Grace Series #5, “This Act of Grace” (The Grace of Giving)

THIS ACT OF GRACE

2 Corinthians 8:1–15 (Go to ESV Bible Verses)

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 is the context of this passage (Ro15:25-27; 1Co16:1-3; Gal2:9,10)? What is the commitment the Corinthian believers made (8:10b; 9:1,2)? Describe the living condition among the Macedonian believers^[1] and their giving behavior (8:2-4). Would you give as they did if you were living in the same condition?
2. What was given to the Macedonian believers before they gave (8:1)? How can God’s grace enable such giving (8:2; 9:8; Mk12:41-44)? Why is it important to give ourselves first to the Lord before giving material things (8:5b)?
3. What does Paul ask the Corinthian believers to do (8:6,7)? Why does he call such giving an act of “grace”^[2] (8:7)? What can happen if we give because we feel obligated (8:8a; 9:5,7)?
4. What makes their giving genuine and why (8:8b,9a)? What does it mean that Jesus was “rich” but became “poor” (8:9b; Jn1:1-3; Jn17:5; Lk2:7)? How does His grace make us rich (Eph1:3-7; Re21:10,11)? Were the Macedonian believers rich? Do you feel rich?
5. Why should the Corinthian believers follow through on their previous commitment (8:6,11; 1Jn3:17-18; Mt6:21)? How does Paul evaluate their giving (8:12)? Why is it fair for the Gentile believers to materially help the Jewish believers (8:13–15; Ro15:25-27)?
   
   <Footnote> 

1. Acts 16:6-17:15 records Paul’s missionary journey in Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea). ↑

2. ‘charis’ is the original Greek word translated to grace, which appears ten times in ch 8-9. It can mean several things such as (1) God’s merciful kindness upon undeserved humanity/sinners, (2) power of divine influence on one’s life and heart, and (3) gracious gift. ↑