His giving sacrifice.
Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 and Luke 19:1-10.
When we give, we demonstrate unity between believers that is a direct result of the grace we have received. Because we have received from God, we give to others and because we have been accepted by God, we accept each other.
Examine your heart. What do you do with your money?
Look at how Zacchaeus responded to Jesus. His gratitude and understanding of who Jesus was drove his extraordinary response.
How does gratitude for salvation motivate your response in giving? How does it need to change?
What are some hard things God is asking you to do with your life?
Recommended Reading: The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
