Note: Adult learners (vs. kid learners) typically share several characteristics. Adult learners compare what they are studying to their reservoir of life experience. They are usually most interested in learning that relates to immediate, practical challenges that they are facing. They choose the “how” of how they engage the learning. These principles point to an adult Sabbath School process that invites highly active engagement from its members, and avoids the feel of a teacher-student presentation. “Discussion Starters” are meant to support the weekly lesson by providing additional questions that invite active, personal, and practical engagement by your adult members. Praying that we all have a Spirit-filled discussion this week!

1. Ellen White says of those filled with the love of Christ that “Money, time, influence—all the gifts they have received by God’s hand, they will value only as a means of advancing the gospel.”
   Think about money, time, and influence (aka talents)—which of these three is hardest for you to give at this time in your life? Why?

2. Can you share about a time when you took a leap of faith in giving time, talent, or treasure that worked out much better than you had feared beforehand?

3. Walter Brueggemann is a theologian who saw in Scripture the great theme of abundance vs scarcity, with the manna pre-provided by God for the Sabbaths in the desert as one of God’s definitive statements on the matter to humanity.  Brueggemann said “We must confess that the central problem of our lives is that we are torn apart by the conflict between our attraction to the good news of God’s abundance, and the power of our belief in scarcity–a belief that makes us greedy, mean and unneighborly.” How do you see the struggle between an abundance mindset and the myth of scarcity playing out in your own life?

4. In his book The Big Four, Joseph Kidder finds that growing churches are characterized by congregations that ask their members for significant, not trivial, contributions to ministry. In other words, the worst thing a church can do is say, “Hey, would you agree to join the X ministry? Don’t worry, it hardly takes any time at all.” Rather, growing churches invite members into ministries because the ministries are important, ask for a commitment to do the ministry well, and provide meaningful training to do the ministry. Why do you think the second, more “costly” approach is actually more effective at getting people to become involved?

5. Jesus said that the widow who put in two small coins (Lk 21:1-4) gave “more than all” the rich did. Modern studies continue to find that people of modest means give a higher percentage of their income to charity than do wealthy people. Why do you think this greater generosity, on a relative basis, is most often found among those with less means?

6. Paul emphasizes that we are to give freely, implying a mature and thoughtful choice (2 Cor 9:7). Have you seen examples of compulsive or unhealthy “giving” on the part of one person towards another?

7. A modern proverb states: “Show me your checkbook and your calendar and I’ll tell you what you really value.” Fair or unfair? Why?

8. In what way is our use of this world’s time, talent and treasure one of the most dramatic dividing lines between faith and unbelief?

I. Jesus and Stewardship

A. Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. Paul gives the simple math approach to Jesus’ gift to us. He became poorer and we became richer. Is this an incomplete description of Jesus’ stewardship?

B. Read Philippians 2:7-10. What does this tell us was the result of Jesus emptying Himself? (God highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on Him “the name that is above every name.” Every knee will bow before Him.)

C. Read Revelation 5:11-13. Would you like power and wealth? (This text says that Jesus received power and wealth because of His sacrifice.)

1. Jesus was fully God before He humbled Himself and became human. How can God be given something He did not already possess? (If you review Genesis, from the fall of humans to the flood, you can see that God was in a battle against Satan. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection gave Him the victory and universal power, wealth, and glory.)

D. Read Malachi 3:10-12. What is the promise that God made to the Israelites? (Returning tithe gives you supernatural (“windows of heaven”) blessings. Not only will you have no more need, but God will actively bless your work.)

E. Read Proverbs 21:20 and Proverbs 19:19. What benefit does Jesus’ sacrifice have for those who reject His grace? (Just because you give someone money does not mean that it will benefit them. For some it is like those who cannot control their temper. If you rescue them from the consequences of their bad behavior, you will have to do it again.)

F. Read 2 Corinthians 6:1. What does it mean to receive God’s grace “in vain?” (Some will not accept it and thus the gift was given with no good result.)

