Sowing and Reaping Bountifully

Friday, August 29, 2014
2 Corinthians 9:1-6  

1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 
4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as [a matter of] bounty, and not as [of] covetousness. 
6 But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What "ministry to the saints" was the Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians about? (see previous lesson on 2 Corinthians 8).
2) What had the Apostle Paul boasted about concerning the church at Corinth? (v.2)
3) Why did the Apostle Paul send certain brethren to collect from the Corinthians? (v.3)
4) Who would be ashamed if the offering was not prepared? Why? (v.4)
5) How did Paul expect the gift to be given? Why? (v.5-6)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Have you ever considered your giving of tithes and offerings to the church to be a ministry? Why, or why not?
7) Have you ever given lavishly to the work of the Lord? If so, please explain how the Lord blessed you for doing so.
8) Have you ever harbored resentment toward, or refused to give to, a ministry or church fund raising activity? If so, please explain why.

PRINCIPLES
9) Giving is what God does because He loves. He expects His people to do the same.
10) Our giving must be done with cheerfulness of heart, not because we feel compelled to give.
11) No Christian can give more lavishly than the Lord has given to His people.