Welcome to a year in the Bible with daily grace. My name is Kristen and my name is Katie and we want to spend a few minutes a day with you walking through the New Testament one chapter at a time.

This year we will fix our gaze upon Christ so that we may know

him, not only with our minds but with our hearts. Together we will learn that

who Jesus is changes everything.

Hey hey welcome back to a year in the Bible, Daily Grace.

My name is Katie and it's my joy to walk with you through Second Corinthians

in our year-long study of the New Testament.

Today we are studying 2 Corinthians 8.

As always, you can follow along with the behold studies in the Daily Grace Coast shop or with

the reading plan linked in the shownuts.

Yesterday, Paul shared that he has had many

hardships while in Macedonia. In the midst of the suffering it was the news of the

Corinthians spiritual growth that encouraged him to persevere. Today he shares a triumph of his experience in

Macedonia. The churches Paul refers to are likely Philippi, Thessalonika, and Buria, all of which Paul says are enduring severe trial brought about by

affliction.

We don't know exactly what this trial is, but we do know that it included extreme poverty, not just living paycheck to paycheck, extreme

poverty. But did you notice what this church also has? Abundant joy. Right in the

middle of severe trial on extreme poverty, Paul describes the Macedonians as joyous.

This joy overflowed in a wealth of generosity. The Macedonians begged to participate in the collection of money

being given to the Mother Church in Jerusalem who were also suffering. Though they had little,

they gave even beyond their ability. The Holy Spirit worked mightily upon the Macedonian

churches to produce a generosity that Paul calls the Corinthians to emulate. Paul prepares

...