Abounding Christians

TEXT:  2 Cor. 8:7

INTRODUCTION:

A.      TO ABOUND MEANS TO HAVE PLENTY.  WE ABOUND IN EVERYTHING

          BUT APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE.

B.      CHILDREN OF GOD ABOUND IN SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

C.      WE AS CHRISTIANS MUST ABOUND, ALSO, IN WHO WE ARE.

I. IN FAITH.

A.      IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH( Heb. 11:6 ).

          1.       Belief( John 20:30-31;  8:24 ).

          2.       Confidence and trust( 2 Tim. 1:12 ).

                             a.       Contrast Peter( Matt. 14:22-33 ).

                             b.       God is worthy of trust( 2 Tim. 2:11-13 ).

                             c.       We have more than his word( Heb. 6:13-19 ).

B.      FAITH KEEPS OUR FEET MOVING( 2 Cor. 5:1-7 ).

C.      FAITH GUARDS US FROM SIN( Eph. 6:16;  1 Pet. 1:5 ). 

MORE FAITH, MORE PROTECTION.

II.     IN UTTERANCE.

A.      SOULS SAVED THRU UTTERANCE OF THE GOSPEL( Rom. 10:13-15 ).

B.      GOD’S POWER( Rom. 1:16 ).

C.      GOD’S PLAN( 1 Cor. 1:21 ).

D.      THE NEED?( Matt. 9:36-38 ).

E.      HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE YOUR FEET?

III.    IN KNOWLEDGE.

A.      GOD EXPECTS GROWTH( 2 Pet. 3:18 ).

B.      IT’S A SHAME WHEN WE DON’T DEVELOP( Heb. 5:12 ).

C.      PAUL’S PRAYER( Phil. 1:9-11 ).

D.      NO EASY WAY – DIET AND EXERCISE( 2 Tim. 2:15;  Heb. 5:12-14 ).

IV.   IN DILIGENCE – “EARNESTNESS.”

A.      spoude – “DILIGENCE, ZEAL, SOMETIMES WITH THE IDEA OF HASTE.”

B.      IMPLIES EXTREME IMPORTANCE TO WHATEVER IT IS APPLIED.

          1.       What is your soul worth?( Matt. 16:26 ).

          2.       We must not undervalue like Esau( Heb. 12:14-17 ).

C.      Rom. 12:11;  Heb. 6:11-12.

V.    IN LOVE.

A.      agape, LOVE THAT IS UNREQUITED – OF THE UNLOVABLE.  COMMANDED.

B.      LOVE THE BRETHREN( 1 Pet. 1:22;  Rom 12:9-10 ).

C.      TALK IS CHEAP( 1 John 3:16-18 ).

VI.   “SEE THAT YE ABOUND IN THIS GRACE, ALSO.”

A.      GRACE – charis, “FAVOR – A GIFT.”

          1.       What does this passage deal with? ( 8:1-6 ).

          2.       Their giving was a “gift” to them.

          3.       Our abilities and opportunities are gifts( Eph. 4:7-12 ).

B.      WE ARE TO ABOUND THEN, IN SERVICE( 1 Cor. 15:58 ).

C.      THE WORK IS THE GIFT.

D.      IT HAS REWARD IN AND OF ITSELF.

E.      IT HAS REWARD BEYOND ITSELF( 1 Cor. 15:58 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      ARE YOU AN ABOUNDING CHRISTIAN?

B.      ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?