SUPPORT RAISING DEVOTIONALS
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© 2012 coSTART – Andrew Knight & Campus Outreach Icons courtesy of Mysitemyway Design Team. All drawings by Dan Nuckols unless otherwise noted. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
CONTENTS #1 A SUPPORT THEOLOGY PHILIPPIANS 4:10-‐20
#2 A SUPPORT PRECEDENCE LUKE 10:1-‐12
#3 THE EXAMPLE OF SUPPORT 2 CORINTHIANS 8
#4 THE ENJOYMENT OF GIVING 2 CORINTHIANS 9
#5 THE EXPLANATION OF GIVING 1 CORINTHIANS 9
#6 THE EXHORTATION OF GIVING 3 JOHN
#1 A SUPPORT THEOLOGY PHILIPPIANS 4:10-‐20
“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
1. What words would you use to describe Paul’s perspective of support raising? 2. Who did Paul thank in response to his needs being met? 3. What words does Paul use to describe the Philippians support relationship? 4. How is support-‐raising a matter of giving and receiving for both the sender and goer? 5. How long did they support him? 6. With what did they support him? (See Phil. chapter 2. Who did the Philippians send?) 7. What are some of the effects of their support of him? 8. What is Paul’s ultimate trust for support raising?
A SUPPORT THEOLOGY CONT’D PHILIPPIANS 4:10-‐20
Read the following observations about support raising and write down the verse reference and phrase which grounds the following support raising statements in Philippians 4:10-‐20.
#1. Support raising is about people, not mainly money.
#2. Support raising is a privilege, not duty.
#3. Support raising is partnership, not independence.
#4. Support raising is a process, not just an event.
#5. Support raising is based on promise, not just optimism.z
#6. Support raising is rightful payment, not only a gift.
#7. Support raising is a praise offering, not just obedience.
#8. Supporting another is for your profit, not just an expense.
#2 A SUPPORT PRECEDENCE LUKE 10:1-‐12
Make observations from Luke 10:1-‐12 about the first missionary expedition in relationship to the support raising process. Luke 10:1-‐12 describes the precedents to a biblical support raising process.
1. How does Jesus’ appointment and calling of you affect your support raising perspective?
2. Before the disciples are sent out to minister and ask for support what are they exhorted to do?
3. Does Jesus ask them to consider living on the gifts of others? Or does he command them? What verses shed light on this?
4. Where the disciples expected to build a relationship with their supporters? Why or why not?
5. What is the reason Jesus gives to validate their living by support of others?
6. Read Luke 8:1-‐3. Jesus not only instructs this lifestyle, but he illustrated it first.
#3
THE EXAMPLE OF SUPPORT 2 Corinthians 8:1-‐15
1. Paul urges the Corinthians to excel in an act of grace. To what is he referring in verses 6-‐8?
2. What is Paul’s grounding reason for why the Corinthians should give even in poverty? (See verse 9) Support raising is explicitly tied to the most central truth to Christianity. How does this empower your confidence in it.
3. Read verses 1-‐3. What is the power behind the Macedonians giving? How does this affect the way you will pray for your supporters?
4. Should impoverished supporters be counted on less than wealthy ones? How will this change the way you view potential supporters?
5. Read verses 3-‐4. Who are the Macedonians giving to? Therefore, do not be ashamed to ask people to give to Lord’s work, not yours.
#4
THE ENJOYMENT OF GIVING 2 Corinthians 9:1-‐15
1. What words characterize the Corinthians support perspective? Read verses 1-‐3.
2. The Corinthian donors were expected to have money set aside and ready to give. Therefore what feelings and/or acts does this prevent the supported believers from having to feel or do?
3. What does God love? How does that affect the way you would pray for your potential supporters? (See verse 7)
4. Hudson Taylor said, “God’s will, done in God’s way, never lacks God’s supplies.” Therefore, how does verse 9 back this up?
5. Read verses 10-‐15. What does the giving process produce for the receivers, givers, and God?
#5
THE EXPLANATION OF GIVING 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1-‐18
1. What is Paul’s argument for the credibility of living on support in verses 1-‐7?
2. Read verses 8-‐12. By what authority does Paul make these claims?
3. See verses 8-‐14. What 2 Old Testament illustrations does Paul use to back his claim for making a living through support raising?
4. See verses 15-‐18. Paul says he does not opt to live on the Corinthians support, but what language does Paul use to describe his opportunity to live by it? (Note: there are only 3 times in Scripture that Paul chooses to work for a living instead of live on support: Corinth, Ephesus, and Thessalonica. Because in Corinth he was looking to prove his authority, in Ephesus he was defending himself against lies, and in Thessalonica he was looking to teach them not to be lazy.)
#6
THE EXHORTATION OF GIVING 3 JOHN
Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (3 John 1:5-‐8 ESV)
1. Did the church support Christians they knew? How will this affect they way you view referrals from supporters you may not know?
2. How does John define sending these believing strangers in a “manner worthy of God?”
3. What is the phrase used to describe the supported missionaries by John in verse 7?
4. What is John’s conclusion regarding these believers? What is the purpose behind this conclusion?
5. How can you facilitate more of a partnership between you and your donors?
...from him and to him...Romans 11:36
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