Excel in the Grace of Giving: When You Give
(2 Corinthians 9:5-11)
Sermon Notes
2 Corinthians 9:5–11 (NKJV)
5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
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When You Give
Give Intentionally (v. 5)
2 Corinthians 9:5 (NKJV)
5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
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“Generosity does not happen by accident.” – Pastor Billy Johnson
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Intentional giving reflects intentional trust.
Give Generously (v. 6)
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NKJV)
6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
- Sparingly – limited quantity
- Bountifully – (eulogia) – praise; blessing – a large amount with blessing
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Luke 6:38 (NKJV)
38Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
“Lavish our love over on God.” Pastor Billy Johnson
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Give Purposefully (v. 7)
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)
7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
- Purpose – to choose for one thing before another thing
- Heart – inner self
- When I give purposely, I am choosing to give before I do other things
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“Start with the heart.” – Pastor Billy Johnson
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Luke 7:36–38 (NKJV)
36Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.
37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,
38and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
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Give Cheerfully (v. 7)
2 Corinthians 9:7
7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Give Expectantly (vs. 8, 10)
2 Corinthians 9:8
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
“When you give, you’re unlocking some favor.” – Pastor Billy Johnson
“…when you have more than enough, you can be a blessing.” – Pastor Billy Johnson
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2 Corinthians 9:10-11
10Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
Expect God to give you seeds to sow. Do not eat the seed.
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2 Corinthians 9:10 (NLT)
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
2 Corinthians 9:9–11 (MSG)
9As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.
10This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God,
11wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
