100:00:00,200 –> 00:00:03,160楯200:00:03,600 –> 00:00:09,360How does God form rich generosity in a believer’s life? Where does it come from?300:00:09,360 –> 00:00:14,160How could you grow in becoming a more generous person?400:00:14,720 –> 00:00:18,240Welcome to Open the Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith, I am David Pick.500:00:18,240 –> 00:00:21,920I am glad you joined us today and Colin, let’s answer that question.600:00:21,920 –> 00:00:24,559How do we become a more generous person?700:00:24,559 –> 00:00:31,280You know, the way we are reflects the thing that we most deeply believe about God.800:00:31,840 –> 00:00:35,759There’s a bit in the Old Testament that says about people who worship idols that those who900:00:35,759 –> 00:00:40,160make them are like them. In other words, you become like the object you worship.1000:00:40,799 –> 00:00:44,080So the question is, how do I become a more generous person?1100:00:44,080 –> 00:00:49,520The answer, to discover in a deeper way, the generosity of God.1200:00:49,599 –> 00:00:56,400Because the more clearly I see His generosity, the more I’m going to grow in a reflection of that.1300:00:56,400 –> 00:01:00,880It’s a huge principle. People who have the idea in their minds that God is harsh and1400:01:00,880 –> 00:01:04,400condemning, and all the rest of it, guess what they’re like? They are harsh and condemning.1500:01:04,400 –> 00:01:09,839That’s absolutely it. Discover the generosity of God, the grace of God, the patience of God,1600:01:10,559 –> 00:01:12,639and that begins to be reproduced in your life.1700:01:13,839 –> 00:01:18,959That’s why worship is transforming. The more we see of His glory, the more it changes us.1800:01:19,599 –> 00:01:22,959We become like Him as we see more of who He is.1900:01:22,959 –> 00:01:24,919But Colin, some people might say,2000:01:24,919 –> 00:01:28,559I’m not actually seeing the generosity of God in my life.2100:01:28,559 –> 00:01:32,400If you could see my life, you’d see that it’s hard, it’s difficult.2200:01:32,400 –> 00:01:37,760It’s one trial after another. How can that person begin to see the generosity of God?2300:01:37,760 –> 00:01:41,599Just say, I’m so glad you turned onto the programme today, because that’s exactly what2400:01:41,599 –> 00:01:43,360we’re going to look at in the scriptures.2500:01:43,360 –> 00:01:47,440We’re going to take a look at the generosity of God in Jesus Christ.2600:01:47,440 –> 00:01:48,480May you see it!2700:01:48,480 –> 00:01:52,160So join us today, if you can, in II Corinthians 8,2800:01:52,160 –> 00:01:54,959as we begin a message, a generous church.2900:01:54,959 –> 00:01:56,480Here is pastor Colin.3000:01:56,480 –> 00:02:01,199Now I want to begin today just with a quick review of what we learned last time.3100:02:01,760 –> 00:02:08,800Because we saw together last weekend that the New Testament really is one massive project3200:02:09,360 –> 00:02:13,679in applying the gospel of Jesus Christ to every area of life.3300:02:14,559 –> 00:02:18,639In other words, when Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came into the world at Christmas,3400:02:18,639 –> 00:02:22,639died on the cross, and rose again, becomes your Savior and Lord,3500:02:23,520 –> 00:02:27,279He lays claim to every sphere of your life,3600:02:27,279 –> 00:02:32,479nothing is beyond the reach of His Savior good and His Lordship.3700:02:32,479 –> 00:02:34,639Think of what that means in relation to money.3800:02:35,520 –> 00:02:42,880He comes as your Savior to set you free from the controlling power of money3900:02:42,960 –> 00:02:45,679that is either the controlling power of what you have,4000:02:45,679 –> 00:02:48,960or the controlling power of worry about what you do not have,4100:02:48,960 –> 00:02:50,800or even what you used to have.4200:02:52,000 –> 00:02:54,000His Savior who touches that.4300:02:54,880 –> 00:02:59,919And then He comes to you as Lord, if He is the Savior and Lord of your life,4400:02:59,919 –> 00:03:04,240to direct the use of the money that He is Lord and God,4500:03:04,240 –> 00:03:09,279has trusted into your hand, so that saved from the tyranny of its power,4600:03:09,279 –> 00:03:12,559so you do not live under it, oppressed by it,4700:03:12,559 –> 00:03:18,000you are able to be master over it, and to use it in a way that reflects his character.4800:03:18,720 –> 00:03:23,520We saw that there are three distinct ways in which a person can give money,4900:03:24,080 –> 00:03:28,399or three distinct ways in which an organization, a church could raise money.5000:03:28,960 –> 00:03:31,600One is out of guilt, and we don’t want to go there.5100:03:31,600 –> 00:03:34,479The other is out of pride, we don’t want to go there.5200:03:34,479 –> 00:03:38,800Where we do want to go is giving, and receiving of money5300:03:38,800 –> 00:03:42,000that arises out of the gospel of Jesus