Faithfully Presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Today’s lesson does not focus on the message of the Gospel. The focus of today’s lesson is presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:3-13 (NLT)
Paul’s Hardships
Paul’s Faithful Ministry
Faithfully Presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. 12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. 13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!
Examine the scriptures:
2 Corinthians 6:3-13 (NLT)
Paul’s Faithful Ministry
Paul’s Hardships
Faithfully Presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
2 Corinthians 2:16 NLT
16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom.
- The Gospel may be offensive or foolish to many people.
3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us,
Matthew 18:6 NLT
6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
1 Corinthians 8:9 NLT
9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. (This verse was talking about eating certain foods.)
1 Corinthians 8:9 Amplified Bible
9 Only be careful that this liberty of yours [this power to choose] does not somehow become a stumbling block [that is, a temptation to sin] to the weak [in conscience].
- We must live our lives in such a way that no one will stumble because of us.
and no one will find fault with our ministry.
- We need to avoid behaviors that would negate our effectiveness as an ambassador for Christ.
4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God.
This principle does not just apply to Paul and his co-workers.
Philippians 1:27-30 NLT
Live as Citizens of Heaven
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
- Live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.
The following is a description of Paul’s experiences. We should anticipate some similar experiences.
We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.
5 We have been beaten
,been put in prison,faced angry mobs
,worked to exhaustion
,endured sleepless nights,
and gone without food.
2 Peter 1:3-7 NLT
Growing in Faith
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
- Patiently endure troubles and hardships remembering that God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.
6 We prove ourselves by our purity
,our understanding
,our patience
,our kindness
,by the Holy Spirit within us,
and by our sincere love.
- Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
7 We faithfully preach the truth.
God’s power is working in us.
We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.
2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT
4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
Ephesians 6:10-11NLT
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
- God’s power is working in us.
8 We serve God
whether people honor us or despise us,
whether they slander us or praise us.
We are honest, but they call us impostors.
9 We are ignored, even though we are well known.
We live close to death, but we are still alive.
We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.
10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.
We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.
We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
- Living for God is challenging.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
- Remember who you are serving.
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. 12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.
13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!
Paul’s appeal to the Corinthian Church. Open your hearts to us.
- Invite others to be a part of your life.
