God’s power displayed through ordinary people seems like a paradox. Ordinary, earthenware vessels- that is what we are. Yet God delights in displaying His power through ordinary people in the midst of their affliction, so that we and others would know that it is truly God at work and not ourselves. Corrie Ten Boom said,…
“Don’t Give up…Don’t ever give up.” –Jim Valvano at the 1993 ESPY awards Sermon from 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
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Message from 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 Other Sermons from 2 Corinthians What is New About the New Covenant?
What is the New Covenant? The New Covenant is God making a way through his Son Jesus Christ- sealing the covenant through Christ’s blood–so that people can be made right with Him and have spiritual, everlasting life.
The Spirit of God seals our salvation and writes His law on our hearts, so that we can obey God in freedom and joy. Our motivation is not to obey in order to please God, as if we were in danger of falling out of his favor. Our motivation is to obey Him out of gratitude, joy, and the pleasure of being in His will.
Paul defends his apostleship to the Corinthians, and points back to the gospel message, which has taken hold in their hearts. Their changed lives are all the recommendation he needs. He then reminds them of the power and assurance of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant. The letter of the law, and the law itself, could not produce new life. Only the Holy Spirit can produce new life and a new heart.
Jesus is our Advocate before the Father. People have many ways to excuse sin. People joke, “Politicians will say anything to get elected.” Christians may say anything in order to save face or avoid admitting sin. But the good news is that Jesus is our Advocate before the Father! Message from 1 John 1:5-2:6 We…
Message from 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 What happens when God’s people proclaim the gospel? Because God stands behind them, they can be confident that some will repent and believe, and others will reject the message. Paul writes and reassures the Corinthians that whenever they speak the gospel, they are victors. Their words and their lives are…
Message from 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 on church discipline, forgiveness, and reconciliation. After a man in the church is expelled from fellowship due to sexual immorality, Paul commands the church to welcome him back after he has repented. Otherwise, he would be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and the people in the church would become hard-hearted, playing…
Message from 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4 “God is Faithful”- In this passage, Paul explains to the Corinthians Church why he changed plans and did not visit them as he previously indicated. Was this fickleness on his part? Was he being selfish? No, his change in plans was directed by God and was for the benefit of…
Sermon from 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 “who comforts us in all our affliction…” The book of 2 Corinthians begins with a beautiful description of God’s power to comfort people in any affliction. The opponents of Paul’s ministry may have claimed, “Paul has a lot of trials, perhaps that means his ministry is not legitimate, perhaps God…