These small group study notes on the book of 2nd Corinthians contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, lessons to learn, and applications. Feel free to print them, copy them, or share them. I only ask that you remember these are are personal study notes and are only meant as a supplement to your own study, not a replacement. May God be glorified! Visit our inductive Bible study main page for more studies on this and other books of the Bible. See the bottom of the page for the rest of the study on 2 Corinthians chapter eight.
2 Corinthians Chapter 8:1-6 Inductive Bible Study - Outline, Key Words, Cross References, and Discussion Questions
The Privilege of Giving
Chapter 8:1-6
2 Co 8:1-6
1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
Key Words
· Ability 2
· Gave/given 3
· Grace 2
· Liberality 1
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Titles
This Gracious Work
The Privilege of Giving
According to and Beyond!
The Believer’s Overflow
Outline
I. Circumstances of Giving 1-2
II. Heart of Giving 3-4
III. Direction of Giving 5-6
Cross References, Questions, Observations
1. Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
Mt 25:35-36
35'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
Ac 19:22
22 And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Ro 12:13
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
2 Co 6:1
6:1 Their Ministry Commended And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain —
1 Ti 6:18
18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
Heb 6:10
10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
a) What grace of God Paul is referring to?
1)
2. that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
Ac 2:45-46
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
Mk 12:42-44
42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.
43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;
44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."
2 Co 9:11
11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
Ro 12:8
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Ex 35:4-5
4 Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the LORD has commanded, saying,
5' Take from among you a contribution to the LORD; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORD'S contribution: gold, silver, and bronze,
Ex 35:20-22
20 Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from Moses' presence.
21 Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the LORD'S contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments.
22 Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and bracelets, all articles of gold; so did every man who presented an offering of gold to the LORD.
Ex 36:3-7
3 They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.
4 And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing,
5 and they said to Moses, "The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded us to perform."
6 So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, "Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary." Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more.
7 For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it
a) What is the best measure of the liberality of someone’s giving?
1)
3. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
Ac 11:29
29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.
2 Co 9:6-7
6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
1 Pe 4:11
11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Ch 29:5-6
Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?"
6 Then the rulers of the fathers' households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the overseers over the king's work, offered willingly;
1 Ch 29:9
9 Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.
1 Ch 29:14-17
14 "But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.
15 "For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope.
16 "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours.
17 "Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.
2 Co 8:12
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
1 Th 2:8
8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
Phm 14
14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.
1 Pe 5:2
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
a) How can you give beyond your ability to give?
b) What are the results of giving under compulsion?
1) Giving should never be coerced, but freely of one’s own accord.
4. begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
Ge 33:10-11
10 Jacob said, "No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably.
11 "Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty." Thus he urged him and he took it.
2 Ki 5:15-16
15 When he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, "Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so please take a present from your servant now."
16 But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
Mt 10:42
42 "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
Mt 25:40
40 " The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
Mk 14:7
7 "For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.
Ac 20:35
35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
1 Co 16:15
15 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints),
2 Co 9:1-2
1 For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints;
2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
2 Co 9:12
12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.
Gal 6:10
10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
1 Ti 5:10
10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
Heb 6:10
10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
1 Jn 3:16-18
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
Ro 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 Co 5:14-15
14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
a) Why might the Corinthians consider it a favor to be able give to support other believers?
b) Compare giving to help believers to giving for the support of unbelievers.
1)
5. and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
1 Sa 1:28
28 " So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.
Ro 6:13
13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
Ro 12:1
12:1 Dedicated Service Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 Co 5:14-15
14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
2 Co 4:5
5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
a) Why is it important that they first gave themselves to the Lord before giving themselves to Paul and Timothy?
b) Why would they give themselves to Paul and Timothy?
c) When is it appropriate to give ourselves in this way to someone?
d) What are some examples of this in the Bible? Elisha, Joseph, the 12 disciples
1)
6. So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
2 Co 8:16-17
16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.
17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
2 Co 12:18
18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?
Tit 1:4
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
2 Co 8:11-12
11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
a) Explain Titus’ role in the Corinthian’s giving.
1)
Key Verse
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
Central Teaching
Regardless of our resources, it is a great privilege to give toward the support of other believers in need.
Application - Make Your Own!
Pray about starting to give to support a particular ministry.
2 Co 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
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