Title: God's grace overflows
Contents
April 10th Sunday Sermon
2 Corinthians 9:11-15 "God's overflowing grace"
(Hymns 436 I now have a new life in the Lord's body verses 1,2,4)
*Worship opening hymn: (2nd quarter) Hymn 8:1,4
*The Apostles' Creed Next hymn: (2nd quarter) Hymn 391 O wonderful Savior verses 1, 2, 3
*The 2nd quarter liturgical text is No. 3: Psalm 4
-summary-
God's grace and love are so amazing.
The Christian life can be said to be the process of knowing that grace.
That grace and love is poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
However, when the vessel of our heart is filled, it does not stop, but when we are filled with the Holy Spirit every day, the grace and love are poured out to overflowing.
The Lord is overflowing with love and grace and flows to other brothers and sisters in the community.
He wants to flow toward his neighbors and everyone in the world.
In the days of the apostles, there was a time of great famine in Jerusalem.
Because it was a great famine, everyone, including Christians, was starving and suffering because there was no food to eat.
Upon hearing this news, Christians in various areas, including the church in Corinth in today's text, made a relief offering to help the church in Jerusalem. Today's text is about that story.
To the church in Jerusalem that received help and the church in Corinth that helped them, the Lord is saying this.
First, it is said that he was overflowing with thanksgiving to God.
When there is any kind of mercy, service, or giving in Christ, it is the work of God. Not me, but God gave me the strength to help, gave me something to help, gave me a heart to help, and gave me the mind to help. God has used us as channels to care for and provide for the needs of His children.
Therefore, the thanks and glory must be received from God.
Those who received help should give thanks to God for helping, and those who served should thank God for using them as a helping hand.
The second is that those who were served became those who prayed with deep affection toward those they served.
The one who served also served with affection and prayer, and now the one who has been served also prayed with deep affection for the one who served, so God's love was perfected in us. They are now one family, and they are becoming co-workers working together for God.
The third is that the members of the Jerusalem Church longed for the overflowing grace of God to those who helped them and the faith to obey the Lord's word.
All that the Corinthians were able to help the people of Jerusalem was because of God's overflowing grace given to them. Now, we are longing for God to receive that grace together.
When the Lord gave us the heart to help, we long for that faith to be able to obey with joy the command to love each other. It is asking me to have that faith as well.