2 Corinthians 5:11-15 Pastor Dave explained that the “fear of the Lord” has a positive connotation, not a negative flavor like “fear of the coronavirus.” To fear God means to honor and revere Him. Dave noted that a person can err by fearing – honoring and seeking to...
2 Corinthians 5:1-10 The topic of this week’s passage is death – the believer’s “moving house” from a temporary, increasingly decrepit tent to an eternal building in heaven. I need not fear death because God is the One who has prepared me for it. The guarantee that...
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 We are jars of clay – commonplace, of low value, and easily broken. Paradoxically, we contain a great treasure – God shining in our hearts. Pastor Dave noted that we can all tell stories of affliction from our own lives. The question is, were we afflicted but not...
2 Corinthians 4:1-6 Paul’s ministry – “this ministry” – was the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the change from the old covenant to the new, from the Law and eternal death to the Spirit and life, from condemnation to righteousness. This ministry is ours...
2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Some of the Corinthian Christians had apparently accused Paul of being braggadocious, but he responds by proclaiming that his confidence and sufficiency come from God. Pastor Todd asked where our confidence lies. How can we be confident that we are on the right track? As...
2 Corinthians 2:5-11 Read out of context, this week’s passage is rather baffling. Pastor Dave explained that, in context, it is clear that Paul is talking about church discipline. The church at Corinth has disciplined a member for sin, and Paul is telling them it’s time to...
2 Corinthians 1:12 – 2:4 Pastor Shannon began by reflecting on the sad reality that conflict occurs even between sincere and godly believers. Paul knew this. Because he changed his travel plans, believers in Corinth accused him of uncaring vacillation. Shannon drew three wise...
2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Pastor Dave quoted scholar David Garland as saying, “The word comfort has gotten soft in theEnglish language.” Today, we often think of comfortas running away from suffering or affliction to some “safe space” or as running to self-indulgence in...
Introduction to 2 CorinthiansIn his introduction to 2 Corinthians, Pastor Dave stressed context. The context of the letter is the state of the church in Corinth, and we must dig deep in both of Paul’s preserved letters to the Corinthians to find clues about was going on. I took...
Titus 3:1-15 Throughout Paul’s letter to Titus, he has stressed both sound doctrine and good works. We often think of good works as serving in a soup kitchen, giving money to charity, and the like. But Paul includes in “good works” our everyday conduct as Christians, as...