II. Considered Benevolence

A. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7. Should our contributions to charity be thoughtful? (Paul says that giving is a decision.)

1. When Paul writes that giving should not be reluctant or compelled, how does that help you understand the element of thoughtfulness? (Our heart decision should not be made under duress. We should want to give. We should give cheerfully.)

2. Let’s think again about giving that enables destructive behavior or supports an ineffective cause. Is indiscriminate giving consistent with Paul’s instruction that giving should be thoughtful, voluntary, and joyful?

B. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6. Is this part of what we should consider when we give? (Stating this principle, just like the statement in Malachi 3, shows that considering our own resources is supposed to be part of our decision to give. If you want to have more, you need to give more.)

1. My wife spends much more time than I do considering how to give and to whom we should give. I recall an exciting period of time when she decided to give an unexpected amount to a person. Soon thereafter we received unexpected money in about the same amount. She then made another new gift, and once again we received some unexpected new money. I don’t remember how long this went on, but it brought joy as we watched God work.

2. Are blessings only money? Jesus’ disciples seemed to be poor during their mission work. (Although Malachi specifically mentions blessings regarding work, I believe that blessings is much broader than money. For some, a lot of money is not a blessing.)

C. Read 2 Corinthians 9:11. So far, my assumption has been that we are discussing giving money. Is that the only kind of gift discussed by Paul? (Paul refers to being “enriched in every way,” and being “generous in every way.”)

1. What are the other ways to give gifts and be generous? (Giving your time.)

2. Is time like money in the sense that if you give it to others, you will have more of it? (Unlike money, we all have a limited amount of time. But I think the multiplier principle still applies. Years ago, I purchased a used car and could not wait to change its oil. The next day church members wanted me to use my carpentry skills to help in the morning to build our new church. I decided to go. When I returned home and got under the car, the drain plug for the oil pan was like nothing I had ever seen. I got up and stood there wondering where I could buy a tool for that. My gaze wandered to my carpenter’s tool belt and the handle of my nail puller. The shaft perfectly fit the drain plug and I was able to change the oil. Had I not worked on the church, I’m sure I would have spent hours going from store to store trying to find the right tool.)

D. Read 2 Corinthians 9:12-13. What other positive thing happens as a result of your generosity to others? (Those you help will give glory to God for your gift.)

1. When I advise young people on a future career, I suggest they select a profession where they are helping other people. Is this good advice, or would you recommend a profession where you can make a lot of money? (Helping others can provide a continuing sense of purpose and joy. Money alone is a poor foundation for choosing a life’s work.)

E. Consider another aspect of 2 Corinthians 9:13. Should it be a concern of ours whether those receiving our help give glory to God? (One of my major charities helps others and attributes that help to the work of Jesus. Another charity, which I do not support, helps others but says nothing about being motivated by religion.)

F. Read 1 Timothy 5:9. What does Paul mean when he writes about a widow being “enrolled?” (The prior verses refer to helping widows. This is a reference to being on the list of widows helped by the church.)

G. Read 1 Timothy 5:9-13. Is need the only consideration in deciding which widows receive ongoing church support? (No. Those who are doing good works are to be helped, and those widows who are not will not be helped.)

1. Should the rule which Paul gave to the early church apply to your giving? Should it be part of your giving that comes from decisions of your heart?

H. Read Leviticus 19:9-10, Deuteronomy 24:19-21 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10. What does this teach us about helping the poor? (The Biblical approach requires that the poor be willing to work. If they will not work, they will not share in the harvest.)

1. Should this be part of our decision on who to help? (We should also consider whether the poor person is unable to work.)

2. Do these texts teach us something about making a careful decision about helping the needy?

3. Is giving money to a needy person the best decision? (The World Bank reports that from 1990-2025 the number of people in extreme poverty fell from about 2.3 billion to 831 million. This improvement did not result from the transfer of wealth from the rich to the poor, but rather it was driven by strong economic growth that resulted from allowing private enterprise, trade and competition.)

