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...
Titus 2:1-15 In this passage, Paul speaks very plainly about what sound doctrine, or teaching, looks like in the lives of men and women, young and old. Pastor Dave noted that one prominent theme in Paul’s instructions to each group is self-control, the ability to say “no” to...
Titus 1:1-9 I know enough about the book of Titus to know that Paul quotes a Cretan saying that describes the people of Crete as liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons (1:12). Before hearing Pastor Shannon’s sermon, though, I had not considered the parallels between 1st century Crete and...
Colossians 4:7-18 In his final greetings, Paul names ten people who, to us, are strangers with hard-to-pronounce names but who were important players on Paul’s team. Reflecting on these relationships and the message of the whole letter, Pastor Dave drew several conclusions about church...
Colossians 4:2-6 Near the end of his letter, Paul instructs Christians to pray in three specific ways. Pray, being watchful. Watchful, for what? Paul has already spoken of “when Christ, who is your life, appears.” (3:4) If we are watchful for Jesus’ return, we will pray...