Christ.5400:03:42,639 –> 00:03:46,240We saw that gospel giving, that is distinctively Christian giving,5500:03:46,240 –> 00:03:47,839is marked in two ways.5600:03:47,839 –> 00:03:53,039It is distinguished first, by freedom, and second, by joy.5700:03:53,039 –> 00:03:57,839And the reason that distinctively Christian giving is always marked by freedom and joy,5800:03:58,639 –> 00:04:02,320is that Jesus Christ came into the world freely,5900:04:02,320 –> 00:04:05,600and that Jesus Christ came into the world joyfully,6000:04:05,600 –> 00:04:10,080and Christian giving is a reflection of the character of God6100:04:10,080 –> 00:04:12,880being worked out in the lives of His own people,6200:04:12,880 –> 00:04:18,160and that is why 2 Corinthians 8, verse 9, is so central to the subject.6300:04:18,160 –> 00:04:20,880You know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,6400:04:21,679 –> 00:04:24,399that though He was rich, for your sake He became poor,6500:04:24,399 –> 00:04:26,559so that you, through His poverty,6600:04:27,440 –> 00:04:33,279might enter into the riches of eternal worlds yet to be seen.6700:04:33,279 –> 00:04:37,760Now, if His Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus,6800:04:37,760 –> 00:04:39,440who though He was rich yet became poor6900:04:39,440 –> 00:04:41,600so that we, through His poverty, might become rich.7000:04:41,600 –> 00:04:47,440If His Spirit lives in you and in me then our giving to Him7100:04:48,880 –> 00:04:51,600will reflect His giving to us and that means,7200:04:51,600 –> 00:04:55,359of course, that it will be marked by freedom and by joy.7300:04:56,000 –> 00:04:59,760Now, when I say that gospel giving, Christian giving,7400:04:59,760 –> 00:05:02,239is free, it is a matter of freedom.7500:05:02,239 –> 00:05:04,720I don’t mean by that, that it is optional.7600:05:05,359 –> 00:05:08,959Our Lord Jesus Christ made it very clear that His people,7700:05:08,959 –> 00:05:10,480all His people would give.7800:05:10,480 –> 00:05:14,000He said, when you give, Matthew chapter 6 in verse 2,7900:05:14,000 –> 00:05:15,040not if you give.8000:05:16,079 –> 00:05:19,440No, Christian giving is free not because it’s optional8100:05:20,000 –> 00:05:25,519but rather because our Lord wants us to decide freely8200:05:25,519 –> 00:05:27,440what it is that we will give8300:05:28,239 –> 00:05:29,920and that we will do that freely8400:05:29,920 –> 00:05:33,600and joyfully in the light of our appreciation8500:05:33,600 –> 00:05:36,399of all that He has done for us in Jesus Christ.8600:05:36,399 –> 00:05:40,079In other words, and this is a very important principle to grasp8700:05:40,079 –> 00:05:42,000and many Christians never get it.8800:05:42,000 –> 00:05:44,799Some of us have been brought up under a very different tradition.8900:05:46,399 –> 00:05:51,920We give in response to grace not in response to law.9000:05:52,880 –> 00:05:56,640If you were brought up in a system of rules about Christian giving,9100:05:56,640 –> 00:05:59,679I want to try and move your thinking away from that9200:06:00,720 –> 00:06:04,480because freedom and joy are of the essence of giving9300:06:04,480 –> 00:06:07,440that reflects the character of Jesus.9400:06:07,440 –> 00:06:09,600No one forced him to come into the world.9500:06:11,200 –> 00:06:13,200No one ever leans on the Son of God.9600:06:14,559 –> 00:06:17,519Now here’s another reason why this issue is so critical.9700:06:17,519 –> 00:06:22,799If you think about it, if giving were a matter of law,9800:06:25,200 –> 00:06:28,160generosity would be impossible.9900:06:29,679 –> 00:06:30,399Think about it.10000:06:31,359 –> 00:06:32,640Think about your taxes.10100:06:32,880 –> 00:06:33,679You pay them.10200:06:33,679 –> 00:06:35,440You have to pay them.10300:06:36,399 –> 00:06:37,359It’s the law.10400:06:38,399 –> 00:06:44,880Now, you can pay your taxes dutifully, punctually, honestly,10500:06:45,760 –> 00:06:49,200but you cannot pay your taxes generously, right?10600:06:50,959 –> 00:06:55,760Generosity is only possible under grace.10700:06:58,160 –> 00:07:02,079Now people who have understood that we live under grace10800:07:02,959 –> 00:07:07,920and not under law, may give more the same10900:07:09,119 –> 00:07:13,359or even less than people who are ruled by law.11000:07:13,359 –> 00:07:16,799The critical issue here is not so much the amount11100:07:16,799 –> 00:07:19,920because candidly as you grow in generosity,11200:07:19,920 –> 00:07:22,559the amount that you give over your lifetime will change11300:07:23,200 –> 00:07:25,359as you grow in your understanding of what it is11400:07:25,359 –> 00:07:26,160to be generous.11500:07:27,200 –> 00:07:28,880What’s really important here,11600:07:28,880 –> 00:07:30,880and the first thing for us to grasp11700:07:31,440 –> 00:07:35,760is not so much related to amounts as related to character.11800:07:36,480 –> 