All For Him, From His Abundance

2 Corinthians 9:5-15

5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

INTRODUCTION:

Last week Daniel reference how he found a note in his margin from 20 years ago from during the last campaign.
5 years ago I preached a sermon on this text called “Generosity is the Backbone of Gods’ Economy”. It was the first sermon I preached here.
That sermon was meant to prepare the way for what we thought was the beginning of this campaign. The Lord had other plans.
He know that there was more work to do to prepare us for this moment.
He knew COVID was coming in only a few short months. He knew he’d lead us out into Trinity Fellowship Churches. He was leading us to a new identity as Cornerstone Fellowship Church. He was growing our faith in a lot of different ways. Adding a new pastor…
Personally he was preparing me and I wasn’t even fully aware of it at the time.
I just celebrated my first year as being a pastor here, but when I last preached to you from this text I was still happily invested at TWR.
May I say that it is a privilege to be your pastor. I’m very glad to be here. Few days go by without me pondering how in the world I ended up here, orgrateful that the Lord has lead me here, or feeling the weight of the sacred trust it is.
All of us are grateful for your care: the hight value and respect that you give to us, the fact that you take seriously caring for our physical needs with paychecks as we minister the gospel. We want to do a good job. We know our limitations—much more than you. While we feel your understanding and care—we know all the things we want to do and can’t.
This is one reason why it’s important for us to make room in our budget for another full-time staff member. Whether that means a new administrator or another full-time pastor—we believe that that will allow us as a pastoral team to better care for you by giving more dedicated attention to equip you for ministry. Some of you may wonder while we need another staff member—and the reality is leading an organization of almost 400 people is a lot for just 3 full-time ment and 3 part-time support staff—as much as we value Colleen, Cally, Grace and Ron.
All that lead us to this moment—to continue growing our faith in different ways.
As pastors we do believe that we see where the Lord has us and where he is leading us—and that is why we are taking the special moment to try to lead the our community into the next stage of our future.
This passage today contains the bedrock passage for the campaign vs 8-11, summarized well in vs 8 and 11:

“8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

He knows the plans he has for us, and he knows the good works he has begun. We trust him to make his grace abound so that All together we can entrust all our lives, all our pursuits, all our concerns, all our thanksgivings, all for him.

Let’s ask that of him, confessing to him our hope: PRAY

Three Points this morning:

1. Plan Your Gift Cheerfully

2. God Provides for You to do Good Works

3. Testify with thanks!

1. Plan Your Gift Cheerfully (v.5-7)

Paul is kind enough to be very clear with is point, but there are three thingsthat he says that are important to the Corinthians and for us to apply to our giving—especially in generosity beyond what we may learn about from our sermon on tithing next week.

a. Planning your gift ahead of time enhances willingness.

b. Generous sowing begets bountiful reaping.

c. Give according to your own choice so you can give cheerfully.

If you plan your giving the way a farmer plants a field, intentionally and expecting a good yield, your work will be worth it.

You’ll remember from last week that this passage of 2nd Corinthians is following Paul’s encouragement to the church in Corinth to prepare there gift for the church in Jerusalem.
The are generous and he is encouraging them in that, but he wants them not to neglect their intentions and to help with that he’s motivating them to be intentional—so as to save face, for themselves and for Paul’s confidence in them.
We all understand the practical importance of plans. “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.
However there’s something much deeper to Paul’s planning here. He wants them to plan because he wants to me to really get the “why” and the to participate willingly.
It was not uncommon for travelling apostles/teachers to show up unannounced and expect to be paid for their service or to try to raise money for a cause. We all know the feeling of having someone show up at our doors, in our inboxes or voicemails with some “good cause” or “life-changing service”. Everyone wants our money and sometimes we can feel (intentionally coerced) into feeling like you have to give your money.
It feels like exaction.
Paul isn’t trying to exact anything—on the contrary he’s reminding them that they are generous and that they do love the church and they have already demonstrated a desire to be in fellowship with them through providing for them during a time of need.
Paul is also clear that the gift that is prepared should be something you can give cheerfully—according to what you decide.
In chapter 8 Paul specifically told the church to give out of what they had, not giving out of what they didn’t have.

This isn’t a situation like the Israelites being told they have to increase brick production and oh, by the way you have to source your own straw.

Paul wants to them to give according to their means—but that doesn’t mean that they won’t feel it.
Obviously anything we give to others means we don’t have that for ourselves—so it isn’t painless, but hopefully a little later you’ll agree with Paul that while it isn’t painless it is well worth the sacrifice.
A phrase we have used some in thinking about this All For Him campaign is “Equal sacrifice, not equal giving.” It’s a helpful way to encourage us all to find our place in this opportunity—but more on that in a later point.
Paul exhorts the church to give in a way that allows them to do it cheerfully.

