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Daily Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6 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.”[a]
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 saints, 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 Christ, 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!
Footnotes:
a. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9
Reflection Question:
We are tempted to think our time, talents, energy and money are parts of a closed system, so that if we give any to someone else, we will have less. Paul told his Corinthian converts that that kind of thinking makes one big mistake: it leaves God out of the equation. "God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace," he exclaimed in verse 8. And out of his own experience (even though he had, as far as we know, no earthly wealth) he promised the Corinthians, "You will be made rich in every way" (verse 11).
•Have you ever volunteered your time or money because you felt pressured into it? Why did you do it? Jot down four words that describe how you feel about the experience. What have you learned from that experience? Now think about a time when you volunteered your time or money because you felt led by God to do it. What four words would describe that experience? Which experience would you rather repeat?
Family Activity:
Gather or create the following: play money, pictures of items a child might want to buy (toys, vacation, junk food) and pictures of ways to give (missionary, charity, church). Assign a pretend price to each of the items to buy. Pass out play money, giving each family member different amounts. Show your family members their choices of items to buy and ways to give. Invite your family to spend their play money however they would like by purchasing the items on pictures or giving to the places/people in need. After each person has spent their money, read Mark 12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. 42 A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins,[a] which equal a quadrans coin.[b] 43 He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, 44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”
Footnotes:
a. Mark 12:42 literally, lepta (or widow’s mites). Lepta are very small brass coins worth half a quadrans each, which is a quarter of the copper assarion. Lepta are worth less than 1% of an agricultural worker’s daily wages.
b. Mark 12:42 A quadrans is a coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius is about one day’s wages for an agricultural laborer. Discuss the choices people made then ask God to help you each become cheerful givers to the capital campaign.
Today's Prayer:
Lord God, I ask that you continue to soften my heart, and to help me be a cheerful giver. Help me to sow generous seeds and reap a generous crop in your name. Amen.
Insight from Liz Gyori
Liz Gyori serves on the Resurrection staff as the Group Life Training Program Director.
Read and Reflect:
(Head)
This scripture came to life for me in July 2012, while on the women’s mission trip to Jamaica. My daughter and I were among the 12 Resurrection women who traveled to St. Ann’s Bay to hold a weeklong Vacation Bible Camp. This was my first Beyond Kansas City mission trip, and I felt a little anxious. The Missions staff and our trip leader had prepared well, but we were still somewhat unsure about what the St. Ann’s community expected from us.
We quickly figured out that what was expected was more than we’d bargained for. This was not the well-oiled KiDS COR machine. Numerous campers, ages 1-18, spilled in from the streets and settled in for the entire day, intrigued by our novelty. The 12 of us taught, fed and entertained as best we could with very limited resources. While I was smiling on the exterior, on the inside I was discouraged and pressured, thinking, “What on earth have I gotten myself into?” Finally, the day ended, and we dragged our sweaty, spent selves up the hill to our bunkhouse.
I sat, scowling, watching my daughter, the team photographer, smiling widely as she scrolled through the pictures she’d taken. She was as tired as I was, but she delighted in the children’s photos. My teammates gathered around a table to dream up more crafts. I grudgingly joined them. Gradually, we began to share stories, and soon we were laughing until our sides hurt. Someone launched into a local song we’d learned from the children, and we all joined in. I felt the sense of obligation within me melt and transform into happiness. I realized I could “get through” the week, or I could embrace the challenge and give of myself with a joyful heart.
So that’s what I did. I became a “cheerful giver,” and God did bless me abundantly, as the scripture promises, giving me everything I needed to care for the toddlers entrusted to me. God gave me a wonderful co-teacher, who excelled where I was weak. God gave me sweet campers who craved love and who returned it wholeheartedly. God gave me energy when I felt myself flagging at 2 pm, and provided a cool breeze when I thought I couldn’t take the heat for one more minute. God gave me teammates who became dear friends. In return for my change of heart, God made me ‘rich’ so that I could be generous.
Prayer and Meditation
(Heart)
Lord, I heartily thank you for all the gifts you have given me. I ask that you continue to soften my heart, and to help me be a cheerful giver. Too often, I do your work stingily, from a sense of obligation instead of with a joyful spirit. When that happens, I realize I am only shortchanging myself.
I know that you love the cheerful giver, and I also know that you deeply love the ‘gloomy’ giver. When we give our time or resources with a cheerless heart, we deny ourselves the joy that comes from connecting with those we help, and we rob ourselves of the opportunity to experience your delight in us. Help me to sow generous seeds and reap a generous crop in your name.
Amen.
Be, Do & Go
(Hands)
When volunteering, where do you feel most energized and alive? Which activities or groups of people bring out the cheerful giver in you? Take a few moments to reflect and write these down. How can you spend more time engaged in these actions that bring joy to both you and God? If you haven’t already taken a Spiritual Gifts class, consider enrolling in one of the upcoming courses to help you identify your gifts and where you might give and serve with cheer. Enroll online at www.cor.org/spiritualgifts. If you are in a small group and would like a member of our staff to lead your group in a
Spiritual Gifts class, contact Liz Gyori at liz.gyori@cor.org.
For Discussion:
Use this section to help prompt discussion with your spouse, children, small group, etc.
1. Think about a time when someone was generous and kind to you when they really didn’t have to be. How did that make you feel? How can you bless another person in
the same way?
2. Have you ever volunteered your time or money because you felt pressured into it? Why did you do it? Jot down four words that describe how you feel about the experience. What have you learned from that experience?
3. Now think about a time when you volunteered your time or money because you felt led by God to do it. What four words would describe that experience?
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Grow! Pray! Study! from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection for Sunday, 2 March 2014 "A City on a Hill: Christ's Vision for the Church"
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Prayer Tip:
This week, as prayerful decisions and commitments are made regarding the future of The Church of the Resurrection, here is something we could all do. At some point in the week, if it is possible, come to the Leawood Campus. If it is not possible to physically be present, then bring up one of the pictures on www.cor.org, or just picture it in your mind. Look at the area where the new sanctuary will be, and at the buildings that exist now. Reflect with gratitude on what God is doing here, and ask a blessing on all that will be done in the future. Here is a prayer you could use.
A Blessing for the Land
Teach us to care for all that is entrusted to us,
and nurture every sign of Your presence,
Circle our dear ones in your love and blessing;
and protect us all from evil and from danger
Give us open eyes to see beyond what others say is possible.
Give us insight and discernment to know what is good.
May the blessings of our love and our strong joy in blessing
call out new growth in everyone we know and meet.
Give us a generosity that pushes back the boundaries,
for with all our powers we find our power in You.-Prayer adapted from Ninian of Whithorn c.432--Jennifer Creagar
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