Kress Biblical Resources :: Giving Principles Concerning the Collection for the Saints and the Sufficiency of Christ (1Co 8; 9)

Detailed Outline of 2 Corinthians

Defending the New Covenant Gospel Ministry of Grace and the Sufficiency of Christ

3. Giving principles concerning the collection for the saints and the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 8; 9)
   1. The call for grace giving concerning the needs of the saints (2Co 8:1-15)
      1. The example of the churches in Macedonia (2Co 8:1-5)
         1. Not wealthy, but willing to give out of what they had (2Co 8:1-2)
            1. The grace of God was the basis of their giving (2Co 8:1)
            2. The great hardship they faced did not keep them from giving (2Co 8:2)
         2. Not sparingly, but sacrificially and joyously, giving themselves to God and others (2Co 8:3-5)
            1. Beyond their ability (2Co 8:3)
            2. Begging for the privilege to help (2Co 8:4)
            3. Bondservants of God and others (2Co 8:5)
      2. The exhortation to the church at Corinth (2Co 8:6-8)
         1. The coming of Titus as an apostolic representative (2Co 8:6)
         2. The call to abound in the gracious work of giving (2Co 8:7)
         3. The concern for genuine love—not grudging obedience to a command (2Co 8:8)
      3. The example of the Lord Jesus (2Co 8:9)
         1. Consider His grace—a summary statement
         2. Consider His glory (heavenly riches in pre-incarnate glory)
         3. Consider His gift and what it cost Him
         4. Consider your gain from His costly gift
      4. The exhortation continued (2Co 8:10-12)
         1. Good intentions are no substitute for actually giving (2Co 8:10-11)
            1. Paul was not demanding they give—but encouraging them for their good (2Co 8:10)
            2. Paul was encouraging them to finish what they had begun (2Co 8:11)
         2. Giving, however, should be out of what one has—not beyond one’s capacity (2Co 8:12)
      5. The explanation of divine provision (2Co 8:13-15)
         1. God calls for reciprocity—not absolute economic equality (2Co 8:13-14)
            1. This was not to penalize the wealthy (2Co 8:13)
            2. This was a temporary relief for a church in need (2Co 8:14)
         2. God confirmed His ability to provide for His people in Exodus 16:18 (2Co 8:15)
   2. The concern for propriety in regard to the handling of the collection and the distribution of the funds (2Co 8:16-24; 2Co 9:1-5)
      1. Integrity and accountability are essential in the collection and distribution of God’s resources (2Co 8:16-23)
         1. A man with a passion for God’s people—Titus (2Co 8:16-17)
            1. A passion that is wrought by God in the heart (2Co 8:16)
            2. A passion that is willing to serve (2Co 8:17)
         2. A man with the approval of God’s people—unnamed but well-known (2Co 8:18-19a)
            1. He was well-known by God’s people (2Co 8:18)
            2. He was approved by God’s people (2Co 8:19a)
         3. A ministry of generosity, grace and glory—above reproach in the sight of God and men (2Co 8:19b-21)
            1. A ministry of grace (2Co 8:19b)
            2. A ministry of glory (2Co 8:19c)
            3. A ministry of honesty and caution (2Co 8:20)
            4. A ministry of honor before God and men (2Co 8:21)
         4. A man with a record of faithfulness—unnamed but tested and approved by Paul (2Co 8:22)
         5. A ministry team summary in regard to the collection (2Co 8:23)
            1. The Apostle’s representative—Titus (2Co 8:23a)
            2. The approved messengers of the churches (2Co 8:23b)
            3. The appropriate motive and purpose (2Co 8:23c)
      2. Intentionality, preparation, and commitment are essential in the giving of God’s resources (2Co 8:24; 2Co 9:1-5)
         1. Purposeful giving testifies of God’s glory to those who administrate the offering (2Co 8:24)
         2. Purposeful giving is the fulfillment of the initial desires to help (2Co 9:1-2)
            1. Reminders can be helpful to those who have already purposed to give (2Co 9:1)
            2. Readiness to give can be an encouragement to others to give (2Co 9:2)
         3. Preparedness beforehand guarantees the fulfillment of the initial desire to give (2Co 9:3-5)
            1. A pledge to give may need follow-up (2Co 9:3)
            2. A pledge unfulfilled is disappointing and very possibly dishonorable (2Co 9:4)
            3. A pledge may be subject to second-guessing due to covetousness (2Co 9:5)
   3. The corollary principles and precepts for grace giving (2Co 9:6-15)
      1. The principle of sowing and reaping in grace giving⁴—be generous in your giving (2Co 9:6)
         1. Limited sowing makes for limited reaping (2Co 9:6a)
         2. Lavish sowing makes for lavish reaping (2Co 9:6b)
      2. The proper perspective of grace giving—be joyful, not grudging in your giving (2Co 9:7)
         1. Freely, not forced
         2. Full of joy, knowing God loves a cheerful giver
      3. The power and purposes of God’s grace in grace giving—be confident in God’s power and purposes in your giving (2Co 9:8-14)
         1. The surety of God’s provision (2Co 9:8)
            1. The power of God to make all grace abound to you
            2. The purpose of this grace—spiritual sufficiency in everything for every good work
         2. The Scripture confirming God’s spiritual provision and purposes (2Co 9:9)
         3. The Sovereign supply of both spiritual and physical resources (2Co 9:10-11)
            1. God will supply physical resources for the purpose of a spiritual harvest (2Co 9:10)
            2. God supplies physical and spiritual resources for His glory (2Co 9:11)
         4. The service of giving supplies both physical and spiritual needs—and ultimately issues in worship (2Co 9:12-14)
            1. A giving ministry meets physical needs (2Co 9:12a)
            2. A giving ministry issues in thanksgiving to God (2Co 9:12b)
            3. A giving ministry confirms the truth of the gospel to the glory of God (2Co 9:13)
            4. A giving ministry fosters prayer, and a holy longing for mutual fellowship (2Co 9:14)
      4. The praise of God’s glorious gift of grace— be thankful and amazed by God’s grace (2Co 9:15)
         1. Say grace—because of God’s giving ministry of grace (2Co 9:15a)
         2. Stand in awe—because of God’s indescribable giving ministry of grace (2Co 9:15b)

⁴The following context makes it clear that spiritual blessing is the harvest, not primarily a monetary reciprocity.