Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul’s continued “boasting” in order to “earn the respect” of his doubters in Corinth results in his being content with “weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.”
  • The kinds of things others boasted about to get attention, Paul had actually experienced.
  • Paul’s experiences had led back to weakness.  And in his weakness, he rejoiced.
• The man Paul refers to in this passage is himself, which is made clear in the context.  His hesitancy to speak of this experience compelled him to try to distance himself from this “man.”
• We don’t know what this “thorn in the flesh” was which Paul experienced.  All of the hardships we know Paul endured in his lifetime would fit the criteria.
  • The important thing is not to decipher exactly what the “thorn” was, but to know that in our weakness, God can use us in strength. (“When I am weak, then I am strong.”)

Questions to consider:

1. What does it appear Paul saw in his vision?  Since we have no other record of his experience, what was it’s purpose?  What didn’t Paul do with it that would have been encouraged by many today (and back then)?
2. What are we being instructed to value more than “amazing experiences” we can tell everyone else about?  What is the truly amazing experience of living the Christian life?
3. Why and how was Paul made strong?  Was it in Paul?  Did he find it deep down inside himself?  Who gave him this strength?  Who will therefore also give it to you?  Where does the strength to serve the Lord effectively come from?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul continues his satire to prove a point.  The church “gladly bears with fools,” so Paul is being “foolish.”  Though, he would rather be counted a fool by man if he is accurately and fruitfully preaching and teaching the truth.
• The list of sufferings Paul endured should make anyone know with certainty that he is truly committed to Christ and the church.  However, many of those whom the people might have considered amazing would have run from those experiences.  Or, even called Paul weak or stupid for having endured them.
• If many people consider Paul weak, stupid, a poor speaker, etc. it is of no concern.  The Lord knows his heart and his ministry (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways does the visible church in the west (Or in the US) bear resemblance to the church in Corinth?  How do these passages we have been reading hit close to home?
2. How should we weigh Jesus’ words in John 15:18-20 with what Paul is writing here?  Should Christians be surprised when affliction (Perhaps similar to the list Paul presented) comes our way?
3. Should the affliction or the lack thereof, all on its own, be the reason a teacher is either good or bad?  What makes teaching good?  What makes ministry fruitful?   In what ways are we prone to measure the quality of ministry in worldly/fleshly ways as opposed to the way God would see it?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul continues to defend his ministry and apostleship.  There were some in the Corinthian church who questioned him.  The “foolishness” of the defense is that Paul didn’t have to defend himself.  God had worked through him.  Christ is our Lord and Savior.  The Spirit had been working.  Some in the church needed to get their eyes off of the servants and on the savior.
  • With the foolishness of the evaluation of men going on, Paul uses some satire in his writing (e.g. “Super-Apostles”).
• In Jewish culture, it was the father’s responsibility to present his daughter at her wedding celebration as a pure virgin.  Paul was being a father-figure to the church and fighting for her purity.
• The way some in the church valued the messengers over the message left them susceptible to false teaching.

Questions to consider:

1. Does this passage seem unusual to you?  Why might that be?  What is Paul doing at this point in the letter?  What tone is he taking?
2. How does making an idol of a preacher/teacher/writer leave us susceptible to false teaching?  How are we to righty discern if someone’s teaching is good?
3. To whom have we been betrothed?  Who is the church’s groom in waiting?  How can this illustration help shape our view of separation from the world and devotion to Christ?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• There were some in the Corinthian church who were critical of Paul and his apostleship.  It is their claim, written out in verse 10, that Paul’s attitude and words were different in person than when he wrote from far away.
  • The content of Paul’s communication was the same, near or far.
    • When with the people, he preached and taught the Word of God.
    • When away from the people, he wrote these two letters, which were the inspired Word of God!
• Evidently, Paul did not practice public speaking in a way some in the church felt appropriate.  He wasn’t “polished” enough.
  • Yet, the Spirit had obviously used his preaching!  Souls had been saved, the church was born, people were growing.
• Christ is the head of the church.  We are all His servants.  Faith comes by the hearing of the word (Romans 10:17).
  • If we rely on appeasing the desires of the flesh (Trying to appease the eyes, ears, etc.) in order to accomplish the work of God, we have missed what God is truly doing!
    • “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power…

Questions to consider:

1. It isn’t wrong to do the things we do with excellence (Psalm 33:3, in fact we should pursue excellence! – 1 Corinthians 10:31), but it would be wrong to assume that because our excellence attracted interest, that was why someone put their faith in Christ.  What is the most important thing we can do as a church (What must we believe and communicate)?  And, who is the one who makes our ministry fruitful?
2. Is a sermon good because we enjoyed listening to the preacher?  What makes a sermon, a lesson, song lyrics, etc. effective and fruitful?
3. How should verse 18 impact the way we evaluate ministry?  How does the Lord commend the service of His people?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Helpful thoughts:

