Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Helpful thoughts:

• “The grace of God comes about solely through the death of Christ (5:14-19). Those who turn back from Christ show that their initial, apparent reception of God’s grace was not real but in vain.” – Scott Haffeman.
• In verse 2, Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8.  The time and the blessings of the New Covenant have begun in Christ, though we await the culmination of all its promises.
• Paul defines the “weapons of righteousness” as purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech and the power of God.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way did Paul’s experiences confirm his apostleship to the church at Corinth?  In what way could Paul’s experiences encourage all of us in how to persevere in Christ through difficulties?  What is our hope, our future, our joy?
2. What are the things (Verse 6-7) that countered the hardships and sufferings of verses 4-5?  How are these actual “weapons of righteous” as opposed to using literal weapons to “fight back?”
3. How can a Christian be “restricted in your own affections” (Verse 12)?  How can the things we desire keep us from having all we could have in Christ? In relationship with the church?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Helpful thoughts:

• Knowing who God is and who we are compels us to share the gospel with others.
• Knowing the love of Christ compels us to share the gospel with others.
• Knowing our commission from the Lord compels us to share the gospel with others.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the job of an ambassador?  How are we to function if we are ambassadors for Christ?  What does that mean about what we consider to be our home land?  What does it tell us about the reason(s) we are still here on earth?
2. Whose sin was placed on Christ at the cross?  Whose righteousness renders you innocent (“not guilty”) before God?  How does this reinforce the truth that our salvation is wholly of grace and not of our works?
3. How do words like “persuade” (verse 11) and “implore” (verse 20) instruct our thinking about evangelism and our efforts to share Christ with the lost?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Helpful thoughts:

• This passage is a direct continuation of the thoughts from the latter portion of chapter 4.
• In this life, we can overcome temporary hardships with eternity in view.  But, that doesn’t mean we never groan!  In this “tent” (Our earthly bodies) we groan.
• To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  When followers of Christ close their eyes in death, they enter into the presence of the Lord!
• Knowing what we do about God, about eternity, about the judgment (And our opportunity for reward by the grace of God), we make it our aim to please God in everything we do.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it important to know that we do (and even should) have times of groaning in this life?  What are things in this life that cause us to groan?  Is it right and healthy to force a smile on our face even when we are in times of groaning in the midst of this sin-cursed world?  Should we quickly assume when someone is saddened for a time that they don’t have the joy of the Lord in their life at all?
2. What are some reasons for joy in this passage that can help us to endure and even see victory in and through times of groaning?
3. What does it mean to do everything with the desire to be pleasing to God?  How can that godly desire be applied to even the “mundane” things in life?  How wonderful is it to know that for the Christian, the judgment seat of Christ is a place of reward, since all our sin has already been judged in full (Romans 8:1)?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Helpful thoughts:

• “Jars of clay” is a figure of speech referring to human weakness.  We are frail, easily breakable.  Yet, with God’s power working in us, “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed…struck down, but not destroyed.”
  • These are not words that describe jars of clay.  We persevere due to the power of God in us.
• Being followers of Jesus, even our dying can be used for good and for the good of others.
• For the Christian, our physical death is simply a part of the process in our eternal life.
  • When hardships come, when we endure trials, tribulations, persecutions, even death…we know these things are all temporary.  They are obstacles in the path that God will get us over and will turn for our good.  We’re going to be with God forever.

Questions to consider:

1. Why might a person be offended to be called a “jar of clay?”  Why is it so important we remember that’s what we are?
2. How does knowing who God is and who we are give us the right perspective to live life well?  How does it lead to our proper understanding of the gospel and repentance?  How does it produce greater joy and rest of spirit in us?
3. How long will eternity be?  How can thinking about eternity with the Lord help you endure your days on this earth?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Helpful thoughts:

• The truth of the gospel is not seen by all (Those who remained veiled from chapter 3).  But this does not require us to lose heart.  Nor does it require us to devise new strategies to sweeten the gospel.
• Paul’s method of communicating the gospel: The open statement of the truth.
• When someone rejects our open statement of the truth (The gospel), these things must be remembered:
  • Satan blinds minds.
  • They are first rejecting God, not you (“What we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.”)
  • We have succeeded whether those who hear repent or not.  “The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” has shone.

