1. PRINCIPLES FOR [GRACE-ORIENTED] GIVING 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

2. PRINCIPLES FOR [GRACE-ORIENTED] GIVING Why talk about money? Spotlight on one’s spiritual condition. Index to a person’s character. Reflection of a person’s heart.

4. PRINCIPLES FOR [GRACE-ORIENTED] GIVING Macedonian churches: Severely impoverished Roman territory for 200 years (taxed, persecuted…) Paul’s Fundraising Campaign: Jerusalem church (growth, provision of needs…) 10 year campaign Church in Corinth already pledged to give

5. PRINCIPLES FOR [GRACE-ORIENTED] GIVING Grace-Oriented Giving is: 1. Initiated by God’s grace. “And now brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.” (8:1)

6. PRINCIPLES FOR [GRACE-ORIENTED] GIVING Grace-Oriented Giving is: 1. initiated by God’s grace. 2. transcends difficult circumstances. “Out of the most severe trial...” (8:2a) “Remember this – you can’t serve God and money, but you can serve God with money.” – Rev. Selwyn Hughes

7. PRINCIPLES FOR [GRACE-ORIENTED] GIVING Grace-Oriented Giving is: 1. initiated by God’s grace. 2. transcends difficult circumstances. 3. generous. “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” (8:2)

8. PRINCIPLES FOR [GRACE-ORIENTED] GIVING Grace-Oriented Giving is: 1. initiated by God’s grace. 2. transcends difficult circumstances. 3. generous. “Generosity” = single-mindedness (oneness in purpose) “…but she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)

9. PRINCIPLES FOR [GRACE-ORIENTED] GIVING Grace-Oriented Giving is: 1. initiated by God’s grace. 2. transcends difficult circumstances. 3. generous. “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” (8:3-4)

10. PRINCIPLES FOR [GRACE-ORIENTED] GIVING Grace-Oriented Giving is: 1. initiated by God’s grace. 2. transcends difficult circumstances. 3. generous. 4. and act of worship. “And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” (8:5)