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"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."
2 Cor. 8:9
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At Christ’s Church, generosity begins with Jesus. The gospel is a free gift. No one can buy it, earn it, or contribute to it. Everything we receive from God comes through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Because the gospel is free, giving is never demanded or manipulated. Yet Scripture is clear that generosity is an essential response of the heart that has received the grace of God. Those who receive freely from Christ begin to give freely like Christ.
Our desire as a church is not simply that people would give, but that every member would grow into the joyful and radical generosity that flows from knowing Jesus.
So we invite every person who calls Christ’s Church their spiritual home to prayerfully consider whether their giving reflects the grace they have received and the trust they place in God as their provider.
Paul describes this vision of generosity in 2 Corinthians 8.
2 Cor 8:7,9
Radical generosity begins with the grace of Jesus. It is not something we produce by effort or obligation; it is the fruit that grows from receiving the generosity of God.
When a person receives the grace of Jesus their heart is transformed. Instead of living like an orphan striving and competing for provision, they begin to live like a daughter or son of the Father who has prepared a great inheritance for them.
From this security generosity begins to grow. Everything we have comes from him, and everything we give is simply a response to the grace we have received.
2 Cor 8:5
Radical generosity is not only from Jesus; it is offered back to Jesus.
Giving is one of the ways we worship him, serve him, and express our love for him. Jesus teaches that when we give to others, to the poor, or to his church, we are giving to him.
This is why each week we present our financial gifts at the Lord’s Table. Our giving is not merely a transaction; it is an act of worship.
2 Cor 8:4
Radical generosity cannot exist when giving is driven by guilt, pressure, or manipulation. Such motivations produce obligation rather than true generosity and are contrary to the Way of Jesus.
Instead, generosity grows from a willing and eager heart. When sons and daughters give freely and honestly, the Father takes great delight.
For this reason, we never pressure anyone to give. Our desire is that generosity would grow naturally from a genuine love for Jesus.
2 Cor 8:3
Throughout Scripture the people of God regularly set apart a consistent portion of their income as an offering to the Lord.
This practice, often called “first fruits,” is a way of declaring that our ultimate trust and provision come from God. By giving first to him we acknowledge that everything we have belongs to him.
For many Christians this has historically meant giving a percentage of their income. This allows generosity to grow steadily as a practice of faithful discipleship.
If you are beginning this journey, here are a few simple ways to start:
1. Begin with prayer.
Ask the Lord to guide your giving and to shape your heart in generosity.
2. Choose a starting percentage.
If you have never given before, start with a small and realistic portion of your income. Many people begin with something like 2–5%, and grow over time toward greater generosity.
3. Give consistently.
Generosity becomes a spiritual practice when it is regular. Many people choose to give monthly or weekly so that giving becomes part of their ordinary life with God.
4. Give first, not last.
The biblical pattern of “first fruits” means setting aside your gift before other spending decisions. This practice gently trains the heart to trust God as our provider. Pre-authorized gifts really work best for this.
5. Grow over time.
As faith grows and circumstances change, many Christians increase their giving gradually. For some this becomes the historic practice of tithing (10%), while others continue growing in generosity beyond that.
The goal is not perfection or comparison with others. The goal is to begin walking in the freedom and joy that come from trusting God with what he has entrusted to us.
2 Cor 8:3
The generosity of the church also reaches beyond ordinary calculation.
At times Jesus calls his people to give beyond comfort, beyond careful planning, and even beyond what seems reasonable. When faced with the real needs of others, the people of God have often stepped into generosity that requires trust.
We do this because our lives ultimately rest not in our own resources, but in the inexhaustible generosity of God.
2 Cor 8:5
Generosity that comes from Jesus and is offered back to Jesus is often entrusted to his church.
The church is called to steward these gifts faithfully for the work of Christ’s mission: caring for the poor, forming disciples, proclaiming the gospel, and building up the body of Christ.
No church does this perfectly this side of heaven. Yet our prayer is that Jesus would continue to shape Christ’s Church into a community that reflects his character more and more — a church that trusts him deeply, serves sacrificially, and gives generously so that the world may see that he truly is The Way.