God's Strength through Our Weakness

You Can Change

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 I. You change through Jesus. A. The giving of the Law did not change anyone. People still had no power to change. God promised to change people through faith in Jesus and the new covenant that came with Jesus. So, Paul and the apostles were very bold in preaching the Gospel (vs. 12). In…

New and Improved

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-11 I. The new covenant that came with Christ changes hearts. A. A covenant is an agreement between God and people in which God promises to bless those who accept and commit themselves to Him. God promised a new covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-33: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with…

Join the Parade

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 I. In the Jesus parade we spread the fragrance of Jesus and the Gospel. A. The last part of 2 Corinthians 2 looks more like a defeat for Paul and the church than a victory to be celebrated. Paul’s spirit was not at rest in Troas because Paul didn’t find Titus to get the news from…

Discipline Matters

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 There is a time to judge “For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough” (v6) “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5) “If your brother sins against…

Rolling with the Changes

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 & 2:1-4 I. You roll with the changes by living with godly sincerity. A. Paul refers to this godly sincerity in vs. 12. The Corinthians had expected Paul to show up at a certain time, but Paul didn’t come. Paul had a clear conscience in his behavior in changing his plans. Paul did…

God’s Purposes in Suffering

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 I. God’s purpose is that we might receive comfort through suffering. A. Paul uses some version of the word comfort ten times in vs. 3-7. He uses the words affliction and sufferings three times each in vs. 4-8. God is merciful and kind to His people and brings comfort to them in their…

Trusting Paul

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 I. You can trust Paul because he is an apostle sent by God. A. Paul begins his letter to a church that wonders if they can trust him by reminding them that he was sent as an apostle to them by God. In Acts 1:21-22 we read that by definition an…