Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 I. You can be sure you’re going home because God is building you a home. A. We Christians know what is going to happen to us after we die (vs. 1). Paul compares our earthly bodies to a tent. And tents are temporary. King Hezekiah also compared his dying body to a…

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 I. Your present suffering is light and momentary because of your resurrection hope. A. The apostle Paul is not saying that your present suffering isn’t real and that it isn’t hard. In vs. 13 he quotes a portion of Psalm 116:8-10. The psalmist prayed in faith that God would deliver him from death.…

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 I. Don’t lose heart because you have your ministry by the mercy of God.A. What is the only reason you have a Gospel ministry in service to God and people? Godhas been merciful to you (vs. 1). Just like God saved your soul because of His mercy,God has also given you a ministry…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…