And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God.This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
3 sermons cite this verse
… scripture teach us to give what we're going to do is we're going to read two passages one in chapter 8 and one in chapter 9 and basically the first one 2 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 1 through 9 is an example. Paul points to these churches in Macedonia. We're going to see him kind of lift them up as an example. And the second passage we're going to look at is 2 Corinthians chapter 9, verse 6 through 15. And what this is over here is basically some truths based on this example. So we're going to be all over the place going back and forth, just turning between these two chapters. But to try to get this picture, let's camp out on these two passages. 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 1. Paul writes, service to the saints. 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. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, and knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us, Okay, go over to the next chapter. …
… You don't make a decision without bringing it to God. Second Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 5, And this they did not as we hoped, BUT THEY FIRST GAVE THEIR OWN SELVES UNTO THE LORD AND UNTO US BY THE WILL OF GOD. WHEN YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO THE LORD, THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS GOING TO FOLLOW OUT. YOUR CHOICE OF A JOB, A VACATION, A GIRLFRIEND, A BOYFRIEND, WHATEVER IT IS HAS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF CALVARY. MANY OF US WANT THE LORD IN OUR LIVES, BUT YOU KNOW HOW WE WANT THE LORD? WE WANT THE LORD AS A SPARE TIRE. FRIEND, HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE THE SPARE TIRE. HE'S THE STEERING wheel in your life. He's the control center in your life. He's not the emergency kit. He's, he, he is the, he is number one in your life. You're to give him the first devotion of your heart. You're to love him. You're to love him more than anybody or anything else. Anything you love more, serve more, or fear more than Almighty God is an idol. And idolatry, idolatry is the number one sin. Our Lord remonstrated with the church at Ephesus for this one thing. I'll tell you what it was. …
… but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. Consequently, we urge Titus, that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. That is, that they also in the Corinthian church might be as generous and as obedient as they were in the churches in Macedonia. Now, let me tell you what I want to do today. I want to make my introduction very brief because I want to go immediately into the body of this message because I want to talk about what the Bible teaches about giving in the church. And the first question I want to ask and to answer is this, and that is, what is the purpose of giving in the church? And let me just go through these for you if I might. We're coming back to the Scriptures and the Scripture and many, many others. But what is the purpose of giving in the church? …