I hope that you have had a great week enjoying some decent weather. Last week was a wonderful time of worship.

Women –

Just a reminder for you that the FCCB Women’s Connection is hosting a great event this Saturday, November 5th. A light breakfast and then Jen Calverley will share about Seasons of Suffering: Finding Jesus in the Pain. Obviously, I won’t be seeing you there, but it will be a great time I hear! 

we’ll also be gathering….at the carriage sheds! Please join us for a brief 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm clean up time. Dan Frasier has gloves and masks and we will fully clean out these old sheds to get the clutter out and get them ready for some exciting next stages!

This past Sunday I preached on 2 Corinthians 7 and I talked about the ‘de-leading’ of the parsonage. I pointed out that sometimes, like a house getting de-leaded, we need to go under metaphorical “bubble wrap” by the Lord for Him to do the work He needs to do in our hearts and lives, preparing us for His plans for us. This isn’t always comfortable for us but it’s vital work to get us ready to have “new colors” painted to help constitute new life in us!

This Sunday we’ll continue our big picture theme of identity. Paul starts out by stating that

“we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonia churches.” (8:1).

So much of the encouragement in the Christian life is from hearing testimonies about God’s work in someone else’s life. Hearing stories of God’s healing in people’s lives and His redeeming work builds courage into us as we imagine the possibilities of what He can do in our lives. God had given tremendous grace to the Macedonian churches even though they had been through some real challenges.

Verse 3 states that

“out of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.“

The poverty that they experienced through this extreme (specifics unknown) trial could be described literally in the Greek as “down in the depth poverty” or “rock bottom poverty.” What an amazing reality! In the most unlikely circumstances for them to give anything (rock bottom poverty) they gave richly. And overflowing joy! In a world where happiness is so circumstantial, the reality of overflowing joy in the midst of trials is utterly captivating. Only the true Christian can experience this deep, authentic joy in severe trials and it is a deeply impactful thing! They gave beyond their ability (v. 3). What is our ability to give and what does it look to go beyond our ability to give? For each of us it will look different. It is important to consider deeply. Not only giving beyond their ability, but they

“urgently pleaded with us for the privilege in sharing in this service with the Lord’s people” (v. 4).

We can imagine them almost saying “please, please can we give to the Lord’s work?!!” The identity and hope of the Macedonians was so completely consumed by Christ that they will be filled by Him.

“They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God and also to us.” (v. 5).

True heartfelt giving comes from recognizing that we are the Lord’s. We fully give ourselves to our Creator and to His purposes. We are His. Remember, we will never know who you are until we know whose you are. As we become deeply imbedded in this reality, we hold more loosely to everything else, because we believe deeply that He owns it all and is Lord over all! Take a minute to pray over ways that we can look more at how we can give ourselves to Him. Show us Lord!

Then in verse 6 we see the arrival of Titus again. Titus is always coming in at the right moments in ministry. He is available for ministry. He is a “glue guy”… the kind of guy you want on your team. Makes me think of David Ross of the Cubs who hit a home run in Game 7. David Ross is not the best player on the Cubs team, but it could be argued that he was the most valuable because of the tone he set and the leadership he provided. God doesn’t always call the most gifted, but looks for the most willing! Titus is around to help the Corinthians move toward becoming like the Macedonians. Titus shared his gifts and time to bless the Corinthians. He was willing to invest in them to “get them there”…to take the time to bless people to serve God well.

Who are you and I committed to equipping to seek His best.

In whose life can you be a Titus?

Who can you and I proactively commit to discipling/mentoring?

Can you write a name or two down?

Or maybe you would like to be encouraged and discipled by someone?

 Please let me know if you would like a Titus in your life and how I can help you find that person? There are people in our congregation (including myself) ready and willing to invest in your life. Just email me with your desire to spend time with a “Titus” or to be a “Titus” to someone.

In v. 7 Paul is encouraging them in all the areas that they are making great strides. He is reminding them that in their faith, speech, knowledge and love they are excelling. I think one category that is key to excelling in this area as Christians is our speech. Words can wound or bless others. And it is always good to take an inventory to see if our words are breathing life into people or tearing down. We want to be uplifting and this might be especially poignant in this election season. Emotions are charged and opinions are strong and so to engage in conversations with grace is so vital in demonstrating a loving witness for Christ. May the Lord allow us to be His witnesses over the next few weeks to engage in conversations with love and grace! Paul then encourages them in the fact that they have excelled in all these areas and so then to also excel in the grace of giving. He wants them to experience the joy and impact that the Macedonians have experienced in giving. He doesn’t want the Corinthians to settle in this area of giving, but rather to pour out abundantly what the Lord has poured into them.

Verse 9 is a linchpin verse and truly one the most powerful Gospel descriptions in all of Scripture. It states,

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.“

Amazing. The God of all creation would humble Himself to take on our very flesh. Philippians 2:7 states,

“He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” 

We have the ultimate model of humility – our Savior. He poured out His life for us so that we may become rich. Of course, not rich monetarily, but rich in the fullness of what it means to know Him and experience His abundant peace, love and grace. Then verses 10-15 respond to this reality by describing the willingness to give by His leading. Truly we serve an amazing God and faithful Shepherd.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Andrew