2024 Special Series 4 - "Giving" / "This Act of Grace" / 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15

*Introduction to the 2024 New Year Special Bible Study Series

*New Year Special Bible Study Series 4 – GIVING

2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15

Key Verse: 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

1.  What did the grace of God produce among the Macedonian churches (8:1–2)? How does Paul describe their giving, and what was it for (3–4)? How else does he describe it, and what does he mean (5)? Why is he sending Titus to Corinth again (6,16–17)?

2.  Note how Paul repeats that Christian giving is an “act of grace” (6b,7,19). How does he urge the Corinthians (7), and what does he mean to “excel” in this? Why is he saying these things (8)?

3.  Read verse 9. What does it mean that Jesus was “rich” but “became poor,” and why did he do this? How does knowing his grace make us “rich”? When we are urged to give, why do we all need to be reminded of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ?

4.  How else does Paul urge the Corinthians (10–11)? What makes an offering “acceptable” (12)? How and why does he emphasize “fairness” (13–15)?

5.  Who is Paul sending along with Titus (18–19), and why (20–21)? Who else is he sending (22)? What does Paul say about these men (23) and how to receive them (24)? How had the Corinthians been a good example to the Macedonians (9:1–2)? How and why is Paul helping the Corinthians to be “ready” (3–5)?

6.  What principle of giving does Paul share (6)? With what spirit does God want us to give (7)? How does he bless those who give (8–11a)? What is the ultimate goal of our giving (11b–15), and why is this important?