The Church at Her Best | 2 Corinthians 13:7-14
The Apostle Paul closes his letter to the Corinthians with a description of what the Church of Jesus Christ looks like when she is at her best.
Testing Yourself To See If You Are IN the Faith | 2 Corinthians 13:5-6
Time for a pop-quiz. It is the most important test that we need to pass. It is a test to see if we possess faith in Christ, and therefore if Christ is in us. Not everybody passes this test (Universalism is not Biblical), nor is it only for some (God did not predestine only some for faith). Anyone can pass - as long as they possess faith.
Overcoming Sin - Repentance in Action | 2 Corinthians 13:1-4
Living in a sin-cursed world where we face temptation from all around us, there is still hope in the simple truth that Jesus is greater than your sin. The same power that raised Jesus from the grace, is able to overcome the flesh.
Understanding Repentance | 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
Repentance is one of the words in our Christian faith that has been very misunderstood. As a result, it has been discarded and seen contrary to grace. But repentance is something that we all need and will lead us out of death from sin to experience life in Christ. Which is why the Apostle Paul is willing to meddle in the personal lives of the Corinthians.
God's Power and Our Weakness | 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
God doesn't need you to be a strong Christian. Sounds counterintuitive, yet Paul teaches that our weakness allows us to lean into His grace, which is His power to face the difficult circumstances in life.
When God Says No | 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
God asks that we turn to Him in prayer for healing, help, and restoration. But what happens when we turn to Him in earnest faith, but His answer is no. How do we face the pain and struggle that He doesn't take away? Paul's thorn in the flesh gives us important insight to the hope filled truth that God has a purpose, especially in our pain.
Boasting in our Weakness | 2 Corinthians 11:30-33
The world cheers for strength, for excellence, for those with power and special abilities. But God chooses the weak, who are committed to trust Him, because that's where His power shows up best.
The Fool's Speech | 2 Corinthians 11:16-30
We are often guilty of the comparing ourselves with others and feeling that we come up short. Yet it is foolish to do that, because it means putting ourselves under the standard (which is another way of saying the Law) which only guarantees that we experience death and condemnation. Yet, the Apostle Paul decides to lower himself into this foolishness to show that the false apostles who are placing the church in Corinth under law, are unworthy of their toleration.
Beware of False Apostles, Teachers, and Prophets | 2 Corinthians 11:5-15
In multiple letters and by multiple people, including Jesus, we are warned to watch out for false apostles, teachers, and prophets. For they are servants of Satan meant to confuse, devour, and bind up the children of God. But how do we identify these wolves in sheep clothing, and how can we protect ourselves?
Keep It Simple | 2 Corinthians 11:1-4
The gospel is meant to be simple. But as the serpent deceived Eve into believing a complicated gospel led her astray, our enemy attempts to do the same with us. This robs us of our joy, peace, hope, rest, and power that is found in the simplicity of Jesus.