1 Corinthians - Lesson 9

By Stafford North

BE GENEROUS

Background Information for the Teacher

Objectives:

1. The student can explain Paul’s instructions about how churches are to fund their work.

2. The student can tell the circumstances about Paul’s money raising effort.

3. The student can list ways in which Paul encouraged the Corinthians to be generous.

4. The student will consider his/her own giving patterns to see if they meet the criteria Paul gives for us.

Preparation:

1. Each student should have a Bible

2. Each student should have a copy of the Worksheet and a pencil/pen.

3. Have ready a board on which to write key words and ideas.

4. Have verses to read ready to hand out before class.

5. Have Review Quiz over Lesson 8 ready to distribute at the first of class or as people enter.

Theme:

From Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian church about their participation in

giving for the saints in Jerusalem, we can learn how God wants us to be giving today.

Lesson Plan for Conducting the Class

Introduction: (about 10 minutes)

  1. Call the roll and introduce visitors.
  2. Make necessary announcements.
  3. Sing some songs if you wish and have a prayer. Songs related to the lesson would be: “I Gave My Life for Thee,” “We Give Thee But Thine Own,” “Lord TakeControl,” “All to Jesus I Surrender.”
  4. Give the answers to the Review Quiz as a way of reviewing the previous lesson.Encourage students to complete the worksheet on the lesson today so they can prepare for the Review Quiz next week.

Learning Experiences: (about 25 minutes)

  1. Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. Q: For what is Paul collecting money and what is his purpose in doing it? A: He is seeking money from Gentile Christians to give toJewish brethren in Jerusalem who are in need. He will take the money toJerusalem himself and is making a tour of several Gentile churches to make the collection. He hopes this will strengthen relationships between these two groups in the church.
  2. Q: What principles about giving do we learn from these verses in 1 Corinthians16:1-4? A: Our giving should be regular. Our giving should be on the first day of the week (the time of the regular meetings of the church). Our giving should be in keeping with our income. Each one decides for himself/herself how much to give. Christian giving is voluntary and not legislated as it was under the Jewish law. Q: To what other churches did Paul give this same instruction? A: The churches in Galatia. Q: If Paul made giving on the first day of the week the standard for those churches to follow, should we do the same? A: Yes. Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 16 and in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 are our most extensive statement about giving in the early church. If we propose to follow the1st century church as our model because they were under divine guidance, then we should follow in this matter as in others.
  3. Q: What provisions does Paul make to assure that the contribution is properly handled? A: The Corinthians would appoint their own stewards for handling the funds and Paul will go with them if necessary (which he did).
  4. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-11. Q: What reasons does Paul offer here to encourage the Corinthians to give generously for the Jewish Christians? A: Because theMacedonians gave so generously. Since the Corinthians excel in other means of service, they should excel in giving. Their giving will prove the sincerity of their love. They were the first to promise to give to this project and so they should live up to their promise.
  5. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Q: What principles of giving does Paul suggest in this passage? A: To those who give generously, God will give generously. (Q:Does this necessarily mean that God gives your money back and more? A: No.God has many ways of making us prosper.) We should plan our giving in advance. We should give cheerfully, not grudgingly. God can make many things abound to us as He chooses and He will make us “rich” in every way so we can give again. Generosity results in thanksgiving to God. Those who benefit from the gift, will praise God and will pray for the giver.
  6. Q: Which of these motivations to give has the greatest impact on you?

Application: (about 10 minutes)

  1. Q: If you were advising a preacher about a sermon he was going to preach on giving, what would you tell him?
  2. Q: Which of the points of teaching Paul makes about giving do you believe the church most needs to know about today?
  3. Read Acts 21:10-14. Q: Why was Paul so determined to go to Jerusalem? A:To complete his mission with the offering of the Gentiles to help the Jews. Q:How successful was Paul’s plan to collect money for the poor saints in Jerusalem?(Acts 21:17). A: The brothers warmly received him.

Assignment:

  1. Study the Worksheet to prepare for the Review Quiz.
  2. Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 and 6:9-20.

Download Worksheets

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