Questions to consider:

1. Sometimes we feel like we shouldn’t share the gospel until we have a PhD in apologetics.  How does this passage argue against that feeling?  What is it that we are responsible to share?
2. What other concerns can prevent us from sharing the gospel with others?  What truths must we consider to get over those fears?
3. Though we have no need to change the way we speak or write out the gospel message, where are all the places we could give an open statement of the truth (Maybe even some places Paul never had access to)?  Where (And/or with whom) could you share the gospel today?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul calls the Mosaic Law a “ministry of death” not because there was anything wrong with the Law or the Ten Commandments, but because man is unable to perfectly obey them.  The Law taught man that he is a sinner and deserves death.
• Those who read the laws/rules/commandments of God and thinks they can be good enough are living with a veil over their eyes.  They are blind and remain in their sin.  Those who acknowledge their sin and look to Jesus for forgiveness and freedom have had the veil removed.  They can see the purpose of the law and the grace of God through Christ!
• Staring at the Law and ourselves will never cause us to change and grow.  We look to Jesus.  We rejoice in our salvation in Him.  Beholding the Lord transforms us.

Questions to consider:

1. What must a person believe if he is to think he has performed adequately according to God’s commands to have earned eternal life?  What is wrong in that person’s theology, his understanding of himself, etc.?  In what way has the Law become a stumbling block to him?  Why would he find the gospel of Jesus Christ offensive?
2. What kind of glory does the Law of Moses have if a person does not understand the gospel?  What is the only way the true glory of the Law of Moses can be seen?
3. How should the truth of this passage affect the way we teach and disciple others?  If all we do is teach rules and reward or criticize, what are we missing?  If we never teach rules, what won’t we be able to introduce?  How does centering our teaching and thinking on Jesus and the gospel make all other teaching biblical accurate and constructive?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul’s qualification or role as an Apostle was being questioned by the church.  The very existence of the church and its growth was evidence of Paul’s calling.
• The New Covenant is written of in the Old Testament in Ezekiel 36:26-27.  The Corinthians believers were benefactors and participants (As we are) of this New Covenant.
  • Paul used the term “Minister” instead of Apostle in this passage.  Many of the things Paul did to serve the church are things we can and should still do today to carry on the task of building up the church.
• The letter of the law does not give people the ability to obey.  It simply instructs us concerning our inability and guilt.  The Spirit gives life, freedom, and the ability to follow after God.

Questions to consider:

1. Why was the obvious working of God better than a letter from a man?  While references can certainly be a good thing today when we get to know people (Especially candidates for ministry roles), how should we always weigh those references?
2. How was Paul made “sufficient” to be a minister of the New Covenant?  How are any of us made sufficient?  When we are obedient to minister (And the word in the Greek could be translated as a “servant”) who are we putting our confidence in to bear fruit?
3. How does the grace of the New Covenant (Saved by grace through faith in Christ), eliminate legalism?  Why are we able to encourage and teach obedience without being legalistic?  What comes first, justification or obedience?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul was concerned about Titus and the health of the church in Corinth when Titus proved unable to leave Corinth to join him in ministry in Troas.
  • “Open doors” are not signs from God that you’re supposed to go through.  An open door is simply an open door.  If the “door is open” and it would be pleasing to God, go for it.  If the “door is open” but Scriptural principles make it clear it’s not a good thing to do (Or that there is an even better/more pressing option), don’t do it.  The Word of God gives us what we need to discern.
• As Christians follow Christ and speak the gospel, we will make an impact and garner responses from all kinds of people.
  • To those who hear and believe, we are a blessing.
  • To those who hear and reject, we are a nuisance (Or worse).
    • Both responses bring glory to God in the end.
• Our ministry of evangelism and discipleship is not a gimmick.  We aren’t to put up appearances or try to sell people on Jesus.  We are to live in sincerity and speak the truth to those who are perishing, honestly desiring their salvation.

Questions to consider:

1. What are the pitfalls of the “Open door” method of trying to discern God’s directive will?  How could it lead a person astray?
2. Why do the positive and negative responses to the “aroma of Christ” both glorify God in the end?  Why is God to be praised when sinners repent and are justified?  How is God’s righteousness and justice displayed through those who reject Him?
3. To whom are you spreading the aroma of Christ?  Who could you pray for and share the gospel with today/this week?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Helpful thoughts:

• This passage could refer to the man who was to be disciplined by the church in 1 Corinthians 5, or it could have been someone else (Possibly one who sought to lead people against the teaching/leadership Paul had given).  Either way, the application is the same.
• The sin of this person had a negative effect on all the church.  We can decide whether or not to sin, we don’t get to decide the consequences or how many people it impacts.
• When the man had been unrepentant, the church was right to remove him from membership (Matthew 18:17).  Now that the man was humbled and repentant, restoration was appropriate.
  • Repentance and restoration are always the goal of church discipline!

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it right for us to forgive others (Matthew 18:33)?
2. When is it right for us to forgive others (Matthew 18:15-17)?
3. What should we be hoping for throughout the process of rebuking our brothers or sisters in Christ?  And, how should we approach people when we confront their sin (Galatians 6:1)?