Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 10:7-18.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 10:7-14 (NIV)
7  You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he.
8  For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
9  I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.
10  For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”
11  Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
12  We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
13  We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.
14  We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.

On verses 7-14:  One criticism being thrown at Paul was that Paul had been boasting excessively about his authority in the church.  This criticism was probably coming from the “super apostles”, a group that featured speakers who were more eloquent than Paul but who did not have the authority that Paul had as founding pastor of the church.   Paul tells his church, “Stop judging by mere appearances and enough with these silly comparisons.” (v7)  

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 8:16-24.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 (NIV) 
16  I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 
17  For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 
18  And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 
19  What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 
20  We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 
21  For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men. 
22  In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 
23  As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 
24  Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. 

On verses 16-24:  In making preparations to collect the offering from his church in Corinth, Paul goes out of his way to tell his church in Corinth that he and his team are taking great pains to make sure that the funds given by his church are being handled carefully and without any hint of mismanagement.  In particular Paul focuses on the trustworthiness of the individuals who have been appointed to go to the church in Corinth to receive their offering and from there to deliver the offering to its intended destination.  Those individuals include Titus, whom Paul praises at length (v16-17) as well as two other individuals whose names are not stated but who are apparently highly reputable church representatives (v18-19a and v23).  

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 7:1-7.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)
1  Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

On verse 1:  What “promises” is Paul referring to?  It’s the promises that Paul quotes at the end of chapter 6 in the context of not being yoked with unbelievers: “come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you” and “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord”.  Because God promises to receive us and promises a close father-child relationship with us, Paul encourages his “dear friends” the Corinthian Christians, as an act of worship (“reverence for God”) to purify themselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit (including being yoked to unbelievers) so that they can grow in holiness.

Salvation (being forgiven of your sins) takes only a moment.  But sanctification (growing more like Christ) takes a lifetime.  Though we will never get it perfect on earth, out of reverence for God we want to seek to become more like Jesus every day.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 6:1-10.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 6:1 (NIV) 
1 As God’s co-workers…

On verse 1a:  Isn’t it cool that as ambassadors of Jesus, we are God’s co-workers?  That means we don’t just work for God but with God.  When Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, Jesus followed it up by saying, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). In other words, as we do God’s work, we can be assured that we’re not just working for Him, but with Him.  

Praise God!  As you seek to bring Jesus to your home, your workplace, your school and your city, remember that you’ve got the best Co-Worker on your side.  God, who is working in us and with us, will empower you with everything you need to accomplish the mission He has given you.  So serve with confidence and faith!  God is with you!

2 Corinthians 6:1 (NIV) 
1 …we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NIV)
1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

On verse 1: What is Paul talking about when he says, “Now we know if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed…”?  What earthly tent is Paul referring to?  The earthly tent Paul is talking about is our physical bodies, which, like a tent, are useful but susceptible to wear and tear.  Our earthly bodies are great temporary dwellings, but they are also subject to hunger, fatigue, disease and death.  Paul is saying that, as Christians, one day when we die, we can look forward to going to heaven where we will have “an eternal house”, a physical body that will never decay and cannot be destroyed.  Praise God!  The Bible describes heaven as a place where God “will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)  So if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you have much to look forward to after you die.  For when you die, you don’t leave home; you go home!

2 Corinthians 5:2-5 (NIV)
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.