Embracing True Humility and Generosity in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to reflect on the profound balance between humility and pride, and how it affects our walk with Christ. We often find ourselves swinging between two extremes: false humility, where we see ourselves as worthless, and pride, where we overestimate our abilities. True humility lies in recognizing our worth in Christ while acknowledging our limitations. We are reminded that God calls us His masterpiece, cherishing us as His new creation. This understanding should lead us to a place of genuine confession, where we bring our brokenness before God and receive His forgiveness and renewal.
We also delved into 2 Corinthians 8, focusing on the theme of giving. The church in Macedonia, despite their poverty, gave generously to support the church in Jerusalem. Their giving was not just financial; it was an act of grace that reflected their complete surrender to God. This teaches us that true giving starts with giving ourselves wholly to the Lord. Our finances, like every other aspect of our lives, should be surrendered to God, allowing Him to use them for His glory.
Money often gives us a false sense of security, but our true foundation should be in Christ. When we trust God with our finances, we experience a deeper intimacy with Him and a freedom that comes from relying on His provision rather than our wealth. This trust is not about the amount we give but the heart behind it. We are called to give generously, reflecting the generosity of God who gave His all for us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Balancing Humility and Pride: True humility is recognizing our worth in Christ while acknowledging our limitations. We are God's masterpiece, cherished and loved, and this should lead us to a place of genuine confession and renewal. [20:16]
2. Complete Surrender to God: True giving starts with giving ourselves wholly to the Lord. Our finances, like every other aspect of our lives, should be surrendered to God, allowing Him to use them for His glory. [36:15]
3. False Sense of Security in Wealth: Money often gives us a false sense of security, but our true foundation should be in Christ. Trusting God with our finances leads to deeper intimacy and freedom. [38:26]
4. Generosity Reflects God's Nature: We are called to give generously, reflecting the generosity of God who gave His all for us. Our giving can function as God's grace in others' lives, having a spiritual impact. [50:16]
5. Eternal Impact of Giving: Our financial contributions can have an eternal impact, supporting kingdom work and revealing God's grace to others. This perspective helps us prioritize our resources for God's purposes. [47:10]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[05:06] - Announcements
[07:50] - Opening Prayer
[09:11] - Confession and Forgiveness
[18:57] - Humility and Pride
[20:16] - Recognizing Our Worth in Christ
[22:04] - Confession Before the Lord
[23:19] - 2 Corinthians 8 Introduction
[28:18] - Recap of 2 Corinthians
[29:39] - Encouragement to Give Generously
[31:01] - Reading 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
[33:05] - Example of the Macedonian Church
[34:18] - Grace of God in Giving
[36:15] - Complete Surrender to God
[38:26] - False Sense of Security in Wealth
[42:40] - Trusting God Over Wealth
[45:32] - Motivations for Giving
[47:10] - Eternal Impact of Giving
[49:01] - Living by Faith, Not by Sight
[50:16] - Generosity Reflects God's Nature
[52:01] - Participating in Kingdom Work
[53:37] - Time of Giving
[54:46] - Encouragement to Give Generously
[56:15] - Closing Prayer
[01:07:45] - Blessing and Communion
[01:09:02] - Closing Blessing and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 (ESV)
> "We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 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."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the financial situation of the church in Macedonia, and how did they respond to the needs of the church in Jerusalem? ([33:05])
2. According to 2 Corinthians 8:5, what did the Macedonian church do first before giving their financial support? ([36:15])
3. How does Paul describe the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in 2 Corinthians 8:9? ([50:16])
4. What does Paul encourage the Corinthians to excel in, alongside their faith, speech, and knowledge? ([49:45])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the Macedonian church, despite their poverty, was so eager to give generously? ([34:18])
2. How does recognizing our worth in Christ help us balance humility and pride in our daily lives? ([20:16])
3. What does it mean to give ourselves wholly to the Lord, and how does this affect our approach to financial giving? ([36:15])
4. How can money give us a false sense of security, and what does it mean to trust God with our finances? ([38:26])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with either false humility or pride. How did recognizing your worth in Christ help you find balance? ([20:16])
2. In what ways can you practice complete surrender to God in your daily life, beyond just financial giving? ([36:15])
3. Think about your current financial situation. How can you begin to trust God more with your finances and experience the freedom that comes from relying on His provision? ([38:26])
4. How can you reflect God's generosity in your own life? Identify one specific way you can give generously this week, whether through time, resources, or finances. ([50:16])
5. Consider the eternal impact of your giving. How can you prioritize your resources to support kingdom work and reveal God's grace to others? ([47:10])
6. Is there an area of your life where you feel you are playing defense against God? How can you open that area to Him and trust Him fully? ([40:18])
7. How can you cultivate a heart of genuine confession and renewal in your relationship with God? What steps can you take this week to bring your brokenness before Him and receive His forgiveness? ([22:04])
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Our Worth in Christ
True humility is recognizing our worth in Christ while acknowledging our limitations. We are God's masterpiece, cherished and loved, and this should lead us to a place of genuine confession and renewal. False humility can make us feel worthless, while pride can make us overestimate our abilities. True humility is about finding the balance, understanding that we are valuable because of Christ's work in us, yet we are also limited and need His grace daily. This balance helps us to live authentically, bringing our brokenness before God and receiving His forgiveness and renewal. [20:16]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with false humility or pride? How can you bring these before God today and ask for His help in finding true humility?
