The Heart Behind the Gift - 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 | September 7, 2026

Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for today's edition of One Single Story. As part of their week in Second Corinthians, the team digs into what it really means to give with a cheerful heart, how to avoid manipulation in giving, and why God's provision is meant to flow through us to bless others. Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 - Paul writes to the church in Corinth about the collection being gathered for believers in Jerusalem, encouraging generous, voluntary giving that flows from a willing heart rather than obligation or pressure, and highlighting how such generosity produces a harvest of thanksgiving to God. In This Episode: Why Paul never mentions the amount given, but instead focuses on the heart behind the gift How one act of generosity creates a ripple effect that leads others to worship The difference between planned, intentional generosity and empty "spur of the moment" promises What it means to be a "cheerful" giver, rooted in the Greek word hilaros How church leaders can cast vision for giving without guilt, pressure, or manipulation Shifting from a mindset of accumulation to becoming a "conduit" of God's blessing Wrestling with hard questions about surplus, lifestyle, and when enough is enough How gratitude, like generosity, multiplies and spreads to others A real-life story of a restaurant "chain of generosity" ten people deep Key Quote: "It's not to create abundance in my life, accumulation. It becomes a tool that God gets to use. He's just placed it in my hands." About One Single Story: One Single Story is a weekday podcast from Open Door Church that offers a brief, honest conversation around each day's reading in the One Year Bible. Pastor Stephen Mizell and rotating co-hosts break down Scripture in a practical, relatable way, helping listeners connect the Bible's one continuous story to everyday life and faith. Open Door Church is located in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com or onesinglestory.com. Subscribe to One Single Story so you never miss a daily episode, and join the conversation as we walk through Scripture together, one story at a time. Coming This Week: This week the One Single Story team continues their study in Second Corinthians, exploring Paul's teaching on generosity, stewardship, and what it looks like to live with an open hand toward God and others. Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #2Corinthians #CheerfulGiver #ChristianGenerosity #Stewardship #BibleTeaching