The Cheerful Reaper

_Warm-up_

• Have you ever worked hard towards a goal but never saw or enjoyed the fruit of the goal when it was met? If so, describe the frustration you felt. Conversely, have you ever worked towards a goal, met it, and then really enjoyed the fruit of that goal? If so, describe how that felt.

_Word_

//BIG IDEA

• Paul wants the Corinthians to actually enjoy the fruit of their contribution.

• Part of what makes giving a joyful thing and not an act of compulsion is fully enjoying the harvest.

• God doesn’t want us to experience giving as just sowing but also as a “harvest of righteousness.”

//READ

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

//WATCH

//DISCUSS

_Old Self_

• When Paul encouraged the Corinthians to give, they felt under compulsion to participate but didn’t experience the joy of giving. Have you ever contributed to something because you were obligated to? How might what Paul says here regarding enjoying the harvest “flip the script” on the common compulsion we tend to feel associated with giving?

_New Self_

• When you enjoy a harvest of righteousness, how does that change your heart towards giving?

_World_

• This week notice people’s attitudes towards giving. With your family, neighbors, and co-workers, how do they perceive the value of giving? How might a harvest of righteousness change people’s attitude toward giving?