Paul’s instruction for giving in this section provide some principles for our giving today. First ,giving should be a priority (on the first day of the week). Second, giving is for everyone, everyone should bring something. Third ought to be proportional. Although everyone can give something, depending on what God has blessed us with we may have much more to give than another. Finally, giving should be purposeful, we need to plan to give. Like all spiritual disciplines giving is very unlikely to happen by accident.
Sermon Notes:
There’s a lot going on in this passage, but the big picture concern of Paul is that when the church comes together for worship God is the focus. What seems to have been happening in Corinth was that many people were wanting to place themselves front and center, making themselves the stars of the show. When the church meets to worship God should get the glory, gifts should be used in the service of others and God’s people should be built up and strengthened in the faith.
Sermon Notes:
Most of us are so familiar with the golden rule we don’t consider how radically transformative it is. What would it truly look like for us to treat others in the way we wish others would treat us? How radically would that transform our homes, workplaces and churches? How on earth could anyone actually live this way?