00:07:38,880The character that is being formed11900:07:38,880 –> 00:07:45,600and generosity can only be formed under grace.12000:07:47,279 –> 00:07:48,559Now I know for some of us,12100:07:48,559 –> 00:07:50,399this is moving us into a new world.12200:07:50,399 –> 00:07:52,720We’ve just not thought about giving12300:07:52,720 –> 00:07:55,359in that kind of a way before.12400:07:55,359 –> 00:07:58,480I was fascinated to read in Tim Keller’s new book12500:07:58,480 –> 00:08:00,239it’s called the Prodigal God.12600:08:00,239 –> 00:08:01,200Get hold of a copy.12700:08:01,200 –> 00:08:02,559It’s a wonderful little book that12800:08:02,559 –> 00:08:04,399gets to the heart of the gospel.12900:08:04,399 –> 00:08:05,920And he tells a story there13000:08:05,920 –> 00:08:08,079about a woman in his congregation13100:08:08,079 –> 00:08:10,559who he says had been brought up in another church13200:08:10,559 –> 00:08:13,040that was very legalistic, very moralistic.13300:08:13,040 –> 00:08:14,239And so when she had come13400:08:14,239 –> 00:08:16,720to Redeemer Presbyterian church in New York13500:08:17,279 –> 00:08:20,799as a young adult she had in her head13600:08:20,799 –> 00:08:22,880this framework that was quite convinced13700:08:22,880 –> 00:08:24,320that God accepts us13800:08:24,320 –> 00:08:27,040because we live a moral and an ethical life13900:08:27,040 –> 00:08:28,079that God accepts us14000:08:28,079 –> 00:08:29,440because we do certain14100:08:29,440 –> 00:08:31,279things that he has told us to do.14200:08:32,239 –> 00:08:33,359And she came to Redeemer14300:08:33,359 –> 00:08:35,599and she began to learn about God’s grace14400:08:35,599 –> 00:08:37,679in which through his death and resurrection14500:08:37,679 –> 00:08:39,919he receives us and accepts us freely14600:08:39,919 –> 00:08:41,919not on the basis of anything we do14700:08:41,919 –> 00:08:44,559at conversion or subsequent to conversion14800:08:44,559 –> 00:08:47,119but only through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.14900:08:47,119 –> 00:08:50,159And at one point this lady came15000:08:50,159 –> 00:08:52,080and sat down with Pastor Tim Keller15100:08:53,119 –> 00:08:54,320and this is what she said.15200:08:54,320 –> 00:09:03,039She said, this grace thing, that’s a scary idea.15300:09:04,239 –> 00:09:10,080She said it’s good scary but it’s really scary.15400:09:11,679 –> 00:09:13,119Now let me quote to you15500:09:13,119 –> 00:09:15,119what Pastor Tim Keller said to her.15600:09:16,400 –> 00:09:18,000I was intrigued, he says15700:09:18,960 –> 00:09:22,320and I asked her what was so scary15800:09:22,320 –> 00:09:24,400about unmerited free grace?15900:09:26,080 –> 00:09:27,599She replied something like this,16000:09:29,039 –> 00:09:31,280if I was saved by my good works,16100:09:32,479 –> 00:09:34,880there would be a limit to what God could ask of me.16200:09:36,239 –> 00:09:38,719I would be like a taxpayer with rights.16300:09:40,159 –> 00:09:42,799But if it is really true that I am a sinner16400:09:42,799 –> 00:09:47,440saved by sheer grace at God’s infinite cost,16500:09:47,440 –> 00:09:51,440there’s nothing He can’t ask of me.16600:09:53,280 –> 00:09:55,119She said, that’s scary.16700:09:55,119 –> 00:09:58,640It’s a good scary, but it’s scary, scary.16800:09:59,840 –> 00:10:02,000See, that’s why some of us are much more comfortable16900:10:02,000 –> 00:10:02,500under law.17000:10:04,320 –> 00:10:05,679That’s why Christians live underwall.17100:10:05,679 –> 00:10:06,559Just tell me what to do.17200:10:08,000 –> 00:10:13,039Because I don’t want to live in the boundlessness17300:10:14,719 –> 00:10:20,559of free grace by which I am redeemed through Christ alone,17400:10:20,559 –> 00:10:24,719by faith alone, through His death and His resurrection alone.17500:10:24,719 –> 00:10:30,320Now, I want to help you get this whole matter of giving17600:10:31,280 –> 00:10:36,479out of the world of law and into the world of grace17700:10:36,479 –> 00:10:40,640as far as your life and your giving is concerned.17800:10:40,640 –> 00:10:44,320And when this happens, and it may take a while,17900:10:45,200 –> 00:10:47,200but when this happens in your life,18000:10:47,200 –> 00:10:50,159you will no longer be asking what do I have to give?18100:10:51,200 –> 00:10:54,239You will begin to discover what this little series18200:10:54,239 –> 00:10:59,840is all about, the joy of a truly generous life.18300:11:00,880 –> 00:11:03,359You’re listening to Open The Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith,18400:11:03,359 –> 00:11:05,840and a message called A Generous Church,18500:11:05,840 –> 00:11:08,320part of our series A Generous Life,18600:11:08,320 –> 00:11:10,960and if you ever miss one of the messages in the series,18700:11:10,960 –> 00:11:14,479you can easily catch up, or go back and listen again18800:11:14,479 –> 00:11:17,119by coming to our website, that’s at Open The Bible,18900:11:17,280 –> 00:11:19,200.org.uk.19000:11:19,200 –> 00:11:22,559Alternatively, if you prefer listening to a podcast,19100:11:22,559 –> 00:11:25,200you can find us on any of the main podcast sites19200:11:25,200 –> 00:11:27,359by searching for Open The Bible UK,19300:11:27,359 –> 00:11:29,679or by following a link from our website.19400:11:30,239 –> 00:11:32,559I know many of you listen to podcasts,19500:11:32,559 –> 00:11:34,000and we’re excited to tell you19600:11:34,000 –> 00:11:36,799about a new podcast for Open The Bible.19700:11:36,799 –> 00:11:39,679It’s a companion to Pastor Colin’s book,19800:11:39,679 –> 00:11:41,200Hike Through The Bible.19900:11:41,200 –> 00:11:44,159Yeah, and each week I’ll read a chapter from the book,20000:11:44,159 –> 00:11:46,719and then I get to discuss it with some friends,20100:11:46,719 –> 00:11:50,000so if you join us on the podcast in 50 weeks,20200:11:50,000 –> 00:11:52,880we’ll cover 50 chapters of the Bible together,20300:11:52,880 –> 00:11:54,239and in a year,20400:11:54,239 –> 00:11:57,520you’ll have hiked through the entire Bible story.20500:11:57,520 –> 00:12:00,239Now, if you think hiking sounds like hard work,20600:12:00,239 –> 00:12:00,960don’t worry.20700:12:00,960 –> 00:12:05,119I promise you this hike will be an easy, gentle pace.20800:12:05,119 –> 00:12:06,719There’s a link to the podcast20900:12:06,719 –> 00:12:08,479and lots more information21000:12:08,479 –> 00:12:12,320on our website at openthebible.org.uk.21100:12:13,039 –> 00:12:14,080Back to the message now.21200:12:14,799 –> 00:12:16,640Here again is Pastor Colin21300:12:16,640 –> 00:12:20,719what would a truly generous church look like?21400:12:21,359 –> 00:12:22,799Now what does this say from the passage,21500:12:22,799 –> 00:12:24,400and I do hope you have the Bible open21600:12:24,400 –> 00:12:26,559and that you will learn more of what it is21700:12:26,559 –> 00:12:29,359to be learning from the word of God week by week,21800:12:29,359 –> 00:12:31,440I want us to see two things today,21900:12:31,440 –> 00:12:33,280a church that reflects the character22000:12:33,280 –> 00:12:35,520of God will be generous in giving money22100:12:36,239 –> 00:12:40,799and it will be marked by integrity in handling money.22200:12:40,799 –> 00:12:43,919These two things, absolutely, critically important.22300:12:43,919 –> 00:12:46,479Remember we’re saying, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9,22400:12:46,479 –> 00:12:47,679everything you ever needed to know22500:12:47,679 –> 00:12:49,919about giving or about fundraising22600:12:49,919 –> 00:12:52,400or about the handling of money.22700:12:52,400 –> 00:12:53,679So these two things today,22800:12:53,679 –> 00:12:56,320first, generosity in giving money22900:12:56,320 –> 00:12:58,000and we’re looking at the first part23000:12:58,000 –> 00:13:00,719of 2 Corinthians 8, verse one,23100:13:01,520 –> 00:13:03,520now brothers, we want you to know23200:13:03,520 –> 00:13:06,880about the grace that God has given23300:13:06,880 –> 00:13:08,559to the Macedonian churches.23400:13:09,119 –> 00:13:10,239So we’re gonna learn now23500:13:10,799 –> 00:13:13,599about what the grace of God can do23600:13:13,599 –> 00:13:15,599in the life of Christian believers23700:13:16,479 –> 00:13:18,960and Paul has a particular example23800:13:18,960 –> 00:13:21,919of these Macedonian Christians23900:13:21,919 –> 00:13:23,679and he tells us what God’s grace24000:13:23,679 –> 00:13:25,280did in their lives, verse two.24100:13:25,679 –> 00:13:28,479Out of the most severe trial,24200:13:29,599 –> 00:13:32,799their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty24300:13:33,520 –> 00:13:37,039welled up in rich generosity.24400:13:38,320 –> 00:13:41,840So I want to try and build the pieces in this verse24500:13:41,840 –> 00:13:43,679so that we understand them clearly.24600:13:44,239 –> 00:13:47,200Let’s start at the end, rich generosity,24700:13:47,200 –> 00:13:48,479the end of verse two,24800:13:49,359 –> 00:13:53,840How does God form rich generosity in a believer’s life?24900:13:53,840 –> 00:13:55,039Where does it come from?25000:13:55,200 –> 00:14:00,000How could you grow in becoming a more generous person?25100:14:00,000 –> 00:14:04,400What kind of things would God use to make that happen in your life?25200:14:06,000 –> 00:14:09,840Well, this verse gives us a fascinating insight25300:14:09,840 –> 00:14:13,840into the way God shaped generosity25400:14:13,840 –> 00:14:16,799and formed generosity in the lives of these believers.25500:14:16,799 –> 00:14:18,559Look at what God used.25600:14:18,559 –> 00:14:21,280Number one, Severe Trial,25700:14:22,239 –> 00:14:23,919out of the most severe trial.25800:14:24,719 –> 00:14:27,760Nobody wants to go through Severe Trial,25900:14:29,760 –> 00:14:32,880But God often uses the severe trials26000:14:32,880 –> 00:14:35,359of our lives to soften our hearts26100:14:36,320 –> 00:14:40,000and to make us more sensitive to the needs of other people.26200:14:41,359 –> 00:14:44,000And when you meet generous folks,26300:14:45,039 –> 00:14:47,200look for this and you will find it’s a pattern.26400:14:47,200 –> 00:14:49,599I’ve had great joy just in thinking about this26500:14:49,599 –> 00:14:53,760in relation to folks who I know to be generous.26600:14:55,200 –> 00:14:57,760And here’s one thing that I see,26700:14:57,760 –> 00:15:01,039there has been some severe trial in their lives26800:15:02,320 –> 00:15:05,359and God has used it to soften their hearts26900:15:06,719 –> 00:15:09,840and make them sensitive to the needs of others.27000:15:10,400 –> 00:15:13,679Severe Trial has a way in God’s gracious hand27100:15:13,679 –> 00:15:18,080of cutting the root of selfishness in our lives.27200:15:18,559 –> 00:15:22,080But then notice that Paul identifies a second factor27300:15:22,080 –> 00:15:24,880out of which this rich generosity came.27400:15:25,440 –> 00:15:28,000He says its overflowing joy.27500:15:28,479 –> 00:15:30,320See, severe trials just on their own27600:15:30,320 –> 00:15:33,919can make a person bitter and self absorbed.27700:15:33,919 –> 00:15:35,919But when a person begins to discover27800:15:35,919 –> 00:15:38,400the grace of God, verse one,27900:15:39,039 –> 00:15:42,640then you begin to find a new joy in Jesus Christ,28000:15:42,640 –> 00:15:45,200all that he is for you and all that is yours in him.28100:15:46,159 –> 00:15:49,039And so generous folks are shaped in this way.28200:15:49,039 –> 00:15:50,400Often there is a severe trial28300:15:50,400 –> 00:15:52,880that breaks the root of self centeredness28400:15:52,880 –> 00:15:55,280and softens our hearts towards others.28500:15:56,320 –> 00:15:58,559And always there is a joy28600:15:58,559 –> 00:15:59,760that has been discovered28700:16:00,719 –> 00:16:03,359in all that is ours in Jesus Christ,28800:16:03,359 –> 00:16:04,559put these two together28900:16:05,679 –> 00:16:07,919and you have the beginning of a generous life.29000:16:08,799 –> 00:16:11,200But then Paul adds one more factor.29100:16:11,919 –> 00:16:16,080Notice he says it’s out of extreme poverty29200:16:17,039 –> 00:16:20,400that their generosity welled up.29300:16:21,599 –> 00:16:23,280Now if you look at verse three29400:16:24,239 –> 00:16:26,799you’ll see that evidently the financial position29500:16:26,799 –> 00:16:27,840of these believers29600:16:27,840 –> 00:16:31,440in Macedonia was so difficult,29700:16:32,000 –> 00:16:32,960they were so poor,29800:16:33,520 –> 00:16:34,559that Paul decided29900:16:34,559 –> 00:16:36,960he wouldn’t even ask them to contribute30000:16:36,960 –> 00:16:38,000to the collection30100:16:38,719 –> 00:16:40,239for the poor saints in Jerusalem.30200:16:40,239 –> 00:16:41,520You know these folks have so little30300:16:41,520 –> 00:16:42,880I couldn’t possibly ask them.30400:16:43,840 –> 00:16:45,280And so what happened, verse three,30500:16:45,280 –> 00:16:47,359was that these believers in Macedonia30600:16:47,359 –> 00:16:49,280entirely on their own30700:16:49,280 –> 00:16:51,440urgently pleaded, Paul says, with us30800:16:51,440 –> 00:16:53,200for the privilege of sharing30900:16:53,200 –> 00:16:54,479in this service to the poor.31000:16:54,479 –> 00:16:56,000They said no, we want to be part of it.31100:16:56,880 –> 00:16:57,840We don’t have much31200:16:58,559 –> 00:17:00,559but we want to be part of this.31300:17:02,239 –> 00:17:03,760And Paul is not saying here31400:17:03,760 –> 00:17:04,800that you have to be poor31500:17:04,800 –> 00:17:06,479in order to be generous.31600:17:06,479 –> 00:17:08,079Obviously there are generous people31700:17:08,079 –> 00:17:09,359at every level of income31800:17:09,359 –> 00:17:10,239just as there are mean31900:17:10,239 –> 00:17:11,599and tightfisted people32000:17:11,599 –> 00:17:13,560at every level of income,32100:17:13,560 –> 00:17:14,479but Paul is saying32200:17:14,479 –> 00:17:16,479that the extreme poverty32300:17:16,479 –> 00:17:17,920of these folks32400:17:17,920 –> 00:17:19,520made their generosity32500:17:19,520 –> 00:17:21,040all the more remarkable.32600:17:22,400 –> 00:17:23,280So I’m trying to put this32700:17:23,280 –> 00:17:24,319in the way of a formula.32800:17:24,319 –> 00:17:26,959What does rich generosity come out of?32900:17:26,959 –> 00:17:29,599How does it well up?33000:17:29,599 –> 00:17:31,119Literally what Paul’s saying here33100:17:31,119 –> 00:17:32,560is it explodes.33200:17:34,000 –> 00:17:35,760It exploded for these folks33300:17:35,760 –> 00:17:37,760out of a convergence of three factors,33400:17:37,760 –> 00:17:39,119their severe trial,33500:17:39,119 –> 00:17:41,359their overwhelming joy in Jesus Christ33600:17:41,359 –> 00:17:42,959and their extreme poverty.33700:17:42,959 –> 00:17:44,079Which just had the effect33800:17:44,079 –> 00:17:45,280of multiplying33900:17:45,280 –> 00:17:47,040how generous they really were34000:17:47,040 –> 00:17:48,000when you consider34100:17:48,000 –> 00:17:50,800how little they had.34200:17:50,800 –> 00:17:51,719Now that leads me to make34300:17:51,719 –> 00:17:53,839this important observation,34400:17:53,839 –> 00:17:56,000and it’s a very obvious one.34500:17:56,000 –> 00:17:57,280But it’s worth considering.34600:17:58,880 –> 00:18:03,280A person who makes $25,00034700:18:03,280 –> 00:18:04,800and gives 10 percent34800:18:04,800 –> 00:18:07,359of their income34900:18:07,359 –> 00:18:10,959is far more generous35000:18:10,959 –> 00:18:13,760than a person who makes $250,00035100:18:13,760 –> 00:18:17,680and gives 10 percent of their income.35200:18:17,680 –> 00:18:19,839Because it is far harder,35300:18:19,839 –> 00:18:22,239really, it’s a challenge35400:18:22,239 –> 00:18:23,040to try and make it35500:18:24,880 –> 00:18:27,119in this wonderful place35600:18:27,119 –> 00:18:28,719where we live35700:18:28,719 –> 00:18:32,880on 90 percent of $25,000.35800:18:32,880 –> 00:18:35,359Much harder to do that35900:18:35,359 –> 00:18:36,400than to live on36000:18:36,560 –> 00:18:39,92090 percent of $250,000.36100:18:41,119 –> 00:18:42,160So, giving 10 percent of $25,00036200:18:44,880 –> 00:18:46,479is much more generous36300:18:47,760 –> 00:18:50,239than giving 10 percent of $250,000.36400:18:52,719 –> 00:18:54,160So, I’m thinking about36500:18:54,160 –> 00:18:55,680someone very, very wealthy36600:18:56,400 –> 00:18:58,719who gives, a multi-millionaire,36700:18:58,719 –> 00:19:01,599who gives 90 percent36800:19:01,599 –> 00:19:02,560of all their income.36900:19:02,560 –> 00:19:03,920Now, that really is generous37000:19:04,400 –> 00:19:05,839and he simply said,37100:19:05,839 –> 00:19:07,040I have what I need to live37200:19:08,640 –> 00:19:10,239and I’m therefore going to regard37300:19:10,239 –> 00:19:11,439what else is given to me37400:19:11,439 –> 00:19:12,880as a means that I can give37500:19:12,880 –> 00:19:15,119and much of it goes overseas37600:19:15,119 –> 00:19:15,359for the relief37700:19:15,359 –> 00:19:17,280of the most abject poverty37800:19:17,280 –> 00:19:19,599in different parts of the world.37900:19:21,040 –> 00:19:22,199You see why you can’t set38000:19:22,199 –> 00:19:23,199a rule for generosity?38100:19:26,239 –> 00:19:27,680When you have less,38200:19:29,280 –> 00:19:30,719the generosity of your giving38300:19:30,719 –> 00:19:32,719is more.38400:19:32,719 –> 00:19:33,839Now, think about this.38500:19:33,839 –> 00:19:34,560This application,38600:19:36,079 –> 00:19:37,359that means38700:19:37,359 –> 00:19:38,239this38800:19:38,239 –> 00:19:40,160is a wonderful season38900:19:40,160 –> 00:19:42,319for growing in generosity.39000:19:42,319 –> 00:19:42,819Isn’t it?39100:19:43,439 –> 00:19:44,079Seriously,39200:19:45,199 –> 00:19:46,560if folks who have lost39300:19:46,560 –> 00:19:48,23930 or 40 percent39400:19:48,239 –> 00:19:49,199of their savings39500:19:49,199 –> 00:19:50,800give what they did last year,39600:19:51,599 –> 00:19:52,640that is more generous39700:19:53,359 –> 00:19:54,479than it was last year39800:19:55,280 –> 00:19:56,400because it came out of less.39900:19:57,680 –> 00:19:59,359That means it is more costly.40000:20:00,000 –> 00:20:01,920That means it is more sacrificial.40100:20:02,560 –> 00:20:04,560That means it is more generous40200:20:04,560 –> 00:20:05,199and that means40300:20:05,760 –> 00:20:08,640it reflects more clearly40400:20:08,640 –> 00:20:11,599the character of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.40500:20:12,719 –> 00:20:14,880Now, you see what Paul is saying.40600:20:14,880 –> 00:20:16,400The Macedonian churches40700:20:16,400 –> 00:20:18,640were a model of generosity40800:20:18,640 –> 00:20:19,920because of three factors.40900:20:19,920 –> 00:20:21,280There was a severe trial41000:20:21,280 –> 00:20:22,479which evidently had given them41100:20:22,479 –> 00:20:23,520very soft hearts.41200:20:24,319 –> 00:20:26,160There was an overwhelming joy41300:20:26,160 –> 00:20:27,040which indicated41400:20:27,040 –> 00:20:28,319the life of Christ41500:20:28,319 –> 00:20:30,000in their souls.41600:20:30,000 –> 00:20:31,040They were existing41700:20:31,040 –> 00:20:32,479in extreme poverty41800:20:32,479 –> 00:20:34,079which just magnified41900:20:34,079 –> 00:20:35,119the degree to which42000:20:35,119 –> 00:20:37,599generosity was formed42100:20:37,599 –> 00:20:39,599as character in their hearts.42200:20:42,400 –> 00:20:43,520And the Corinthians42300:20:43,520 –> 00:20:45,839who were much better off42400:20:47,280 –> 00:20:48,079weren’t there.42500:20:50,239 –> 00:20:51,199Isn’t this convicting?42600:20:52,000 –> 00:20:53,199The Macedonian churches42700:20:53,199 –> 00:20:54,640in their extreme poverty42800:20:54,640 –> 00:20:55,839and they’re so generous.42900:20:57,760 –> 00:20:58,800And the Corinthians43000:20:58,800 –> 00:21:01,439who are in this metropolis43100:21:01,439 –> 00:21:03,119this thriving city43200:21:04,640 –> 00:21:05,920and they’re reluctant43300:21:06,959 –> 00:21:08,400with regards to their giving.43400:21:08,400 –> 00:21:10,319Now, that then sets the frame43500:21:10,319 –> 00:21:11,199for the real issue43600:21:11,199 –> 00:21:12,719that’s before us here.43700:21:12,719 –> 00:21:14,319How is Paul going to help43800:21:14,319 –> 00:21:15,920these reluctant givers43900:21:15,920 –> 00:21:16,719in Corinth44000:21:16,719 –> 00:21:17,680to become more like44100:21:17,680 –> 00:21:18,880the generous givers44200:21:18,880 –> 00:21:19,680in Macedonia?44300:21:21,599 –> 00:21:22,959Hows he going to help people44400:21:22,959 –> 00:21:24,239who really live in a world44500:21:24,239 –> 00:21:24,640of saying,44600:21:24,640 –> 00:21:25,920How much do I have to give?44700:21:27,040 –> 00:21:28,160How much can I afford44800:21:28,160 –> 00:21:30,640to give?44900:21:30,640 –> 00:21:32,239If that’s where you are…45000:21:32,239 –> 00:21:33,680How could you move45100:21:33,680 –> 00:21:34,800in the direction45200:21:36,319 –> 00:21:39,599of a more generous life?45300:21:41,119 –> 00:21:41,839You’ve been listening45400:21:41,839 –> 00:21:43,119to Pastor Colin Smith45500:21:43,119 –> 00:21:44,000on Open The Bible45600:21:44,000 –> 00:21:45,040and today we’ve looked45700:21:45,040 –> 00:21:46,400at two churches,45800:21:46,400 –> 00:21:48,000the Corinthian Church45900:21:48,000 –> 00:21:49,439and the Macedonian Church.46000:21:50,000 –> 00:21:51,280Maybe you feel a bit more46100:21:51,280 –> 00:21:52,800like the Corinthian Church46200:21:52,800 –> 00:21:54,400rather than the Macedonian one?46300:21:55,199 –> 00:21:56,319Maybe you want to be46400:21:56,319 –> 00:21:57,520more generous46500:21:57,520 –> 00:21:58,880but don’t know how to begin?46600:21:59,680 –> 00:22:00,560What’s it like46700:22:00,560 –> 00:22:01,920to move in the direction46800:22:01,920 –> 00:22:04,079of a more generous life?46900:22:04,079 –> 00:22:06,079Join us next time to find out47000:22:06,079 –> 00:22:06,800and don’t forget47100:22:06,800 –> 00:22:08,319if you aren’t able to join us47200:22:08,319 –> 00:22:09,359for the program47300:22:09,359 –> 00:22:10,000you can still47400:22:10,000 –> 00:22:10,880catch the message47500:22:10,880 –> 00:22:11,359by coming47600:22:11,359 –> 00:22:12,160to our website47700:22:12,160 –> 00:22:14,719at openthebibel.org.uk47800:22:15,520 –> 00:22:16,560At Open The Bible47900:22:16,560 –> 00:22:17,599we welcome contact48000:22:17,599 –> 00:22:18,800with our listeners.48100:22:18,800 –> 00:22:19,839You can email us48200:22:19,839 –> 00:22:21,439by using the contact form48300:22:21,439 –> 00:22:22,400on our website48400:22:22,400 –> 00:22:24,479OpenTheBible.org.uk48500:22:25,439 –> 00:22:26,400forward slash48600:22:26,400 –> 00:22:26,959contact48700:22:27,520 –> 00:22:28,800You can write to us48800:22:28,800 –> 00:22:30,319at Open The Bible48900:22:30,319 –> 00:22:37,199PO Box 1420 Cheltenham, GL 50, 9PG49000:22:37,199 –> 00:22:38,640or you can phone us49100:22:38,640 –> 00:22:44,640on 0330 365 808949200:22:45,280 –> 00:22:46,479if we’re not available49300:22:46,479 –> 00:22:47,439when you call49400:22:47,439 –> 00:22:48,560leave a message for us49500:22:48,560 –> 00:22:50,400and we’ll return your call49600:22:50,400 –> 00:22:52,079All of these contact details49700:22:52,079 –> 00:22:53,839are available on our website49800:22:53,839 –> 00:22:56,640OpenTheBible.org.uk49900:22:57,520 –> 00:22:58,640Our regular listeners50000:22:58,640 –> 00:22:59,599will know that50100:22:59,599 –> 00:23:00,400Open The Bible50200:23:00,400 –> 00:23:01,680is supported by50300:23:01,680 –> 00:23:02,959our many listeners50400:23:02,959 –> 00:23:04,640and we’re extremely grateful50500:23:04,640 –> 00:23:06,479for the support that you give us50600:23:06,479 –> 00:23:08,239So if you already give50700:23:08,239 –> 00:23:09,280to support the work of50800:23:09,280 –> 00:23:10,319Open The Bible50900:23:10,319 –> 00:23:11,359thank you so much51000:23:12,239 –> 00:23:13,680This month of October51100:23:13,680 –> 00:23:15,280we have a special offer51200:23:15,280 –> 00:23:16,640If you are able to set up51300:23:16,640 –> 00:23:17,839a new direct debit51400:23:17,839 –> 00:23:18,560in the amount of51500:23:18,560 –> 00:23:20,800£5 per month or more51600:23:20,800 –> 00:23:21,920Or a one-off gift51700:23:22,560 –> 00:23:23,839of £60 or more51800:23:23,839 –> 00:23:25,599we’d love to say thank you51900:23:25,599 –> 00:23:27,040By sending you a copy52000:23:27,040 –> 00:23:28,239of a devotional book52100:23:28,239 –> 00:23:30,479by Dave and Sally Gobbett52200:23:30,479 –> 00:23:31,359It’s called,52300:23:31,359 –> 00:23:32,079Halleluia52400:23:32,640 –> 00:23:33,839Here is Dave Gobbett52500:23:33,839 –> 00:23:35,199to tell us about it52600:23:35,199 –> 00:23:35,599Hi there52700:23:35,599 –> 00:23:36,439I’m Dave Gobbett52800:23:36,439 –> 00:23:37,839And together with my wife52900:23:37,839 –> 00:23:38,719we’ve written this53000:23:38,719 –> 00:23:39,760Advent devotional53100:23:39,760 –> 00:23:40,719hallway53200:23:40,719 –> 00:23:42,160journeying through advent53300:23:42,160 –> 00:23:43,680with Handel’s Messiah53400:23:44,239 –> 00:23:45,119And the book is a53500:23:45,119 –> 00:23:45,839daily devotional53600:23:45,839 –> 00:23:46,479The idea is you53700:23:46,479 –> 00:23:47,359read a short section53800:23:47,359 –> 00:23:48,079of the Bible53900:23:48,079 –> 00:23:49,359and a meditation54000:23:49,359 –> 00:23:50,400based on a movement54100:23:50,479 –> 00:23:51,280from Handel’s54200:23:51,280 –> 00:23:52,800famous oratorio54300:23:52,800 –> 00:23:54,079and in the busy-ness54400:23:54,079 –> 00:23:54,800of the run-up to54500:23:54,800 –> 00:23:55,520Christmas54600:23:55,520 –> 00:23:56,800this book will54700:23:56,800 –> 00:23:57,520enable you to54800:23:57,520 –> 00:23:58,640just pause54900:23:58,640 –> 00:23:59,760and slow down55000:23:59,760 –> 00:24:01,040And reflect on55100:24:01,040 –> 00:24:01,920the significance55200:24:01,920 –> 00:24:02,560of the coming55300:24:02,560 –> 00:24:03,520of Jesus Christ55400:24:03,520 –> 00:24:04,880as our personal55500:24:04,880 –> 00:24:05,359Messiah55600:24:05,359 –> 00:24:05,839And all that that55700:24:05,839 –> 00:24:06,880means for us55800:24:06,880 –> 00:24:07,920and for His world55900:24:08,560 –> 00:24:09,199And I’m actually56000:24:09,199 –> 00:24:10,160delighted that56100:24:10,160 –> 00:24:11,359Open the Bible UK56200:24:11,359 –> 00:24:12,239have chosen this book56300:24:12,239 –> 00:24:13,280to be their56400:24:13,280 –> 00:24:14,079October book of the56500:24:14,079 –> 00:24:14,719month56600:24:14,719 –> 00:24:15,439And if you make a56700:24:15,439 –> 00:24:16,160donation to56800:24:16,160 –> 00:24:16,959Open the Bible56900:24:16,959 –> 00:24:18,319UK in October57000:24:18,319 –> 00:24:18,959you’ll get a free57100:24:18,959 –> 00:24:20,160copy of this book57200:24:20,160 –> 00:24:21,040sent to you57300:24:21,040 –> 00:24:21,520where you’ll be57400:24:21,520 –> 00:24:22,160able to journey57500:24:22,160 –> 00:24:22,959with us57600:24:22,959 –> 00:24:23,520through Handel’s57700:24:23,520 –> 00:24:24,079Messiah in the57800:24:24,079 –> 00:24:25,439run-up to Christmas57900:24:25,439 –> 00:24:26,079And I hope that’s58000:24:26,079 –> 00:24:26,800a great encouragement58100:24:26,800 –> 00:24:27,439to you58200:24:27,439 –> 00:24:28,000as much as it58300:24:28,000 –> 00:24:28,640was encouragement58400:24:28,640 –> 00:24:29,439to my wife and I58500:24:29,439 –> 00:24:30,800as we wrote the book58600:24:30,800 –> 00:24:31,680So God bless58700:24:31,680 –> 00:24:32,719and enjoy58800:24:32,719 –> 00:24:33,359getting ready58900:24:33,359 –> 00:24:34,160for the coming59000:24:34,160 –> 00:24:35,040of the Messiah59100:24:35,040 –> 00:24:35,599and maybe use59200:24:35,599 –> 00:24:36,479Handel to help you59300:24:37,280 –> 00:24:38,079So Dave and59400:24:38,079 –> 00:24:38,880Sally Gobbit’s59500:24:38,880 –> 00:24:40,319book Hallelujah59600:24:40,319 –> 00:24:41,040is our gift59700:24:41,040 –> 00:24:42,400to you this month59800:24:42,400 –> 00:24:42,880if you’re59900:24:42,880 –> 00:24:43,839able to set up60000:24:43,839 –> 00:24:45,199a new direct debit60100:24:45,199 –> 00:24:45,680to the work60200:24:45,680 –> 00:24:46,800of Open the Bible60300:24:46,800 –> 00:24:48,000for £5 per60400:24:48,000 –> 00:24:49,199month or more60500:24:49,199 –> 00:24:50,000or a one-off60600:24:50,000 –> 00:24:51,359gift of £6060700:24:51,359 –> 00:24:51,839or more60800:24:52,400 –> 00:24:53,199You’ll find60900:24:53,199 –> 00:24:54,239full details61000:24:54,239 –> 00:24:55,520terms and conditions61100:24:55,520 –> 00:24:56,239and you can61200:24:56,239 –> 00:24:57,199give online61300:24:57,199 –> 00:24:58,400at our website61400:24:58,400 –> 00:25:01,040OpenTheBible.org.uk61500:25:01,839 –> 00:25:03,040For Open the Bible61600:25:03,040 –> 00:25:04,719and pastor Colin Smith61700:25:04,719 –> 00:25:06,000I’m David Pick61800:25:06,000 –> 00:25:06,719thanks for being61900:25:06,719 –> 00:25:07,520with us today62000:25:07,520 –> 00:25:08,400and I look forward62100:25:08,400 –> 00:25:09,520to you joining us62200:25:09,520 –> 00:25:10,640again next62300:25:11,359 –> 00:25:17,199Open the Bible62400:25:20,640 –> 00:25:22,880What’s the purpose of Christian giving?62500:25:23,599 –> 00:25:25,199Discover three priorities62600:25:25,199 –> 00:25:26,000from the New Testament62700:25:27,119 –> 00:25:28,400That’s next time on62800:25:28,400 –> 00:25:31,199Open the Bible