Message Notes and Group Study Guide
Date: December 9-10, 2023
Speaker: Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Series: Look Up
Message: #14 - Look Up for Generosity
Scripture
1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 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! —2 Corinthians 9:1-15 (NIV)
Notes
4 Reasons to be Generous
- Be generous because it
- Be generous because it is
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (Luke 16:10)
- Be generous because it is
- Be generous becuase it brings
Study Guide
Step One: Icebreaker (Optional)
What is the most memorable gift you remember receiving as a kid?
Step Two: Open
Ask someone in your group to pray to open your time together. Ask another person to read 2 Corinthians 9:1-15.
Step Three: Discuss
- What stood out to you the most in this weekend’s teaching? What was challenging, encouraging, or confusing to you?
- Read verses 1-5 again. What descriptive words jump out to you and why do you think Paul uses such words?
- How would you describe the difference between “Generous” and “Grudgingly” and why should a Christian be more generous?
- Read verses 6-11 again. What descriptive words jump out at you this time? What do we learn about God from some of these descriptive words?
- Looking at verses 12-15, what are some of the results of generous Christian givers? How have you experienced some of these results in your life?
- Giving or generosity, according to Paul in this text, is both good for believers and promotes God’s glory. How do these two things work together?
- How does embracing the gospel message help people “Look Up” and become more generous with all that God has blessed them with? What about you?
Step Four: Close in Prayer
Close in prayer and pray specifically for each other over the holidays to share the gospel with someone over the next few weeks!