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    Dec 05, 2021

    He Was Made Poor

    Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

    Speaker: Omar Ortiz

    Category: Sermon

    Sermon Summary:
    Key Idea: By becoming poor for us Jesus works in us a poverty of Spirit that wells over into rich generosity that is expressed through us.

    (1) Jesus was made poor FOR us (vs 9)

    • Jesus' riches: perfect fellowship with God the Father and God the Spirit
    • Jesus became poor by adding humanity to his deity
      • Material Poverty: Jesus was born into material poverty, lived in it his whole life, and died in it.
      • Spiritual Poverty: In His death on the cross he was forsaken by God; he was stripped of the riches of his perfect fellowship with Father and Spirit.



    (2) Jesus creates IN us the riches of God's grace (vs 9)

    • Verse 9 presupposes that we are spiritually poor.
    • The riches Jesus gives us are a right relationship with God. Father our Abba, Son our brother, Spirit our strength and comfort.



    (3) Jesus works THROUGH us to show generosity to the world (vs 3-7)

    • God gives to make givers. He gives sacrificially and joyfully in order to make us sacrificial and joyful givers.
    • When 1 and 2 above happen, we give ourselves back to him and it bubbles over into radical generosity toward others.


    Group Discussion:

    1. Before the Macedonian Christians gave to the offering the committed themselves first to the Lord.  What could it look like for you to follow their example?

    2. How have you benefited from the generosity of others?

    3. How is God calling you to be more generous towards others with your money?

    4. The collection for the Jerusalem church occupies significant portions of Paul’s letters (1 Corinthians 16:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8:1–9:15; Romans 15:14–32). Read these passages and discuss the following questions:
    • What is motivating Paul? How important is this collection to him?
    • How is he trying to motivate others to join him in this effort?
    • How do you see the gospel inform Paul’s view of money?