NOTES: Live Generously, Part 4
Sermon: Live Generously part 4—Like you have nothing to lose
Text: 2 Cor. 9:6-15
Date: Sunday March 27, 2021
2 Corinthians 9:6–15 (ESV)
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Series recap:
Today: Live generously like someone who has everything to give and nothing to lose.
Story of Jesus and the poor widow (Mark 12:41-44)
Mark 12:43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’”
Luke 14:26-27, 33: “26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple….33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”
Story-meaning/application:
Jesus is inviting us to become more like the poor widow than the wealthy donors.
Paul and the Church in Corinth (2 Cor. 9:6-15):
13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
The Circle of Generosity: God - you - others - God
The heart of the Gospel is that we have everything to give and nothing to lose
We have everything to give:
We have nothing to lose:
This humble heart is formed through the Principle of the FIRST:
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Live generously like someone (like the poor widow) who has everything to give and nothing to lose.
Mark 10:28-31, “Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Closing Thoughts: