BETHEL SUNDAY SCHOOL 13 JUNE 2021
Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1 – 5

THE GRACE OF GOD BESTOWED

1. The grace of God is a wonderful doctrine taught deeply by the Apostle Paul!

2. The most wonderful thing is to see the reality of God’s grace

a. In personal lives

b. In Churches

3. The grace of God bestowed

a. Upon the Corinthians Church (1 Corinthians 1:4 – 5)

b. Upon the Macedonian Churches (2 Corinthians 8:1)

i. Thessalonians

ii. Philippians

iii. Berea (Acts 17:10 – 12)

4. Paul shared with the Corinthians the example of the Macedonians

a. How the grace of God was given to them

b. How they responded to the grace of God

THE EXAMPLE OF THE MACEDONIANS

1. They suffered much (2 Corinthians 8:2)

a. A great trial of tribulation

b. Deep poverty

2. Despite their suffering their faith stood out! (2 Corinthians 8:2)

a. The abundance of their joy

b. Their joy in the Lord was not robbed by afflictions experienced

c. Their joy in the Lord enabled them to endure suffering for their faith!

3. The richness of their spirit! (2 Corinthians 8:2)

a. They may not be materialistically rich, but they were rich in their spirit!

b. They gave from the “Riches of their liberality”

i. They gave out of their poverty

ii. They gave freely

iii. Their giving reflected the richness of their spirit!

4. A great testimony (2 Corinthians 8:3 – 4)

a. Paul bore witness of the faith of the Macedonians

b. Their faith was seen in their giving!

i. They gave according to their ability

ii. They gave beyond their ability

iii. They gave freely and willingly

iv. They implored Paul with much urgency to receive their gift

c. The reasons they gave

i. They gave in response to the grace of God given to them!

ii. They gave out of their faith in the Lord

iii. They gave with a sense of fellowship to care for the saints in need!

5. They were a great example of faith to share with others! (2 Corinthians 8:5)

a. They first gave themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ!

i. To follow Christ

ii. To live for Christ

iii. To labor for Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3 – 7)

iv. They would even suffer for the Christ! (1 Thessalonians 1:6)


b. They also gave themselves to support Paul and his team’s ministry!

i. They went on further to give themselves to support ministry!

ii. Paul saw this as by “The will of God”

iii. God Himself was working deeply in the hearts of the Macedonians!

CHALLENGES

1. To be encouraged to grow in our faith in the midst of challenges

2. To be encouraged by the example of the Macedonian Churches we have studied

3. To respond to the grace of God given to us to grow further!