Ministering to the Saints
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5 Ministering to the Saints
For context sake, lets read 2 Corinthians 8:1–15 “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. 8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 10And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.””
Now we’ll go through our text today a few verses at a time.
2 Corinthians 8:16–21 (NKJV)
16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
God put the care of them in Titus, now we will talk about Titus more in just a few, but the fact is that God can and does put people or even groups on our “heart”. The heart is the core of our being, who we are.
heart 2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” Nehemiah 2:12 “Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.” (both action. share gospel and rebuild walls of jerusalem) more examples of heart-led action.
there was no command but Titus volunteered.
The brother who is so trusted that he went with Titus and other churches chose him to carry the gift. Pauls in charge of getting everyone on board. Some think it was Luke because of the Gospel that everyone had read, and his close affiliation with Paul, whos praise is in the Gospel, also could've been Mark, or others. Prob not an apostle but someone know of attached to a gospel. I could give you scriptures where Paul mentions Luke (Col *4:14. 2 Ti *4:11) however, it could just be someone from the area who was well know as christian and gospel presenter.
2 Corinthians 8:22–24 (NKJV)
22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show to them, and before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
If anyone asks about Titus has a beautiful reputation with the churches. Though the teachers there have driven many against Paul, they haven't poisoned them in regards to Titus. Titus loved people.
From the Lexham Bible Dictionary; “Titus’ name is mentioned 13 times in the New Testament, but our only sources are sporadic references in Paul’s letters. Titus is never mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles—this work is a selective chronicle, not intended to be an exhaustive account of Paul and his associates’ activities. Titus’ career can be reconstructed from Paul’s epistles and later traditions.” it continues, “Titus may have been from Syrian Antioch, and probably lived there when he began to work with Paul. In Galatians 2:1, Paul describes that he went to Jerusalem with Barnabas and took Titus (συμπαραλαβὼν καὶ Τίτον, symparalabōn kai Titon). Paul, Barnabas, and Titus likely departed from Antioch, Paul and Barnabas’ primary base (Acts 11:22; 13:1). Galatians 2:3 describes Titus as “being Greek” (Ἓλλην ὤν, Hellēn ōn). The term used for “Greek” can mean either a true Greek, or a non-Jewish individual.” Probably heard gospel in Antioch, was saved and completely dedicated himself to ministry. Gal. 2:3 says he is greek. He is called by Paul brother (2co 2:13), partner (here) and fellow worker (here). The two “brothers” with Titus may possibly have been the Macedonians Jason of Thessalonica (Acts 17:5) and Sopater of Berea (Acts 20:4; cf. Rom. 16:21). The others chosen is really unknown to us, so don’t want to speculate anymore. Just again know that they were intimately familiar to folks everywhere at the time.
What did Paul think about Titus? Titus 1:4 “To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus is important to Paul and the people of Corinth was on both their hearts. (in case you were wondering its said that Titus died of old age after appointing pastors and starting a number of churches himself in Crete {tradition})
2 Corinthians 9:1–5 (NKJV)
1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
Ministering. As much as ministry is spiritual (2co 3:8-9) its physical. Here Paul focuses on the physical. The churches all could've just stood back and said, handle it, trust God, and I think that is the case at times, but here, the Holy Spirit had convicted some great leaders and even apostles to do this thing. It is as much a revival as any.
Superfluous - 10dollar word that just means way too much. When everyone in Macedonia heard you guys were gonna give big-time, they all got excited about it. Paul knows he is going on and on about this = no doubt they promised much have been given much and much is expected.
We need to be people of action not just good wishes, Romans 6:19 “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.” Dont just praise the good thing, do the good thing.
But after a year, (2 Co 8:10) that boasting might have been in vain. Because me and Macedonians are on the way, and y'all better be ready. So Paul urged/implored/exhorted Titus and the brother/s ahead of everyone to help avoid the shame.
Now Paul here seems to use shame to affect the corinthians but I think he is just stating a fact. Paul would be ashamed of them and they would be embarrassed that they didn't have anything after a whole year. Jesus had said let your yes be yes and no be no (Mt 5:37) we should strive to keep our word as believers.
The lets us know too that both Paul, Corinth, and us know that our actions might not affect our salvation, but it can affect how we feel and live. I know that is often how my failures affect me and those around me. The gospel reminds us what this thing i casually dismiss as sin, will be revealed for what it is.
You gave your word. Pauls encouragement to them, as we went through in the earlier verses, Paul said they had a superabundant generosity and that was what they represented. Paul was asking them to not grudgingly give but from the heart that we can all get, we want to give from care, from love, not just to save face.
So what is this section of scripture about? Really, its about prodding the church in Corinth to minister to the saints they all claimed to care about - to do what they they said they were gonna do. James said, Galatians 5:1–6 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” here in 2 corinthians we see Paul asking people to be who they say they are.
This is a big deal to Paul, and we will see the call out, encouragement and rebuke continue as the letter goes on. What does this do for me? A reminder that a new testament church, is an imperfect church. A messed up people. Folks that struggle to keep their word, that get angry, that backbite, that sin. That help. That love with the Love of Christ. That show such grace and mercy because they received such grace and mercy.