Abounding in Thanksgiving to God

Rev. Kent Compton's sermon on 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 focuses on the principles of Christian giving, emphasizing that generosity is a spiritual investment that yields both material blessings and profound spiritual returns. He begins by establishing the foundational principle of sowing and reaping, asserting that giving is not about meeting a church budget but rather about engaging in an act of faith. According to Rev. Compton, those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly, but those who sow bountifully will reap bountifully. This principle is not solely about money, but about a generous attitude of the heart that God rewards.

A key theme explored by Rev. Compton is the proper disposition for giving, which he sums up with Paul's famous dictum: "God loves a cheerful giver." He clarifies that cheerfulness here means giving with a heart that is ready, spontaneous, and ungrudging, not one that is forced by compulsion or obligation. Furthermore, he emphasizes God's providence, reminding the listeners that God is able to make all grace abound toward them. This abundance is given not for personal hoarding, but so that the believer may always have sufficient resources to be generous in "every good work," positioning the Christian as a conduit of God’s blessing.

Finally, Rev. Compton highlights the incredible spiritual fruit that results from this cheerful and prayerful giving. He explains that the act of giving triggers a cycle of gratitude: the recipients of the generosity offer thanks to God, and the demonstration of the Corinthians' obedience to the gospel leads others to glorify God. This shared act of giving and receiving leads to a fervent desire among those being helped to pray for the generous givers. Ultimately, the sermon concludes that the greatest gift, the "unspeakable gift" of Jesus Christ, serves as the standard and motivation for all Christian generosity, bringing glory to God through the resulting thankfulness of His people.