• God knows every intention of our hearts.  What matters most about our giving is the heart with which we give.  God loves a cheerful giver.
• Paul’s promise of “reaping what you sow” is not a promise of financial prosperity.  The spiritual ministry Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church to pursue would yield spiritual results.
  • Paul uses other words like “every” and “all,” accompanied with “righteousness” and “grace” and “works.”  God will provide for His people, and the things He knows we need (That we might not typically think of) will be given.
• When Paul considers the mutual service, prayers and giving of the churches for one another, he sees the grace of God in Christ on display and says, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”
  • The inexpressible gift is Jesus.  The result of the grace we receive through Christ is evidenced in our mutual love and service.

Questions to consider:

1. How much should “each one” give to this special offering (Verse 7)?  What is Paul (And the Lord) more concerned with than the total amount?  Why do you think that is?  In what way is the importance of both the heart and the total amount of the gift also emphasized?
2. How do we rightly discern what is an appropriate thing to say/ask?  How does the fact that Paul was an Apostle and that this offering was a special gift (Not regular giving to the church) impact what we learn and apply here?
3. How was the church (And other churches participating) showing the grace of God in their actions?  In what way does the gospel work itself out in our lives so that we might become generous and cheerful givers of our time, abilities, finances, etc.?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

Helpful thoughts:

• The generosity of the Corinthian church had encouraged others to give as well.  Paul now exhorts them to follow through with what he already knows they will do.
  • Paul had shared with others such high hopes for the generosity of this church, it would have been an embarrassment to him if they didn’t give.
• The offering of the church was to be given willingly.  It was not required of them and it was not in return for services (Exaction).
• It was good for Paul to ask, to encourage, etc.  He stopped short of any demanding.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it important we have a right understanding of the word, “exaction?”  If someone gave to the church “in return of services” how could that go wrong?  Why wouldn’t it be right for a person to give to a church and then demand certain things be done according to their personal wishes?  Or, why wouldn’t it be right for a person to “withhold their tithe” until they got what they wanted?
2. How does the fact that Paul was an Apostle help us to rightly understand his role in asking the church in Corinth for this gift?  Are there people outside of our local church that could do something like this with the same authority today?
3. Why do you think Paul wanted to make sure the gift remained a “willing” one?  What didn’t he want to rob the church of in their giving?  What do we lose (Or miss out on) when we are demanded to pay up as opposed to being offered an opportunity to give?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Helpful thoughts:

• After encouraging the church to give toward the needs of the church in Jerusalem, Paul lets them know who is coming to minister to them as a part of the collection of this gift.
  • The men going were Titus and two others (At least 3 total):
    • One of them was a great preacher of the gospel.
      • With all that is being discussed in this passage, the church needed gospel-centered ministry!
    • One of them had been tested and was earnest for the ministry.
  • The goal was to bring ministry to the church at Corinth (And others) while asking for help on behalf of the church in Jerusalem.  They were going out raising support.
  • The number of men traveling together also provided accountability and safety for the amount of money that would be traveling across the region back to Jerusalem.
  • Churches were working together to accomplish this ministry (Verse 19).
  • Individual local churches were to decide for themselves what they might give.
    • An example of the autonomy of local churches, while still cooperating in fellowship.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways does what we read in this passage remind you of missions/ministry support raising still today?  In what ways is this kind of giving still done?
2. This passage certainly doesn’t forbid individual giving toward missions, churches or other ministries, but what are some special benefits of giving toward ministries together as a church (For the church and for the one(s) receiving the gift?
3. In what ways can churches be strengthened when they work together?  What are the benefits of a fellowship of churches?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul asks the church to continue giving for the benefit of other ministries and believers in need.
• Here are some important principles in Paul’s request of the church to give:
  • It is a grace from God that we get to give to meet the needs of others.
  • Giving is usually done “according to our means.”
  • Acts of generosity above our usual means must be a decision made by the giver.
  • Paul led the church by encouraging them to give.  It was not a command.
  • Giving is an evidence of the love and grace of God working in the hearts of His people.
  • We are to look at giving through the lens of the gospel.
    • Jesus decreased so that we could increase.
    • We can decrease so that others would increase (And there are times, others will decrease so that we can increase).
• In verse 15, Exodus 16:18 is quoted.  This is from the gathering of manna in the wilderness.  God supplied the food each day.  Everyone gathered what they needed.  There was enough for everyone.

Questions to consider:

1. What are some principles of giving from this passage that stick out the most to you?  Why?
2. How does mentioning the Israelites measuring out the manna shape the way we think about giving?  How does remembering that giving is to be voluntary help us not to take that comparison too far?
3. Who are those who benefit from the generous giving of Christian people?  In what ways do they (or we) benefit?