Daily Lesson for Wednesday 9th of September 2026

The positive attitude of the Macedonians can be seen in several ways.

First, they gave with abundant joy (2 Corinthians 8:2). Paul says that the Macedonians’ “abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2, ESV). He later mentions that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV). The Greek word rendered as “cheerful” occurs only here in the New Testament. A term from the same family occurs elsewhere: “The one who does acts of mercy [must do it] with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:8, ESV). Terms from this word family sometimes appear in extra-biblical literature, with a sense of gladness and happiness. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, being a cheerful giver means giving without reluctance.

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

Second, they gave with generosity (2 Corinthians 8:2). Before Paul mentioned the Macedonians’ generosity, he first referred to their “extreme poverty” (ESV). The word “generosity” (in Greek, haplotētos) appears twice more in 2 Corinthians 8:1-24 and 9. Paul says, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11, NIV; emphasis supplied), meaning that we are given so that we can then give. A little further, he mentions “the generosity of your contribution” (2 Corinthians 9:13, ESV; emphasis supplied). In this passage, being generous in contributing is a way of confessing Christ’s gospel.

Third, they gave “of their own free will” (2 Corinthians 8:3, NLT). This means that they gave voluntarily. This becomes even more admirable when one sees they did not give out of their surplus, for their resources were extremely limited. Paul uses the same idea to characterize Titus’s willingness to visit the Corinthians. He went to Corinth voluntarily (2 Corinthians 8:17).

Fourth, they gave with a sense that giving is a privilege (2 Corinthians 8:4). This attitude is perceptible in the Macedonians’ request to participate in the collection. “They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service” (2 Corinthians 8:4, NIV).

Finally, they participated in the collection as an act of total consecration (2 Corinthians 8:5). Paul says, “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us” (2 Corinthians 8:5, ESV). Giving oneself to the Lord results in giving oneself to others. The Macedonians expanded their mission involvement beyond financial assistance. That is, giving and being generous is not limited to money alone.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-11-attitude/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-11-attitude

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?

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/stewardship-and-mission-discussion-starters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stewardship-and-mission-discussion-starters