BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

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MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

2 Corinthians 8:1-8 (NLT) 1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What did you learn from what we just read?

TRUTH #1

GOD WORKS THROUGH THE CHURCH! (v. 1-2)

2 Corinthians 8:1 (NLT) - Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.

  • In today’s passage, Paul commends the churches in Macedonia for their generosity in the midst of severe trials and poverty.
  • DEFINITION - Generosity (haplótēs) - openness of heart manifesting itself by giving freely
  • The Macedonian church was moved with compassion for the persecuted church in Jerusalem. This compassion was the result of God’s kindness at work within them.
  • God filled the church with both compassion and abundant joy that overflowed in giving.
  • Today, God still works through the church and through us individually in the same way.

Philippians 2:13 (NLT) - For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

 What are some ways that you have seen God work through the church or an individual in your own life?

TRUTH #2

GIVING IS A PRIVILEGE! (v. 3-5)

2 Corinthians 8:4 (NLT) - They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 

  • The Macedonian church’s giving was notable for many reasons. It was inspired by God, it was generous, it was sacrificial, and it was joyful.
  • Their generosity was both sacrificial and joyful because they recognized something important about giving - it is a privilege (v. 4)!
  • DEFINITION - Privilege: a benefit, advantage, or right not enjoyed by everyone; special enjoyment of a blessing
  • The Macedonian church recognized that giving was an incredible opportunity to partner with God to accomplish something meaningful and eternal. 
  • They were so grateful for what God was doing in their own lives that they couldn’t wait to share it with others.

2 Corinthians 6:1 (NLT) - As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.

  • They didn’t just give sacrificially, they begged to be a part of what God was doing.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Can you think of a time in your life that you couldn’t wait to give something to someone else? What prompted you to feel that way? What were the results?

TRUTH #3

GIVING IS A MINISTRY! (v. 6-8)

2 Corinthians 8:6 (NLT) - So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 

  • Today’s Bible verses clearly state that giving is a ministry (v. 6).
  • DEFINITION - Ministry (diakonia) - the spiritual work or service of any Christian or a group of Christians, especially evangelism, feeding the poor, discipleship and/or giving, etc.
  • In fact, Paul urges the Corinthian church to excel in this ministry alongside their Macedonian church brothers (v. 7).
  • In other words, when it comes to meeting needs, we should look for ways that we can exceed people’s expectations, going beyond what is expected or comfortable.
  • When we minister to others in this way, we demonstrate the sincerity and genuineness of our love and God’s love for them.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Is there a need in your family or your community that you can meet as means of demonstrating God’s love for them? How will you meet this need?

CLOSING QUESTION

What is one thing you have learned from today’s lesson?

GIVING

 Giving should not be driven by compulsion or obligation but should stem from a heart that genuinely desires to contribute to the work of the Lord.

Exodus 35:22 (NLT)
Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the Lord their offerings of gold—brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the Lord.

Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

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PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?