GIVING is a grace… not a law. Not like under the Old Testament Law.
Old Testament:
   a.) Genesis 14:20  b.) Genesis 28:22  c.) Leviticus 27:30 d.) Numbers 28:25-27 e.)
        Deut. 12:17 f.) Deut. 14:22-24 g.) Deut. 24:18-19 h.) Mal. 3:8, 10 i.) Luke 18:12; j.)
        Hebrews 7:4-9
New Testament: Tithing is not a command… WHY? Answer is found in GRACE!
1. Giving is a grace not a law. It is tough to try and legalize grace!
    A. Two things happen:
         1.) Joy is taken out of the grace.
         2.) Guilt comes back with the ‘law’.
    B. 2 Cor. 9:7 “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not
        reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
        1.) “Each man” = PERSONAL/PRIVATE/INTIMATE/POWERFUL almost secretive
              attitude. (Hypocrisy destroys this grace) Not the way to grow in grace! (Matt.
              6:1-4).
        2.) “what he has decided in his heart” No external decision/ pressure/ threats/ guilt
        3.) “to give” This is a voluntary – no force/ JUST LET HIM GIVE! Enjoy!
              (Matt. 6:3 “don’t let your right hand know what left… is doing”)
              (Acts 20:35 “more blessed to give than receive..”)
        4.) “not reluctantly or under compulsion” Giving should be motivated by GRACE
              not the budget, or bills, buses, or programs or missions, or ministers. One
              motive beats all others… GRACE!
        5.) “for God loves a cheerful giver” The result of growing grace is growing in giving
              as well. When a need is presented… grace will respond.
2. There are two power principles (and some promises) mentioned in the word on the
     grace of giving.
    A. Power principle #1 = 2 Cor. 9:6
         1.) Paul speaks of life in general, not just money. Sow generously reap
              generously/Sow sparingly etc…
         2.) Sow a smile/ get 12 back…
         3.) Idea = not to divorce this grace from others… GROW IN GRACE = all of life!
         4.) Result of Holy Spirit in life (create Christ in us).
         5.) Proverbs 18:24 People reflect what we give out… snobbish/grouchy/fearful
              /avoidance = come back to us. Friendly/generous/helpful/openhanded/joyful
              /smile = comes back.         
    B.  Promises made: 2 Cor. 9:8, 10.
         1.) Food to eat
         2.) Multiply your seed which is sown
         3.) Increase the fruits of your righteousness (Make you a better person)
         4.) “Money is NOT THE ISSUE, for it is little more than a measure stick into your
               value system. It is one of the chief indicators of HOW YOU THINK – OF
               YOUR PRIORITIES.”   
         5.) IMPORTANT: “GROW IN GRACE AND YOU WILL CHANGE IN ATTITUDE
              AND DEVELOPMENT.”
    C. Power Principle #2: Luke 6:38
         1.) “Give and you will get” – Does not say “Give in order to get”
         2.) Summarizes previous 37 verses
               a.) Note: Vss. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37…
         3.) We have taught SOWING, GIVING… but not REAPING.
               a.) Yet reaping is as important to sowing as sowing is to reaping. This is a
                     lesson on GROWING IN GRACE, NOT GREED. It’s a lesson on the
                     HEART not the WALLET.
         4.) Conclusion is simple: Luke 6:38  “Give, and it will be given to you. A good
               measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured
               into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
               a.) If you want good things to come into your life… what we need to do?
               b.) Want people to visit/call/send cards to you… what we need to do?
         5.) Wherever you are in this Grace… begin to GROW!
         6.) Giving 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%? Wonderful!!! GROW
         7.) 2 Cor. 8:7 “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in 
              knowledge,in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in 
              you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
2. Extra – Key Words in 2 Corinthians 8-9
    A. Key Words
         1.) “Grace” (8:1, 6, 9), 2.) “Gift” (8:4), 3.) “Gave” (8:5), 4.) “Gathered” (8:15), 5.)
              “Care” (8:16), 6.) “Abundance” (8:20), 7.) “Bounty” (9:5), 8.) “Bountifully” (9:6),
              9.) “Give” (9:7), 10.) “Grace” (9:8,14), 11.) “Multiply” 12.) “Giving” (9:11), 13.)
              “Liberal” (9:13), 14.) “Unspeakable gift” (9:15).
    B. Key Thought: “GIVING IS A GRACE NOT A LAW”
    C. Key Person: JESUS IS OUR LAW AND EXAMPLE… HE GOVERNS OUR
        ACTIONS, (Eph. 4:13-14)