Day 2: Complete Surrender to God
True giving starts with giving ourselves wholly to the Lord. Our finances, like every other aspect of our lives, should be surrendered to God, allowing Him to use them for His glory. The church in Macedonia, despite their poverty, gave generously to support the church in Jerusalem. Their giving was an act of grace that reflected their complete surrender to God. This teaches us that our financial giving should be an extension of our total surrender to God. When we give ourselves fully to Him, our resources naturally follow, and we trust Him to use them for His purposes. [36:15]
"And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us." (2 Corinthians 8:5, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life, including your finances, that you have not fully surrendered to God? What steps can you take today to surrender this area to Him?
Day 3: Trusting God Over Wealth
Money often gives us a false sense of security, but our true foundation should be in Christ. Trusting God with our finances leads to deeper intimacy and freedom. When we rely on our wealth, we miss out on the deeper relationship with God that comes from trusting Him completely. The Macedonian church's example shows us that even in poverty, we can experience God's grace and provision when we trust Him. This trust is not about the amount we give but the heart behind it. [38:26]
"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)
Reflection: Do you find yourself relying on money for security? How can you shift your trust from your finances to God today?
Day 4: Generosity Reflects God's Nature
We are called to give generously, reflecting the generosity of God who gave His all for us. Our giving can function as God's grace in others' lives, having a spiritual impact. The Macedonian church's generosity, despite their poverty, was a reflection of God's grace working through them. When we give generously, we mirror God's nature and allow His grace to flow through us to others. This kind of giving goes beyond financial support; it is a spiritual act that can transform lives and reveal God's love. [50:16]
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)
Reflection: How can your generosity today reflect God's nature? Think of a specific way you can give cheerfully and generously to someone in need.
Day 5: Eternal Impact of Giving
Our financial contributions can have an eternal impact, supporting kingdom work and revealing God's grace to others. This perspective helps us prioritize our resources for God's purposes. The Macedonian church's giving supported the church in Jerusalem and had a lasting impact on the spread of the gospel. When we view our resources through the lens of eternity, we understand that our giving can support God's work and reveal His grace to others. This eternal perspective helps us to prioritize our finances and other resources for God's kingdom. [47:10]
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you prioritize your resources for God's kingdom today? What specific steps can you take to ensure your giving has an eternal impact?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "As always, we don't claim to have a perfect church, we just claim to have a perfect God, and I know you're going to meet him here today, because we're going to open up the Word of God, and we're going to sing songs that give him glory and praise, and so I'm excited. Wherever you are coming from, however you kind of feel sitting at your personal walk with Jesus, I know he's going to meet you where you are." [07:50] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "He doesn't require some type of special performance. He doesn't require anything of you. He just comes, and he longs to be in your life. He longs for a relationship with you, and wherever you're at, perfection, which none of us are, or just had a sloppy week, God's going to enter in. He wants to speak into that, and he wants to be a part of it, and so I'm glad you're here." [08:20] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Christ calls you his masterpiece. He cherishes you. You are his new creation which he's redeemed and who he loves. And instead we kind of just treat ourselves like junk. And we're like, Lord, here I am again. Here's what, you know, I've screwed this up. Or this is such a mess. I just... And today, maybe it's time to confess that part. That are fearfully and wonderfully made. God says to you, you are a child that was worth dying for." [20:16] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Christ hears your confession and he does not stay quiet. For he longs for you to be refreshed and renewed. And he renews you with these words this morning. Child, you are forgiven. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He washes you again. He cleanses you again. He forgives you again. And he loves you. Walk in forgiveness and the truth of who you are to him. Because you are loved. And you are valuable. And he longs to continue to use you. That's the truth. Believe it." [22:46] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We give generously because we have a generous God who became poor so that we could become rich. And now we have our earthly riches that don't come close to the spiritual riches we have, and we get to give that to folks and give that away, and we get to give that away to ministries that have an effect on people of the world that can actually have eternal impact." [52:01] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "There's so much in our Christian walk that kind of needs to go down the center. And instead we kind of flip from one ditch to the other. And one of those things is humility and pride. And sometimes it's so hard to kind of have confidence in the right things. Confidence in the Lord. And then humility, you know, in kind of the lack of what we're able to do. Or humility of what's been accomplished through us." [18:57] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Paul says in verse 1, We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia. So Jerusalem was being persecuted, and the church in Jerusalem had many needs at this time. Now the church in Macedonia was pretty poor. They didn't have a lot of money or funds or resources. Yet this little church in Macedonia gave everything. Everything they could towards the church in Jerusalem." [33:05] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "First and foremost, we give ourselves completely to the Lord. Lord, here is my life. Here is my body. Here is my gifts. Here is my abilities. Here is my breath. Here is my finances. This is my entire life. It's all for you. Use it how you will. Your will be done in my life. After all, you've died for me. You've given us all that's truly important. You've given us forgiveness. These things that are far more valuable than money could ever be." [36:15] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When unexpected circumstances come up in life, or from the verse of Jeremiah, when life heats up, is your first thought, it's okay because we have enough money for this? Or is your first thought, it's going to be all right because the Lord has us? I'm not saying that we shouldn't plan ahead or prepare or have emergency funds. There's godly wisdom in all that. I'm just saying that our trust shouldn't be more in our accounts than in the Lord." [44:32] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Giving flows out of a person who knows they are loved and provided for by God, and then we just can freely give, because it's like, I know the Lord's got us covered, and so, Lord, you've given me all of this stuff, and so, Lord, how can I use it for your glory? I know, I mean, everything I have is from you. So I know that, like, you've given me so much already. How can I give it back to you? It flows out of the abundance we have in Christ." [45:32] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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