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BIG IDEA:

CHRISTIAN GIVING MUST BE ADMINISTERED WITH FINANCIAL INTEGRITY AND OFFERED FROM PREPARED HEARTS

I. (8:16-24) CHRISTIAN GIVING MUST BE ADMINISTERED WITH FINANCIAL INTEGRITY

Commending the Collectors

A. (:16-17) Commending Titus (for His Earnestness)

1. (:16) Divine Giftedness

“But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.”

2. (:17) Personal Initiative

“For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.”

B. (:18-19a) Commending Famous Brother

1. (:18) Commissioned by Paul

“And we have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches”

2. (:19a) Commissioned by the Churches

“and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work”

C. (:19b-21) Concern for Financial Integrity (Heart of the passage)

1. (:19b) Proper Stewardship

“which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness.”

2. (:20) Fiscal Accountability

“taking precaution that no one should discredit us in our administration of this generous gift”

3. (:21) Good Reputation

“for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”

D. (:22) Commending Unnamed Brother (for His Diligence)

“And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent, because of his great confidence in you.”

E. (:23) Summary of Commendation

1. Titus

“As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you”

2. Other Brothers

“as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ”

F. (:24) Appeal for Loving Acceptance

“Therefore openly before the churches show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.”

II. (9:1-5) CHRISTIAN GIVING MUST BE OFFERED FROM PREPARED HEARTS

Collecting the Pledges

A. (:1-2) Confidence in Their Heart Preparation

“For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.”

B. (3-4) Precaution of Checking on Their Heart Preparation

“But I have sent the brethren, that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; lest if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to speak of you) should be put to shame by this confidence.”

C. (:5) Summary

“So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, that the same might be ready as a bountiful gift, and not affected by covetousness.”

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PREACHING CHRIST:

1) In our efforts to live lives pleasing to our Lord, we seek to glorify Him in everything and we are careful to always do what is honorable in the Lord’s sight, knowing that He is watching all that we do.

2) Christ always did what was honorable in the sight of all men. Look at His wisdom in answering trick questions from the religious leaders … such as about paying taxes or who is married to whom in heaven.

3) Christ allowed the purse strings of His earthly ministry to be managed at least in part by Judas … why would he do this if integrity of financial affairs was so important?

4) Look at how Christ proved His great love for us by the nature and extend of His sacrificial giving.