1. 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 are two of the greatest chapters in the Bible on the Christian’s responsibilities in giving. The historical context is a collection Paul is making for poor Christians in Judea. He has already collected money from churches in Macedonia (northern Greece) and he is now coming to Corinth (in southern Greece) to receive the collection from them. He will then send the gift to Jerusalem.
2. Read 2 Cor.8:1-5. What does Paul say about the attitude of the Macedonians in their giving? Were they wealthy? Did Paul have to plead with them to give?
3. Describe the conditions under which they gave.
4. Read 8:6-9. Paul encourages the Corinthians to give in response to what God has given them. What have they received from God? In what ways was Jesus an example of sacrificial giving?
5. Read 9:6-11. What principles of giving are set out here? List each one and discuss what you think they mean. In a moment of reflection, can you give a time when you reacted as these principles tells you NOT to? How did you feel? Why did you feel that way? How can we judge our own motives and reasons for giving?
6. What does the giver receive in return for their generosity? What do you say to someone who does not experience financial blessings as others do? How would you answer someone who wants to use these principles as part of their health/wealth teaching?
7. What result will the Corinthians’ gift have for God’s work in the world?
8. What is the inexpressible gift Paul mentions in verse 15? How should this gift motivate us to extraordinary generosity?