APPLICATION:

In the same way, we as elders do not want you, our demonstrably generous church to feel that we are trying to “exact” something from you.
Perhaps you’ve been part of campaigns like this at other churches, or simply observed cultural christianity where you experienced this.

I have a “friend” who started attending a church and this was his understanding of tithing. He saw the tithe/giving as exaction.

I recently introduced the idea of tithing and giving towards the campaign to our kids. My seven-year-old definitly initially reacted to this news as exaction—but soon had a change of heart once she realized God doesn't want us to give all our money, but to be generous with what is already his; at least I hope so.

You are a generous church! You get it! You live it! However, the opportunity before us is something far from ordinary. It’s an opportunity to grow in our faith, to exercise our commitment in a new an faith building way. And so, we like Paul exhort you to plan.

About the Pledge Cards:

› The top graph is only meant to represent how we could get to our $400K goal. It isn't meant to be a sign up for everyone to put their name on a slot.

Everyone's thinking "not it for the" $40K goal.

› The $400K goal contrasted is separate from a monthly increase pledge:

› The first line is the bottom line you feel lead to give to the mortgage buy-down—you can pay it as a lump sum or over time—by Dec 31st, 2025.

› You may decide instead/or in addition to increase your regular giving—your “tithe”. This could extend beyond December of this year. This increase goes toward the general fund—not the mortgage pay-down.

› On April 6th we’ll all fill out our pledge cards together.

› Colleen (Finance Manger) will enter the pledges.

› The Elders won’t be looking at the pledges.

› We’ll all be able to track the progress—you’ll be able to track your individual progress on the Church Center App.

› What if you can’t fulfill you pledge?

› We recognize that this is an exercise of faith—things will come up that will increase our faith and test our faith.

› We do not see this as an oath or a vow. It’s a commitment—but not one that has moral binding upon it. If you don’t fulfill it—it should not be binding upon your conscience.

› If you cannot fulfill it—we could like you to inform Colleen so that we can plan accordingly. This does affect things like our private investors group. There are steps and even some costs necessary for them as they plan our their piece that it would be very helpful to know. If you do update Colleen she will be able to communicate to the elders the change in expectation without connecting it to you as an individual and Ray who leads the private investors group can notify them.

› As the elders we would want to know if the cause of your change of pledge is something you’d like us to know as a means of care. (e.g. Loss of job, etc). Only for the ability to care for you—not to know what you pledged.

› One reason we’re waiting until April 6th to complete our pledge together is that we want you to have good time to consider and pray about how you will contribute toward these goals we have. Most of us could give something that we are comfortable with—but as we’ll see later comfort and giving cheerfully in faith aren’t necessarily the same thing.

› If you have more questions—please feel free to ask the elders or the FAB so we can help you.

Again, the purpose of Paul’s appeal to plan is so that they could make a gift according to what they have, lead by the Spirit and to give it willingly and cheerfully.

2. God Provides for You to Do Good Works (8-10)

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Why Should We Give Cheerfully: Because God provides abundantly!

Paul has told the church “the point”, but now he provides the second of three motivations.
The first was “don’t make us look bad.”
The second is—”if you understand why you have what you have—you’ll be glad to be generous."

Don’t neglect the origin of your provision.

We can apply the 6 fundamental question words to this statement.
God is able to make (Who?)
all grace abound to you, so that having (What?)
all sufficiency in (How?)
all things at (Where?)
all times, (When?)
you may abound in every good work. (Why?)
God takes responsibility to make things happen; especially the “good” things.
Paul is very keen on this idea.

Colossians 1:16–17 “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

However here in our passage Paul quotes not himself, but David—tying into the characteristics of a righteous man.

Psalm 112

1 Praise the LORD!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commandments!

5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,

9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.

Generosity is a sign of righteousness, because a righteous person is someone whose “heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”
I think we can all identify with the idea that we know the Lord will provide—but sometimes we can get distracted when we don’t the ordinary methods of the Lord’s provision at work.
But God doesn’t make this ask to be generous without first providing everything that is necessary to fulfill it.
No he provides everything so that he can bring the good work he started, our own sanctification and thanksgiving for his glory through our good works—to completion!

› Don't neglect or reject the ordinary means of God's providence.

› Our food comes from a store, paid for by money that came from our employer, because of labor that we accomplished for compensation

› However, in this text Jesus takes responsability for providing everything to each of us!

