This week Pastor Matt Dean continued in 2 Corinthians 8, where we see Paul explaining to the church that financial integrity matters to Christ. He calls giving to others a grace, based on the grace that Jesus showed. Therefore, when we are not giving generously to Christ, His grace is not at work in us.

Beyond our tithe, there are moments and opportunities to freely give, and when we have first given ourselves to the Lord, and keep our hearts open to God and others, it is much easier to keep our finances open, too. Would we be people marked not by our riches, but by the richness of our willingness to be joyful in generosity.

This week, Pastor Lee Cadden gives us a picture of Paul’s state of mind while writing 2 Corinthians, and practical application that applies to us today. In 2 Corinthians 7:1-16, Paul's state of mind varies between deep despair over the weight of his pastoral burdens and care for others, and his unparalleled joy over the repentance of believers and the joy of his brother Titus.

In light of all of this we see Paul preach the hope of the Gospel to the Corinthians but also to himself. The letter turns toward a message of unity in Christ through Authentic Gospel Community: a small picture of Christ's Kingdom. It's why gathering for worship, gathering in homes, and even gathering in parking lots is so important. Our grief and our joy alike are meant to be shared with one another, all to His glory.