Let's get into the Word of God.

On Sunday mornings we're going through 2 Corinthians, chapter by chapter, verse by verse.

And today we're going to begin in chapter 8 after I just do one thing here.

And our text will be verses 1 through 5.

So you can turn there in your Bibles.

And once you find your way there, if you're able, I'll ask you to stand.

You can follow along as I read.

If not, that's all right. We'll begin in

verse 1 where the Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, is writing to the church in Corinth

and says, pardon me. And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace

that God has given the Macedonian churches.

In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty

welled up in rich generosity.

For I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond

their ability entirely on their own. They, verse four, urgently pleaded with us for the privilege

of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they exceeded our expectations.

They gave themselves first of all to the Lord and then by the will of God also to us.

Would you join me in a word of prayer and we'll ask God to bless this text

to our understanding? Loving Heavenly Father, would you at this time settle us and quiet our hearts and minds that we might hear very clearly as you speak

into our lives in that still small refining voice of the Holy Spirit. Lord, we're looking to you the author and the finisher

of our faith to minister to us as your people today. And we ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

You can be seated. Thank you. So today's teaching is going to be part one of a new

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