However, there are other times that the Lord provides in remarkable ways.

A story of how the Lord provided for family who couldn't pay rent for 2 years.

APPLICATION:

The Bible talks a lot about the “poor” and the “rich”.
As far as I can find there is only one verse in Scripture that speaks to “the middle man”:
Proverbs 30:8–9 “… give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”
Enrichment doesn’t necessarily mean "equality".

› Not everyone experiences the provision or protection of God the same.

The Prudential exercise for determining your wealth

“The terms “rich” and “wealthy” are often used interchangeably. Rich (or wealthy) people tend to have lots of free cash—and/or borrowing power—which they can spend on more goods and services. They can pay their bills easily, afford health care without worry, and often depend on a financially secure future.”

“If you wonder whether you’re rich (or, again, wealthy), you’ll want to measure what you have against others in your community, region, or even country. You can also compare yourself to others in your situation or to those in different situations.”

Consider the examples from the Israelites entrance to Canaan.

Caleb came into the land and said, let me take the toughest spot with the biggest defences and strongest opponents. He had immense faith to seize the land.
Rehab, a soon to be displaced refugee and sojourner, place extreme faith in God and his people and received an amazing provision from him. Salvation and sharing in the blessings of Isreal, while also loosing everything that she had.
Aiken experienced the provision of God and allowed it to lead him into sin. He saw and experience the amazing provision—but was distracted by a few shiny things not for him.
All the people eventually conquered the big strongholds, but many didn’t finish clearing out the little pockets of the land. They became complacent and eventually were lead astray—to find their attention drawn to other gods; losing sight of the Yahweh as their provider.

Each one had the promise of the Lord for provision in one way or another—each on did something different with that promise.
This last example is probably the one most of us would be tempted with most often, but I’m sure we have representatives of each of these groups in our midst this morning.
It’s good to remember that God's provision for us shouldn't to be measured compared to his provision for others, rather it’s according to God’s supply for you and the works he has prepared for you to do.

Don’t neglect God’s intention for his provision.

He “enriches” us not for lavish living, but for lavish giving.

“Many are so devoted to luxury in all their senses that their mind lies buried.” — John Calvin

“Comfort comes as a guest, lingers to become a host, and stays to enslave us.” — Anon.

This is one reason why we practice some of our spiritual disciplines
Rest reinforces our limitations and creatureliness.
Fasting reminds us of our need.
Prayer focuses us on our provider
Giving demonstrates our allegiance; which kingdom we are living for.

1 Timothy 6:17–19 “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

› Recognized the origin of your “riches” as the abundance of God that isn’t only sufficient for your good works—but abounds for you to enjoy good work.

› He richly supplies for us to do good works and says these are the things to truly live for!

All For Your Good Works!

Chapter 9

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Guys, the Lord provides us with everything.

He gives the seed for sowing and bread for food.
He says he will MULTIPLY your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

In the Fall we’ll be going through the Sermon on the Mount & see again how the Lord takes care of our needs, our clothes, our food, our shelter. He feeds the birds, clothes the flowers, and we are so much more important than they are to him.
Whatever, he gives us he expects us to do certain things. Some of this Daniel will cover in a little more depth next week in the sermon about Tithing.

He expects us to care for our family.
He expects us to care for the widows, orphans, poor, widows.
He expects you to care for those in your care (masters & bondservants).
He expects you to care for those who minister the gospel.

He supplies the seed and the bread supplies and multiplies the seed for sowing to increase righteousness.
Our gifts from him are for us to increase righteous living.
If we can trust this, how much more cheerfully can we apply generosity to our lifestyle and our decisions—because “we know that we can give life our gains are gangbuster”!

“We can give like our gains are gangbuster!”

A Word to Those Who Doubt

› Some of us are looking at this campaign and it’s intimidating and anxiety inducing—or perhaps it’s discouraging and your tempted to disengage from it. You are living paycheck to paycheck, you’re trying to get out of debt, you’re out of work, you’re living on the generosity of others, your paying for medical expenses, you’re a widow and orphan… etc.

› You’re listening to me and seriously questioning the Lord’s provision—or at least you know you could be or have been there.

› If this is you I want you to listen closely to me: This promise and opporutnity is for you as much as it is for someone who “materially” has it all together. Because God takes responsibility for where you are and he asks you to trust him.

Jesus asks a little boy for all his food to feed a multitude.

Elijah asks the widow for her last meal and receives three years supply

The widow gave her two copper coins and was honored for faith.

In these moments the Lord asks you to trust him as much as when Jesus asks the Rich Young Ruler to sell all he has and follow him.
Committing everything he has given you means the same whether you Elon Musk or the homeless man down the street. Yes, I know it feels different, but it isn’t.

