The Rich Life: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

The Rich Life – 2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Sunday, February 13, 2022

Pastor Mike Bailey

Introduction

There’s a family right across the street with a big, beautiful house that sits behind a white picket fence with perfectly groomed, green grass and a picture-worthy maple tree with a tire swing, the latest vehicles, perfect children, and a perfectly behaved golden retriever named Scout. To top it all off, Mr. and Mrs. Jones have established careers and guaranteed promotions coming next month. We all have compared ourselves, coveted, and even strived to become like the infamous Jones’ in our neighborhood. But when did we last stop and look back at just how blessed we are? Or perhaps, stopped to think about what real biblical riches actually look like? Come and discover The Rich Life that God has in store for you.

January 30 – The Rich Life – What You Have.

February 6 – The Rich Life – What You Give.

February 13 – The Rich Life – What You Get.

February 20 – Pressure Points (Next Teaching Series).

IMPACT Church 101 E. First Ave. Parkesburg, PA 19365
(610) 857-3887 [email protected]

THREE PLACES TO START

1. our hearts. (9:1)

Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5

Notes:2. what is being asked. (9:2)

a. We should be .

“One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.” Leviticus 27:30

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.“ Matthew 23:23

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Malachi 3:10

Notes:b. We should be with our gifts.

“For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7b

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:16

Notes: 3. accountability is not an evil word. (9:3-5)

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17

“So watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive.” Luke 17:3

Notes:

THREE LESSONS ON GENEROSITY:

1. Your generosity is a (9:6-9)

But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. Isaiah 32:8

²⁴ Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. ²⁵ The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25

Notes:

2. Your generosity will CHANGE who you are. (9:10-11)

“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

Notes:

3. Your generosity will change OTHERS. (9:12-15)

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Romans 12:14

And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Philemon 1:6

Notes:

Closing: We GET to be generous; are you missing out on that?

It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Isaiah 59:2a

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9