Big Idea: The season of giving is just around the corner. Many of us will lovingly bake extra goodies to give to friends and neighbors, and even spend time planning the perfect gift for that special someone in our lives. It's a time of year that reminds us as believers that we have an opportunity to live generously not just in this season, but throughout the year. Generosity is seeing the need and helping to meet it because we trust God is able to take what we give and do exceedingly more than we could imagine.

Let's read Paul's charge to the church in 2 Corinthians. 

Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 (NLT) — 5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. 6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

Main Idea: Paul was instructing the early church to be givers that gave not just out of obligation or pressure but from the overflow of a generous and joyful heart. The concept of generosity is simple. I have more than enough so I give some to you and now all of our needs are met. Paul's letter gave the early church some great instruction on how to be a generous giver. Those five principles are still true today and are great reminders of how God not only provides but wants to use us to meet the needs among us. 

Five Principles of Generosity:

1. Sowing and reaping: 

Without a seed planted, a farmer has no crop to harvest. This concept is the same in every area of our lives. What we take time to sow we will eventually reap. 

Question: Have you ever thought your seed was insignificant? If God can use the widow's mite he can certainly use what is in your hands. Maybe you have a certain area of ministry that is on your heart. What seed have you planted? Have you given of your resources, time, or gifts?

2. God loves a cheerful giver

God is not looking at the size of your gift but the position of your heart. The joy of giving comes from knowing that God is supplying my needs so that I can be a blessing to those around me. 

Question: Have you ever had an opportunity to give a gift only to be more blessed by giving than the receiver of the gift? Share with the group.

3. God is a faithful provider: 

James 1:17 assures us that every good and perfect gift is from our heavenly Father. If we rely on our own abilities we just might encounter unnecessary stress and the feeling that enough is never really enough. Knowing our true source places our dependence back on our Father who provides with great generosity.

Question: We can all share a testimony of God’s goodness because he is such a faithful God, but how do you remain filled with faith even in the waiting? 

4. God is providing seed to sow and bread to eat: 

God’s plan is not just that we would have enough to consume for ourselves but that we would be convinced that our seed is needed to build the kingdom of God. 

Question: How have you looked at what God has placed in your hands as not just provision but seed to sow?

5. Generosity starts a chain reaction: 

When we see God as the source of our seed and our bread we are able to be used as a conduit of blessing to those around us.