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)?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4

Helpful thoughts:

• In a world where we are tempted (And taught) to boast in ourselves, we must instead boast in the grace of God.
  • We are saved through the blood of Jesus, according to the promises recorded in the Word of God, all given to us by the grace of God.
  • In this knowledge and faith, even when we boast of each other, we are boasting in God.
• There was evidently frustration with some in the Corinthian church at what looked like a change in Paul’s plan to come minister to them.  God had other plans, and Paul sent them a letter instead.  The ministry they needed at the time was rebuke, and that’s what Paul gave them (This was how the grace of God pointed them to repentance in Christ at the time).
  • There appears to be two ways these verses refer everything being a “yes” in Christ.
    • Even though the people didn’t get what they initially wanted (Paul’s earlier visit) they did get what they needed (A loving rebuke and time to respond before Paul arrived).  This was God’s working for their good in a way that was better than what they’d hoped for…their “yes.”
    • The promises of God all find their “yes” in Christ.  This refers to the promises of God as found in the Old Testament.  The Old Testament points to and is fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 24:27).

Questions to consider:

1. How does the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer serve as a “seal” and “guarantee?”  What covenant promise does God see and remain committed to when he sees the seal on us, which is the Holy Spirit? (John 10:29, Philippians 1:6)
2. How does verse 24 give us a road map for helping our brothers and sisters in Christ to seek repentance?  What can’t we do for (or to) them?  What can we do?  What is our goal for those who are in sin?
3. Why is Christ the only source of our boasting?  Our only hope of rescue?  Our guarantee of perseverance?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Helpful thoughts:

• One of the major fruits/results of suffering in this life is the benefit of receiving comfort from God.  When we receive God’s comfort, we are then equipped to pass that comfort on to others who suffer in the same way.
  • Going through hardships within a community of people (The church) gives us opportunities to learn from the afflictions of others and to share the fruits of our own afflictions with others.
  • How difficult and unfruitful it would be to suffer without a community of believers.
• God allows His people to go through things they cannot handle (Verse 8).
• God can handle anything and everything.  We are to rely on Him.

Questions to consider:

1. What are some ways you have seen fellow Christians struggle that encouraged your faith and growth?  What are some ways you have suffered that have been or could be useful to others?
2. Does 2 Corinthians 1:8 disagree with 1 Corinthians 10:13 (The answer is…no)?  What do we do when we fall into temptation?  If God doesn’t allow us to be tempted beyond our ability, then what are we always able to do, even when we are going through somethings we can not handle on our own?  How could we understand these verses together?  What powerful truth do they convey?
3. How does God ultimately deliver all of His people?  Even if He did allow us to suffer to the point of death, what deliverance will we never lose that makes all other deliverances pale in comparison?

Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 1:1-2

Helpful thoughts:

• Saul was a Pharisee, hater of Christ and persecutor of the church of his own will before his conversion.  Paul was an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.
• The word Apostle means, “one who is sent.”  The Apostles were men who were appointed directly by Christ for that specific task at that specific time.  There are no more Apostles today.
• Being wished “grace and peace” was derived both from Greek and Jewish culture.
  • The Greek word for “hello” is similar to the word for grace.  So, Christians began to greet each other with the word for grace.
  • The Jews greeted each other with the word for peace.

Questions to consider:

1. Knowing the Corinth was a city in Achaia, what could this greeting from all the saints (Christians) in verse 1 of the Christians in the whole region have reminded the church in Corinth of?  Were they the only church?  Was the kingdom being built outside of their “walls?”
2. Why is it so significant to know that Paul was an apostle by the will of God?  How does this truth bring about humility in the person?  How does it promote praise of the Lord?  How is this true for all of us as we consider our own salvation?
3. Even when we have disagreements or unsettled issues with others (As Paul will address in this letter) what is our hope for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ (Verse 2)?  How does pursuing biblical communication bring about grace and peace in a way that avoiding hard conversations never could?