2 Corinthians Covenant Group

Transcription

1 Conversation on: Generosity Applied June 11, 2017 This week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 11: Corinthians 11: 9 (NLT) And when I was with you and didn t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. Paul had the right to ask for financial support, just as God's faithful servants do today; but he had deliberately given up that right so that nobody could accuse him of using the Gospel simply as a means of making money. He gave up his "financial rights" for the Gospel's sake and for the sake of lost sinners who might stumble over anything that gave the impression of being "religious business." Warren W. Wiersbe - Bible Exposition Commentary Acts 18: Corinthians 9: Genesis 29: * Matthew 6: 33 From A Plain Account of Christian Perfection: He now reigns in my heart without a rival. I find no will but His. I feel no pride, nor any affection but what is placed on Him. I know it is by faith I stand; and that being watchful in prayer must be the guard of faith. John Wesley Next week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:

2 Conversation on: Removing Masks June 18, 2017 This week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 11: Corinthians 11: 14 (NLT) But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. There is a change on the outside, but there is no change on the inside. Satan's workers, like Satan himself, never appear in their true character; they always wear a disguise and hide behind a mask. Warren Wiersbe Bible Exposition Commentary - Be Encouraged (2 Corinthians). Galatians 1: Peter 2: 1-3 Jeremiah 6: 14 * 1 Kings 3: 5-12 From A Short History of Methodism (regarding some opposed): it would not be strange if they should grow into reputation. For they will never shock the world either by harshness of their doctrine or the singularity of their behavior. But let those who determine both to preach and to live the gospel expect that men will say all manner of evil of them. John Wesley Next week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:

3 Conversation on: Suffering and Hardship This week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 11: Corinthians 11: 28-29(NLT) Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? June 25, 2017 "We never know the love of our parents for us till we have become parents," said Henry Ward Beecher, and he was right. Warren W. Wiersbe Bible Exposition Commentary - Bible Exposition Commentary Acts 9: John 21: Kings 19: * Acts 20: 24 From Scriptural Christianity: And when having fought the good fight, they were led as sheep to the slaughter and offered up on the sacrifice and service of their faith... John Wesley Next week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:

4 Conversation on: Honor July 2, 2017 This week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: Corinthians 12: 3-4 (NLT) Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and hear things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. But Paul did not look for honor from men; he let God honor him, for that alone is the honor that really counts. Warren W. Wiersbe Bible Exposition Commentary Be Encouraged (2 Corinthians). John 17: Revelation 1: 9-20 Genesis 28: * Ephesians 3: 1-4 From On the Holy Spirit: A good conscience brings a man the happiness of being consistent with himself; but not that of being raised above himself into God; which every person will find, after all, is the thing he wants. John Wesley Next week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:

5 July 9, 2017 Conversation on: Grace This week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 Each time he said, My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. As Paul prayed about his problem, God gave him a deeper insight into what He was doing. Paul learned that his thorn in the flesh was a gift from God. What a strange gift! There was only one thing for Paul to do: accept the gift from God and allow God to accomplish His purposes. God wanted to keep Paul from being "exalted above measure," and this was His way of accomplishing it. Warren W. Wiersbe Bible Exposition Commentary Hebrews 12: 2-4 Romans 5: Peter 5: 10 * Psalm 51 From Christian Perfection: First, it does by no means appear that this thorn, whatever it was, occasioned St. Paul to commit sin, much less laid him under any necessity of doing so. Therefore, it can never be proved from this that any Christian must commit sin. John Wesley 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) Next week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:

6 Conversation on: Correction 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 (NLT) For I am afraid that when I come I won t like what I find, and you won t like my response.... You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure. One of the dangers of the Christian life is that of getting accustomed to our blessings. A godly pastor or Sunday School teacher can do so much for us that we begin to take the ministry for granted. (To be fair, I must admit that pastors are sometimes guilty of taking their church members for granted.) Warren W. Wiersbe Bible Exposition Commentary July 16, 2017 This week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: OTHER Hebrews 2: 1-4 Jeremiah 6: 15 Jonah 3: 1-6 * Titus 2: 8 From A Call to Backsliders: Presumption is one grand snare of the devil, in which many of the children of men are taken. They so presume upon the mercy of God as utterly to forget his justice. John Wesley Next week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:

7 Conversation on: Test July 23, 2017 This week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 13: Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. In dealing with sin in a local church, we must have facts and not rumors. Warren W. Wiersbe Bible Exposition Commentary OTHER Matthew 18: John 3: 14 Proverbs 21: 30 * Romans 8: 9-16 From The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption: Examine narrowly (for it is of the utmost importance for you) what the ruling principle is in your soul! Is it the love of God? Is it the fear of God? Or is it neither one nor the other?... Wesley John Next week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:

8 Conversation on: Peace This week s scripture: 2 Corinthians 13: 9 14 July 30, Corinthians 8:20 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Balanced Christian growth and ministry is impossible in isolation. Someone has said that you can no more raise one Christian than you can raise one bee. Christians belong to each other and need each other. Warren W. Wiersbe Bible Exposition Commentary WESLEY SAY? Isaiah 6: 1-8 Psalm 11: 3-5 Numbers 6: Timothy 3: From GRACE: Growing in Grace: Ref. 2 Corinthians 13:14: How often have we heard this awful benediction pronounced! Let us study it more and more, that we may value it in a proper degree: that we may either deliver or receive it with a suitable reverence, with our eyes and hearts lifted up to God, who gives the blessing out of Zion, and life for evermore. Thank you 47