I. Friend, will you consider your help to those in need? Being generous blesses you. Being wise about your gift blesses the poor person. Why not ask the Holy Spirit to guide your gifts?

III. Next week: Dealing With False Teachers.

Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http:

God’s decision to save the world took place even before the world fell into sin. Christ’s coming to die for us was part of an ancient plan (Revelation 13:8). God was not caught by surprise. He had made plans to give Himself through Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 and 9, planning is an essential theological principle that concerns the act of giving. This can be seen in at least two ways:

Image © Review and Herald Publishing Assn. Goodsalt.com

First, planning involves previous decision. Paul says that “each of you should give what you have decided in your heart” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV). The Greek word translated as “decided” is the verb proaireō. This verb is a compound form. The particle pro means “beforehand” or “in advance,” and aireō means in this context “to decide.” Thus, proaireō points to a decision made beforehand. Also, by starting his statement with “each of you,” Paul indicates that the given amount will not be the same for everyone. His point was simply that whatever people decide to give, they should do it with careful reflection. They should give what they believe is the right amount for them to give.

Second, planning involves the principle of proportionality. Paul reports that the Macedonians “gave according to their means” (2 Corinthians 8:3, ESV). Next, he applies this principle of proportionality to the Corinthians, as well. Encouraging them to finish the task that they had already committed to, he urges them to complete that project by using the resources that they possess (2 Corinthians 8:11). He concludes this thought by saying that the offering is given “according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12, ESV). Whereas the Bible defines the proportionality of the tithes, namely, 10 percent, the same does not apply to the offerings. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV) by applying the principle of proportionality. In other words, each one decides which proportion of earnings that he or she will give as an offering. Each one is supposed to give in proportion to what one has. This cannot be done without planning.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

As Paul encourages us all to use “Planning” for our giving, we can pray sincerely that God will bless our giving in 
We Give Thee But Thine Own – Hymn 670. This sincerity of giving continues in Wednesday’s study.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/
Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The language of giving pervades 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 and 9: “The grace of God . . . has been given” (2 Corinthians 8:1, ESV); “They gave themselves” (2 Corinthians 8:5, ESV); “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart . . . , for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV); “He has given to the poor” (2 Corinthians 9:9, ESV); “They will glorify God because of . . . the generosity of your contribution” (2 Corinthians 9:13, ESV); “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, ESV). 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 and 9 begin and end with the language of giving (2 Corinthians 8:1 and 2 Corinthians 9:15). We must read these two chapters with the idea of giving in mind. They present at least four major reasons for giving our offerings.

Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com

Gratitude for God’s grace (2 Corinthians 8:1; 2 Corinthians 9:14-15). 2 Corinthians 8:1-24; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 begins with a reference to “the grace of God” (2 Corinthians 8:1). A little further, Paul says, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 8:9, ESV). The grace of God and Christ is presented here as one’s primary reason for the practice of offering. God did so much for us by giving us Christ. By offering our gifts in return, we recognize the grace of God in our lives.

As with the concept of giving, the term “grace” (in Greek, charis) also occurs repeatedly in 2 Corinthians 8:1-24; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15. Likewise, the word charis occurs at the beginning and the end of this passage (2 Corinthians 8:1; 2 Corinthians 9:14-15). Paul applies this term with different meanings in the passage to emphasize that the grace of Christ in our lives results in grace for others and for thanksgiving.

Desire to follow the example of Jesus (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus was rich and became poor (remember that these are symbols for His eternal pre-existence and then coming into humanity, respectively). There is only one way for that to have happened: He gave all. As for us, by sharing our offerings, we provide means for others to know Christ.

Desire to share God’s blessings (2 Corinthians 9:10-11). We give to others only because we first received from God. He enriches us so that we can be generous.

Sincere love (2 Corinthians 8:8,24). Giving is the test of sincere and genuine love. It is the most substantial evidence that love dwells in one’s heart. To use an English expression, it is to “put your money where your mouth is.”

<–Sunday Tuesday–>