2 Corinthians 8

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PRAISED FOR HIS GOSPEL MINISTRY

September 6, 2023

“We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News” (2 Corinthians 8:18 NLT). In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he informed them that he was sending three brothers to help with the collection of a gift to help the hurting Christians

”They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.” (2 Corinthians 8:2 NLT).

September 5, 2022

FINANCIALLY POOR YET RICH IN JOY AND GENEROSITY! Paul commended the churches of Macedonia for their amazing generosity. For although they were very poor, they were very joyful and insisted on giving generously to the offering Paul was collecting for the saints in Jerusalem. God often chooses the poor to accomplish great things. For they

“We have sent with him the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry” (2 Corinthians 8:18 HCSB).

September 6, 2021

PRAISED FOR HIS GOSPEL MINISTRY In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he informed them that he was sending three brothers to help with the collection of a gift to help the hurting Christians in Jerusalem. He named Titus as one of the trio who had volunteered to visit them for this purpose

“We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News” (2 Corinthians 8:18 NLT).

September 6, 2018

WHO IS THIS GOSPEL PREACHING BROTHER?
Paul told the Corinthians that he was sending Titus and “another brother” to them to collect the Jerusalem offering. Who was this brother whom “all the churches” praised for his gospel preaching? It is impossible to know for sure, but Luke is a likely candidate. He was a constant companion of Paul and he was the author of the Gospel of Luke. His Gospel may have already started to circulate among the churches, making him a renowned member of Paul’s team and perhaps the reason for Paul keeping him anonymous.

John Mark, author of the Gospel according to Mark, is another candidate. Although Paul didn’t want to travel with him after he went home early on their first missionary journey, they were later reconciled as evidenced in Paul’s reference to him in 1 Timothy 4:11.

Other possible well known gospel preachers that were companions of Paul include Apollos and Barnabas. But the truth is, the identity of the brother that Paul sent with Titus remains unknown, as does Paul’s reason for anonymity.

This unnamed brother was highly respected not only for his gospel preaching, but also for his integrity, for Paul went on to say that “he was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem” (2 Cor. 8:19). In other words, he was the trustee appointed to verify that the monies collected for Jerusalem were actually delivered as promised.

Whoever this brother was, he was highly respected both for his gospel preaching and his great integrity.

“They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.” (2 Corinthians 8:2 NLT).

September 5, 2018

FINANCIALLY POOR YET RICH IN JOY AND GENEROSITY!
Paul commended the churches of Macedonia for their amazing generosity. For although they were very poor, they were very joyful and insisted on giving generously to the offering Paul was collecting for Jerusalem.

God often chooses the poor to accomplish great things. For they readily depend on Him and easily give Him all the credit. When people gain even a little wealth, they tend to depend on it, rather than God. Of course, being poor does not automatically make one more spiritual. A poor person can be as grumpy and miserly as a rich one. Yet, riches of any amount, can become idolatrous to the one who depends on them.

Generosity is the mark of one who recognizes God as the source of all they have and depends on Him for all they need. Joy and generosity go together.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV)

September 5, 2016

The example of Christ’s generosity should inspire and empower our own. He took on the poverty of our separation, sin and death, that we might receive the riches of His sonship, righteousness and eternal life. Having received this grace of Christ, we also have received His generous character. We can live the life of the open hand, one hand open to God receiving, the other hand open to others giving. As Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8).

Genuine Generosity

February 14, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 8:8-24 | generosity

The apostle Paul told the believers at Corinth that the proof that they had received the love of Christ would be shown in the quality of their generosity. We can show the proof of Christ’s love in our lives by the quality of our generosity. The text gives three proofs for genuine generosity.

Grace-filled Generosity

February 7, 2016 | 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 | generosity

Do you want to break out of the meaningless cycle of materialism? Or do you feel like you have nothing to be generous with? As we look at how the grace of God caused a chain reaction in the churches of Macedonia that overflowed into a wealth of generosity, we can respond to God’s grace by offering our whole lives back to him.

The Habit of Graceful Giving

October 12, 2014 | 2 Corinthians 8-9 | discipleship, generosity

Pastor Gary Combs continues the sermon series “The Seven Habits of Growing Christians” with this message from 1 Corinthians 8-9 about the habit of graceful giving. In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth he them to grow and excel in the “grace of giving.” He wanted them to grow in the habit of graceful giving. We can grow in the habit of graceful giving. It is one of the habits that helps us to grow up in our salvation becoming more like the greatest giver of all, Jesus Christ.

“Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us —I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT)

September 5, 2014

Paul commended the Corinthian church for its excellence in many areas. Yet, they were woefully lacking in one important place, the practice of giving. They were not a giving church. He brought this to their attention so that they might “excel” in it. Paul didn’t just challenge them to become occasional givers or sentimental givers, but excellent and gracious givers. Are you practicing the act of giving, so that you excel in this grace?