The document summarizes passages from 2 Corinthians about generosity among churches in Macedonia. It discusses how the Macedonian churches generously gave beyond their means out of their deep joy and poverty. Paul urges the Corinthians to excel in generosity as the Macedonians did. True generosity is a reflection of God's grace and comes from a willing heart, not dictated by amount but by sacrifice according to one's means.

1. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2
And now, brothers, we want you to know about
the grace that God has given the Macedonian
churches. Out of the most severe trial, their
overflowing joy and their extreme poverty
welled up in rich generosity.
www.networkbible.org

2. 2 Corinthians 8:3-5
For I testify that they gave us 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.
And they did not do as we expected, but they
gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us
in keeping with God’s will.
www.networkbible.org

3. 2 Corinthians 8:6-7
So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a
beginning, to bring also to completion this act of
grace on your part. But 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.
www.networkbible.org

4. 2 Corinthians 8:8-9
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the
sincerity of your love by comparing it with the
earnestness of others. For 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.
www.networkbible.org

5. 2 Corinthians 8:10-12
And here is my advice about what is best for you
in this matter: 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. For if
the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable
according to what one has, not according to
what he does not have.
www.networkbible.org

6. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15
Our desire is not that others might be relieved
while you are hard pressed, but that there might
be equality. At the present time your plenty will
supply what they need, so that in turn their
plenty will supply what you need. Then there
will be equality, as it is written: ‘He who
gathered much did not have too much and he
who gathered little did not have too little.’
www.networkbible.org

7. Generosity is the outworking
of God’s GRACE in your life.
POVERTY is a description of their physical
circumstances, GENEROSITY a statement
reflecting the attitude and heart.
God’s grace to us is TRANSLATED into generosity
through us.

8. Generosity, by definition, is
VOLUNTARY, and a reflection
of the heart.
They are urgently pleading for the PRIVILEGE to
give.
The grace of giving generously is a voluntary
RESPONSE to the grace of God RECEIVED.

9. Generosity is measured not by
the AMOUNT given, but the
SACRIFICE made.
Generosity is more than good THOUGHTS; it is
the WILLINGNESS to follow through…
Generosity is an act of WORSHIP.

10. Jesus is the model to govern how
we LIVE, including how we GIVE.
God doesn’t ask you to give what you don’t
have, but to STEWARD faithfully what you do.
We are called, as disciples, to a LIFESTYLE of
generosity.

11. Please take a moment to fill out your
Communication Card
My Next Step Today is to:
( ) Do the home life help (in bulletin)
( ) Evaluate if my view of money is shaped more by the
world’s view or God’s
( ) Prayerfully consider what a generous life looks like
and if I am living it
( ) Examine if I am honoring God through my giving
habits
( ) Study scripture to see what God says about money
and giving and see where He leads
( ) Other________________________