San Diego First United Methodist Church ~ Daily Devotional Guide
Sermon theme for coming Sunday, 27 October 2013: Run the Race: Give Like You Mean It ~ Reverend Craig Brown, Sanctuary and Reverend Elbert Kim, Water’s Edge
~~~
Text for Next Sunday: 2 Corinthians 9:1 It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the holy ones, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them. 3 But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared, 4 so that I won’t by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confident boasting. 5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness. (Messianic WEB)
John Wesley’s Notes~Commentary for 2 Corinthians 9:1~5:
Verse 1. To write to you - Largely.
Verse 2. I boast to them of Macedonia - With whom he then was.
Verse 3. I have sent the above mentioned brethren before me.
5. Spoken of before - By me, to the Macedonians. Not as a matter of covetousness - As wrung by importunity from covetous persons.
Verse 6. He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully - A general rule. God will proportion the reward to the work, and the temper whence it proceeds.
Verse 7. Of necessity - Because he cannot tell how to refuse.
Verse 8. How remarkable are these words! Each is loaded with matter and increases all the way it goes. All grace - Every kind of blessing. That ye may abound to every good work - God gives us everything, that we may do good therewith, and so receive more blessings. All things in this life, even rewards, are, to the faithful, seeds in order to a future harvest. Prov. xxii, 9
Verse 9. He hath scattered abroad - (A generous word.) With a full hand, without any anxious thought which way each grain falls. His righteousness - His beneficence, with the blessed effects of it. Remaineth for ever - Unexhausted, God still renewing his store. Psalm cxii, 9
Verse 10. And he who supplieth seed - Opportunity and ability to help others. And bread - All things needful for your own souls and bodies. Will continually supply you with that seed, yea, multiply it to you more and more. And increase the fruits of your righteousness - The happy effects of your love to God and man. Isaiah lv, 10
Verse 11. Which worketh by us thanksgiving to God - Both from us who distribute, and them who receive, your bounty.
Verse 13. Your avowed subjection - Openly testified by your actions. To all men - Who stand in need of it.
Verse 15. His unspeakable gift - His outward and inward blessings, the number and excellence of which cannot be uttered.
~~~
Daily Devotional Guide for October 21 ~ October 27
Monday ~ Read all of 2 Corinthians 9:1 It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the holy ones, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them. 3 But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared, 4 so that I won’t by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confident boasting. 5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness. 6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor.
His righteousness remains forever.”✡
10 Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; 11 you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which produces through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the holy ones, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God; 13 seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Messiah, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all; 14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!(Messianic WEB), what truth about giving stands out the most to you? Why?
Tuesday ~ Is it fair for Paul to have the Macedonian (Northern Greeks)compete against the Corinthians (Southern Greeks)? Why why not?
Wednesday ~ Does Paul believe that giving takes strategy? What might that strategy be? What is the result?
Thursday ~ The offering being solicited in 2 Corinthians 9 is for the church in Jerusalem. What role does the recipients play in our decisions to give?
Friday ~ What is your giving system? When was the last time you had a reflective conversation about your own financial giving?
Saturday ~ What good are you trying to achieve in your giving? What result result is important to you? To God?
Sunday ~ Pray for all those who give from little resources.
~~~~~~~
San Diego First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108 United States
~~~~~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment