Sermon
Notes & Quotes
August 10, 2025
The Body in Conflict: The Good Life
II Corinthians 6
“You were born to win; you were born for greatness, you were created to be a champion in life”
“He wants you to live in abundance. He wants to give you the desires of your heart…God is turning things around in your favor”
“God wants to increase you financially, by giving you promotions, fresh ideas and creativity”
“It’s going to happen… Suddenly, your situation will change for the better…He will bring your dreams to pass”
“You will often receive preferential treatment simply because your Father is the King of kings, and His glory and honor spill over onto you”
“God wants you to live an overcoming life of victory. He doesn’t want you to barely get by. He’s called El Shaddai, ‘the God of more than enough’”
“God wants us to have healthy, positive self-images, to see ourselves as priceless treasures. He wants us to feel good about ourselves… God sees you as a champion… He regards you as a strong, courageous, successful, overcoming person”
(Joel Osten)
Luke 14:
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
John 15:18-25
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
“The interesting thing is that the early church never attempted to “impact” their society in the sense that we often use that word. They never worked to push a biblical moral agenda. They never got involved in trying to elect certain people to political office. They never got involved in trying to push people up the social ladder in order to gain some pervasive moral influence over their culture. Changing the morality or the politics of the world around them was never their goal. Instead, this is what the early church cared about, according to Paul’s letter to Titus:
They cared about not dishonoring the Word of God. They cared about living in such a way that unbelievers would have nothing bad to say about them. They cared about adorning the doctrine of God. In a word, what the early church cared about was evangelism. They were concerned about bringing the Word of God into the public forum so that the truth could be heard, and they were concerned about living godly lives so that there would be no hindrance to people believing in the truth. They knew that the testimony they gave through their individual lives, not the testimony of a moralized culture, was necessary for reaching their society. As the German philosopher Heine once said, “Show me your redeemed life and I might be inclined to believe in your Redeemer.”
II Corinthians 6:
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;
5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;
9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
II Corinthians 6:14-16
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
ἑτεροζυγοῦντες (heterozygountes) - Only time used in all of Scripture. Join that with ἀπίστοις (apistois) from apistos: Unbelieving, faithless, unfaithful. Paul isn’t talking about belief in Christ.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
II Corinthians 6:14b
For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.
II Corinthians 6:16
As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.” (Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27)
We are promised God’s presence in the holy life. He will never leave you nor forsake you. In the darkest parts, Scripture tells us it is light for God.
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.” (Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41)
We were never supposed to be like the world. We were never supposed to create a world. We are to let God work through us, in our differences, pointing people to Him. He changes people. Our holiness is what people see as different.
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
July 27, 2025
The Body in Conflict - Ambassadors
II Corinthians 5
We ARE disciples and we are recognized by two things:
John 8:31-32
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide (μείνητε/meinēte) in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Matthew 28:19-20
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age”.
Romans 10:14-15
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Isaiah 52)
II Corinthians 5:19b-20
And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
II Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
II Corinthians 5:18
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
Reconciliation/ καταλλάξαντος (katallaxantos)
II Corinthians 5:20
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
We are Christ’s ambassadors. πρεσβεύομεν (presbeuomen) in Greek.
Word Origin: [from the base of G4245 (πρεσβύτερος - elders)]
1. to be a senior
2. (by implication) act as a representative
3. (figuratively) preacher
II Corinthians
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
Ephesians 6:
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
because.......
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains.
II Corinthians 5:11-15
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
II Corinthians 5:14
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
“The interesting thing is that the early church never attempted to “impact” their society in the sense that we often use that word. They never worked to push a biblical moral agenda. They never got involved in trying to elect certain people to political office. They never got involved in trying to push people up the social ladder in order to gain some pervasive moral influence over their culture. Changing the morality or the politics of the world around them was never their goal. Instead, this is what the early church cared about, according to Paul’s letter to Titus:
They cared about not dishonoring the Word of God. They cared about living in such a way that unbelievers would have nothing bad to say about them. They cared about adorning the doctrine of God. In a word, what the early church cared about was evangelism. They were concerned about bringing the Word of God into the public forum so that the truth could be heard, and they were concerned about living godly lives so that there would be no hindrance to people believing in the truth. They knew that the testimony they gave through their individual lives, not the testimony of a moralized culture, was necessary for reaching their society. As the German philosopher Heine once said, “Show me your redeemed life and I might be inclined to believe in your Redeemer.”
(https://www.masters.edu/thinking_blog/the-early-churchs-example/)
II Corinthians 5:20b-21
We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Questions in application and in prayer for the week:
How can I react and feel safe?
How can I pray more, Father – what is holding me back or blocking my way?
How can I show up in Your world Father and point people to the Kingdom of Heaven?
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July 20, 2025
The Body in Conflict - Hope
II Corinthians 4
The antidote to a spirit of discouragement is to turn to God and be filled with hope.
Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
II Corinthians 4:1
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
II Corinthians 4:8
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed (stenochōroumenoi only time in NT); perplexed (aporoumenoi), but not in despair (exaporoumenoi – only time used in all of Scripture); 9 persecuted (diōkomenoi), but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
II Corinthians 4:10-12
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
II Corinthians 2:14-27
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.
II Corinthians 4:7
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
II Corinthians 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Hebrews 11:1-2
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
From Rediscover Church:
“The church is a gathering and a fellowship of the family of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Spirit.
“The big takeaway for you right now is that church membership is not a passive thing. It’s not just a status. It’s not like membership in a country club, a shopper’s club, or a gas station rewards program. It’s a job where you go to work. You need to get job training. You need to engage it with your mind and heart. You need to think about making an impact. What are you going to produce this week? Are you benefiting the whole team and carrying your weight or are you slacking off? Furthermore, if your job is to watch over the what and who of the gospel, you need to study and understand the gospel. What are its implications? What threatens it? How does it relate to other doctrines of the faith, such as the Trinity, sin, or the end times? What does it mean for your work, engaging in politics, or raising children? What does true belief look like in someone’s life versus nominal, fake belief? Can you tell the difference between a church member who stumbles into sin because he or she is weak versus a member who pursues sin because he or she is wicked—a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Do you know how to respond to both kinds? Can you tell the difference between a true and a false teacher? Also, do you know other members of your church and invest your life in theirs? Do you let them inconvenience your schedule? Do you help them financially when they’re struggling? Or do you basically keep to yourself all week, counting your church involvement as the ninety minutes you show up on Sunday? We spend years in school and sometimes college, training for our careers. We spend forty hours a week pouring ourselves into them, and we’re always learning, training, and growing. All this is good. Yet what might it look like to be similarly focused, deliberate, and hard-working in our job of protecting God’s gospel people and extending the gospel’s dominion?
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Do you need hope active and recognized in your life? - are you discouraged?
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Does someone we know need hope active and recognized in your life?- are they discouraged?
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Who is God asking you to pray for and support as they grow?
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Who is God asking to pray for and support you as you grow?
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July 13, 2025
The Body in Conflict - Righteousness
II Corinthians 2:14-27
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
II Corinthians 5:20-21
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
II Corinthians 3:1-3
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Matthew 6:1
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
And then He follows that up with examples.
Matthew 6:2-4
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
I Corinthians 3:4-6
4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Luke 18:19
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.”
And then
Luke 18:29-30
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
II Corinthians 3:7-11
7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
Exodus 34:29
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.
Exodus 34:33-35
33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.
II Corinthians 3:9-11
9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Isaiah 32:17
And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
Colossians 3:12-13
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Ephesians 4:30-32
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
II Corinthians 3:12
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
Where is our hope? In Christ.
II Corinthians 3:13-18
13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
II Corinthians 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
“More than anything else, your non-Christian friends need not just your gospel words but also a gospel community that testifies to the truth of those gospel words. You want them to watch the life of your church and say, “God really does change people. And he really is building a just and righteous city—here in the church” (see 1 Cor. 14:25; Heb. 11:10).”
Heaven touches down on planet earth through our gathered churches. And when this happens, you offer the citizens of your nation the hope of a better nation, the residents of your city the hope of a better and lasting city. No matter what challenges you face as an American or non-American, ethnic minority or majority, rich or poor, your hope for a just and peaceful society should not rest on the kingdoms of this world. It should rest on the King himself, who is establishing his heavenly kingdom in the outposts we call the local church. (25)
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Where is God working in your life?
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Where are you being asked to follow Christ?
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Who is God asking you to pray for and support as they grow?
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July 6, 2025
The Body in Conflict - Forgiveness
From Rediscover Church:
"But the point is, a church must be clear about who belongs to it and precisely who doesn’t for the sake of the church’s witness. He wants us to stand out and be distinct so that we can offer an attractive and compelling witness to the world. As such, church membership is an assumed reality on nearly every page of the New Testament Epistles, but the language is different. Membership in a church is membership into a family. It comes with family obligations. It’s membership in a body. It comes with all the dynamics of being connected to every other part. Every biblical metaphor for the church helps us to understand what membership is, and all of them are necessary, because there is nothing else in the world like the church.” (p. 80-81)
Revisit the questions driving us into community:
How can I pray for you? Who are you asking and who is asking you?
Where are you in the Word of God? Who are you asking and who is asking you?
Matthew 18:32-35
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times
490 times. There are two promises in that as well.
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We will need to forgive
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It is a lot of times – not one and done
II Corinthians 2:1-4
1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
II Corinthians 2:5-11
5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Mark 11:25
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
At this point, Christ has just taught the disciples the Lord’s Prayer. He follows up that teaching with this words.
Matthew 6:14-15
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Colossians 3:12-13
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
After the teaching on spiritual maturity, Paul closes out Ephesians 4 with these words.
Ephesians 4:30-32
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
II Corinthians 2:12-13
12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
II Corinthians 2:14-27
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Application Questions:
Do I need to extend forgiveness to anyone?
How can my words reflect the "aroma that brings life"?
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June 29, 2025
The Body in Conflict - Comfort
After listening to the sermon, reflect this week on the passages studied in the Word of God. God over the passages again and "sit" with them. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak in and through the Word of God. Reflection questions are at the end.
II Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
Compassion (oiktirmos: Compassion, mercy, pity).
II Corinthians 1:4
4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
“who comforts us” - Comfort is parakaleó
II Corinthians 1:5
5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
Abundant is perisseuó
John 16:33
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
James 1:2
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Hupomoné: Endurance, perseverance, patience, steadfastness
Luke 8:15
15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Hebrews 12:2
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
John 16:
“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them.
II Corinthians 1:7-8
7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
II Corinthians 1:9
But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
II Corinthians 1:10-11
10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Rediscover Church:
"When people ask whether church membership is in the Bible, they’re often looking for something programmatic, like membership to a gym or club. And, true enough, that’s not in the Bible. Let’s remove such ideas from our heads. Instead, let’s get into our minds “the Temple of the living God”, which is the image Paul uses to describe who we are. The temple cannot be “yoked with” pr have her “partnership”, “fellowship”, or “accord” with unbelievers. Why? Because God dwells in this temple. He identifies himself with it. Yes, we should still invite nonbelievers into our worship gatherings (I Cor. 14:24-25). But the point is, a church must be clear about who belongs to it and pricisely who doesn’t for the sake of the church’s witness. He wants us to stand out and be distinct so that we can offer an attractive and compelling witness to the world. As such, church membership is an assumed reality on nearly every page of the New Testament Epistles, but the language is different. Membership in a church is membership into a family. It comes with family obligations. It’s membership in a body. It comes with all the dynamics of being connected to every other part. Every biblical metaphor for the church helps us to understand what membership is, and all of them are necessary, because there is nothing else in the world like the church.” (p. 80-81)
Application questions/reflection:
How can I pray for you? Who are you asking and who is asking you?
Can we study the Word of God together? Where are you in the Word of God? Who are you asking and who is asking you?