Even if you agreed with everything that’s been said over the first two weeks of this series, you might still have trouble seeing your way clear to giving as you think you should. I get it. The financial pressures are intense. As we turn the corner on this series and move into chapter 9, we’ll get significantly more practical with this third message. As we look as 2 Corinthians 9:1-5, we’ll examine three indicators of your readiness to engage in “this act of grace” of giving. Namely, your zeal, preparedness, and willingness to give. In that second point, we’ll lock down some strategies to handle all our finances (not just giving) that may free up dollars for other things. This series is a heart issue, but it is also a practical matter of discipleship. Jesus wants us to handle our money—all of it—in a Christian way. Hope you’ll join us for that. If you missed the first two messages in this series, you can watch or listen to them here.

Series: This Act of Grace

Todd Dugard

Message: 3 – Our Readiness

Harvest Bible Chapel

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

February 16, 2025

Matthew 6:21

Indicators of my readiness to engage in “this act of grace” of giving:

Indicator 1 – Zealousness: I am inspiring others to give (v. 9:1-2)

Hebrews 10:24

Matthew 6:3

Indicator 2 – Preparedness: I am able to give (v. 9:3-4)

Indicator 3 – Willingness: I am determined to give (v. 9:5)

1 Corinthians 4:7

Charity for strangers was something foreign to the prevailing cultural mores in Paul's day. Money was earned for oneself and to be enjoyed by oneself and one's household. Something so unprecedented as collecting money to send to people they did not know and who were not of the same race could not expect to receive everyone's ardent support.

David E. Garland

The person who thinks the money he makes is meant mainly to increase his comforts on earth is a fool, Jesus says. Wise people know that all their money belongs to God and should be used to show that God, and not money, is their treasure, their comfort, their joy, and their security.

John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals

John 10:14-18

Isaiah 53:10

Series Resources:

May I Split My Giving Between My Church and Another Ministry?

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/may-i-split-my-giving-between-my-church-and-another-ministry

How Much Should Christians Tithe?

https://www.crossway.org/articles/how-much-should-christians-tithe/

My Cup Runneth Over: Giving and Generosity

Chad Bird

https://a.co/d/5oJlvO5

The Jesus on Money series

https://www.harvestbible.ca/sermons/?wpfc_sermon_series=jesus-on-money