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©  2012  coSTART  –  Andrew  Knight  &  Campus  OutreachIcons  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  PRECEDENCELUKE  10:1-­‐12

#3  THE  EXAMPLE  OF  SUPPORT2  CORINTHIANS  8

#4  THE  ENJOYMENT  OF  GIVING2  CORINTHIANS  9

#5  THE  EXPLANATION  OF  GIVING1  CORINTHIANS  9

#6  THE  EXHORTATION  OF  GIVING3  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’DPHILIPPIANS  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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