The text from which Pastor John will preach this morning is 2 Corinthians, the 9th

chapter, verses 6 through 15.

Would you please turn there and follow as I read and as Pastor John preaches?

He who so sparingly will also reap sparingly. And he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made

up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion. For God loves a cheerful

giver, and God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so that you may always have enough of everything

and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, he scatters abroad, he gives to the poor,

his righteousness endures forever. He who supply seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and

multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

You will be enriched in every way for great generosity,

which through us will produce Thanksgiving to God.

For the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the Saints,

but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. Under the test of this service, you will

glorify God by your obedience in acknowledging the Gospel of Christ, and by the generosity of your contribution

for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift.

Well, this is a great text about motivation and enablement in giving. And I want to focus our attention on it and try to bring our minds and our affections into conformity to the spirituality and the God-centeredness that I see in this text.

Let's begin by noticing three pairs of contrasting giving.

Five, verse five, or six. giving.

5, verse 5, verse 6 and verse 7.

I had to go back and pick up verse 5 even though I didn't give it as a text because I noticed that the pair is mentioned there as well. So as I read these three

verses you look for the wrong way to give and the right way to give and it's three different

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