› To the Rich: be careful not to confuse God’s blessings with your identity. Give as a testimony of your faith!

› To the Poor: be careful not to confuse material want/need with your identity: Give as testimony of your faith!

We want you to receive equal benefit of participating—regardless of your contribution.
“Equal sacrifice, not equal giving”

Luke 6: 38

"...give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

All together, all for him!

Remember David and his men at Ziklag.

In those moments/seasons when we are exposed to our utter dependence on the Lord—we have the greatest opportunity to see him work beyond the ordinary means.
The Lord chose very strange times and ways to equip his people to accomplish what he asked of them—especially when it came to expressing worship and allegiance to him.

As Israel left Egypt God plundered their wealth. Isreal walked out of Egypt with much of their wealth—which was later used in part to build the Tabernacle.

Daniel mentioned last week, but in Ezra the freed captives from Babylon gave contributions, some $42Million dollars to the rebuilding of the temple—that’s because the Lord stirred in Cyrus’ heart to provide them whatever they need.

God plundered the greatest empires of the day to equip his people to participate in works of righteousness—to accomplish the tasks he gave them to accomplish.

They were cheerful in the midst of their giving—eager to participate because the Lord had provided for them an opportunity and means to be part of his kingdom coming.

“Having material ‘security’ can lead us to a lack of awareness of our need for God.” - Spoken by someone who couldn’t/didn’t pay rent for two years.

Do you, do I, have believe what Paul is exhorting the church? Do you want that faith? Will you ask for it—will you pray and plan to give according to what you have and do so cheerfully because you take God at his word to provide for your works of righteousness?

3. Testify with thanks-giving! (11-15)

11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Paul builds on this point even more with the last several verses— saying that the Corinthian’s gift is the grace of God. The Judean church is giving thanks to God
for his grace, (thanksgiving to)
on the Corinthians, (celebration with…)
through the Corinthians. (celebration for…)
Our generosity produces thanksgiving
However, the gift doesn’t just produce thanksgiving, it also demonstrates their confession of the gospel of Christ.
Jesus said the world would know we are his disciples because of our love for one another.
Investing in kingdom activities demonstrates that our allegiance is to Christ and his priorities.

A friend recently told me about how the new refugee policies have cut government funding for refugee care and sponsored refugee agencies are struggling—but how the Raleigh based Refugee Hope Partners (among other Christian orgs) is able to maintain their work because of the faith and generosity of the Church.

Our generosity produces unity with one another and Christ
“All For Him”
“Equal sacrifice, not equal giving”
Camaraderie, this thing that we do together.

Your generosity produces thanks-giving!

Let God work and produce thanksgiving to you as he provides for us through the blessings and riches of others.
Allow your faith to increase by seeing the faith of others.
Don’t discount the benefit of your own contributions—no matter how “relatively” small.
To those in need—ask and you shall receive.

› Be in faith—pray

› Be humble—give according to your means

› Give thanks—rejoice as you see the grace of God at work.

Testimonies of seeing the Lord provide:

Mom’s house
Our house
Our Contentment

› Mary Buchanan’s testimony

This testimony demonstrates several things.

The people of our church demonstrate the love of Jesus—sacrificing from their gain for others in need.
The Lord’s grace is upon us!
Their faithfulness to practice generosity in God’s economy has produced thanksgiving, not only from Mary, Zeke and Naomi, but from all of us. We raise a hallalujiah!
Through our provision, and the provision of many others Mary is going out as a multiplication of our ministry.

Application:

› Parents: Recount the provision and the goodness of the Lord to your kids. Visit your Ebenezer stones.

› Share the stories of God’s provision and be thankful for the ordinary and extraordinary means of grace upon you, to you and through you!

› Set up Ebenezer stones.

Maybe it’s a blessings journal.
Maybe it’s an object that you physically install in your house.

Mom’s plaque on the front of the house “Elohim’s Gift”.

› Thank the people that have blessed you and pray for their blessing.

Conclusion:

He knows the plans he has for us, and he knows the good works he has begun.
We as elders don’t know yet all that the Lord will do next in our journey—but we do want to be faithful in the moment to make the most of the good works he has put in front of us know.
We trust him to make his grace abound so that All together we can entrust all our lives, all our pursuits, all our concerns, all our thanksgivings, all for him, for now and for the future.
As we consider how to be generous and to give from what he has given us to do so cheerfully and in faith—asking and investing for his multiplication—we do so to see his name magnified and testimonies and thankfulness abound.