Classical Liberality: Excel at Generosity

CENTRAL TEXT: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-8

2Cor. 8:1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

2Cor. 8:8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

 2Cor. 9:6 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. 

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 50:1-2, 10-11, 23

LEADER: The Mighty One, God the LORD,
  speaks and summons the earth
  from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
  God shines forth.

ALL: For every beast of the forest is mine,
  the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
  and all that moves in the field is mine.

LEADER: The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;

ALL: to one who orders his way rightly
  I will show the salvation of God!”

PRAYER/SCRIPTURE READING/CONFESSION OF FAITH: 

Proverbs 30:5-9; Mark 12:41-44

LEADER: Every word of God proves true;
  he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
  lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Prov. 30:7 Two things I ask of you;
  deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
  give me neither poverty nor riches;
  feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
  and say, “Who is the LORD?”
  or lest I be poor and steal
  and profane the name of my God.

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 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.”

The Word of the Lord

ALL: Thanks be to God

BENEDICTION: Romans 11:34-36

LEADER: For who has known the mind of the Lord,
  or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
  that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.

ALL: Amen!

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

Illustrations:

QUOTES:  

Books/Docs

“The Church is your Mom,” Tish Harrison Warren
Devoted to the Church, Sinclair Ferguson
Contesting the Body of Christ, Myles Werntz
Church: A Guide to the People of God, Brad East
C.S. Lewis and the Church, eds. Judith and Brendan Wolfe
The Church and its Vocation, Michael W. Goheen
“What is Church?” Jason Micheli
Life Together, Dietrich Bønhoeffer (tl;dr: start here)
Resident Aliens, Stanley Hauerwas
From Isolation to Community, Myles Werntz

Sermons/Talks

“Managing your Treasure,” Sinclair Ferguson
“The Power of Generosity,” Tim Keller
“Prelude to giving,” Alastair Begg