Today, read 2 Corinthians 8 on your own at least one time. As you read, make notes in a notebook or in the margins of your Bible. Record all of the insights God gives you. Don't read my remarks until you have first done this yourself.
If you are doing this at work and don't have easy access to a Bible, or maybe you are at home but don't have a NLT Bible, you can read almost any version at www.BibleGateway.com.
If you don't know what the colors or the format mean, read the three introductions to this blog. They are linked on the left hand side of this page.
Here are the insights I wrote down along with the verses they go with...
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8:1-2 (NLT) Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
Troubles and poverty do not preclude joy and generosity.
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8:3 (NLT) For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
More than they could afford meant they made sacrifices to give.
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8:4 (NLT) They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
Lord, please help me to have this same eagerness to give.
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8:7 (NLT) Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
We should aspire to give more, just like we aspire to excel in other areas of life and service.
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8:8 (NLT) I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
Our giving is a test of how genuine our love is.
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8:9 (NLT) You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Thank you Lord. Praise you Lord for the generous gift of Your Son.
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8:20 (NLT) We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift.
It is essential that all money given for ministry is handled with transparency and full accountability.
If you are doing this at work and don't have easy access to a Bible, or maybe you are at home but don't have a NLT Bible, you can read almost any version at www.BibleGateway.com.
If you don't know what the colors or the format mean, read the three introductions to this blog. They are linked on the left hand side of this page.
Here are the insights I wrote down along with the verses they go with...
-----
8:1-2 (NLT) Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
Troubles and poverty do not preclude joy and generosity.
-----
8:3 (NLT) For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
More than they could afford meant they made sacrifices to give.
-----
8:4 (NLT) They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
Lord, please help me to have this same eagerness to give.
-----
8:7 (NLT) Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
We should aspire to give more, just like we aspire to excel in other areas of life and service.
-----
8:8 (NLT) I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
Our giving is a test of how genuine our love is.
-----
8:9 (NLT) You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Thank you Lord. Praise you Lord for the generous gift of Your Son.
-----
8:20 (NLT) We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift.
It is essential that all money given for ministry is handled with transparency and full accountability.
-----
Don't forget to spend time in prayer... CHAT...
Pastor Noel
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