2 Corinthians (Program #45) – The Apostle’s Fellowship Concerning the Needy Saints (4)

2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 are often used in campaigns for money-raising for various Christian causes or ministries.  But it’s interesting, although they both deal with the matter of giving, they don’t focus on the word “giving”.  In chapter 8, Paul refers to our giving as a kind of gathering, as the children of Israel gathered manna each day for their daily supply.   In chapter 9, our giving is called sowing, as a farmer sow seeds in order to produce a crop, in order to meet his family’s daily need.  Gathering and sowing, this is the renewed thought concerning the offering of material items to meet the needs in the Body of Christ.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

2 Corinthians (Program #44) – The Apostle’s Fellowship Concerning the Needy Saints (3)

The apostle Paul devoted two chapters in 2 Corinthians to  the matter of taking collections for the needy saints in Judea.  It must have been something weighing heavily upon him to devote the better part of two whole chapters.  But actually these two chapters present all believers with some very profound principles that should guide and direct the matter of giving.

In chapter 8, Paul liken our giving to the gathering of manna in Exodus 16.  In chapter 8 verse 15 he writes “..He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no lack.”  Then in chapter 9, our giving is liken a farmer, sowing seeds to produce a crop.  Chapter 9 verse 6, “now this I say, He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully;”  But the verse that follows is the concluding word for both of these portions; chapter 9 verse 7, “Each one as he has purposed in his heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

2 Corinthians (Program #43) – The Apostle’s Fellowship Concerning the Needy Saints (2)

2 Corinthians chapter 8 and 9 deal with one of the most treacherous of all topics in the Bible – money.  These are chapters that can be very helpful in seeing what the Bible has to say about the principle of giving.  But if we read carefully we will also see that they can be a marvelous window into the way to handle the whole issue of money and finance.

We all know that money, to a believer represents the most evil, corrupt and sinful elements of the world.  Yet God’s people have to deal with money and financial matters continually.  Therefore the rare opportunity that 2 Corinthian 8 gives us should indeed attract our full attention.  For here we see apostle Paul himself not teaching us but as our living pattern, on the proper way to handle money and the proper attitude that we all should have towards it.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

2 Corinthians (Program #42) – The Apostle’s Fellowship Concerning the Needy Saints (1)

Fund raising is apparently the subject of 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and 9.  Many preachers today use these verses for their campaigns to raise money.   But we will see in today’s life study from 2 Corinthians that there is much more going on in the apostle Paul’s heart.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS