Find The Big BUT In Every Problem

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

On verse 7:   The Corinthians were aware to some degree of Paul’s trials, hardships and weaknesses and some Corinthians would even say that these trials, hardships and weaknesses are evidence that Paul is not a “super apostle”.  Paul responds by likening his faith and God’s Holy Spirit inside to a treasure that resides in a weak, brittle jar of clay – i.e. himself.  This is consistent with Paul’s point in verse 5 that he is not here to preach about how good and strong he is but about how great and strong God is.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) 
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

On verses 8-9:  I love Paul’s attitude.  No matter how many problems Paul faced, Paul was found a big BUT in every problem. “We are hard pressed on every side, BUT not crushed; perplexed, BUT no in despair; persecuted, BUT not abandoned; struck down, BUT not destroyed.”

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When God Turned On The Lights

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 4:1-6.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV) 
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 

On verse 1:  It’s only because of God’s mercy that we get to serve God and represent Him on this earth.  It’s a privilege and an honour that we never earned or deserved, just one of the many benefits that comes from receiving God’s gift — Jesus Christ — by faith.  If don’t feel worthy to serve God or you feel inadequate, remember: God in His mercy has saved you, chosen you and qualified you to serve Him.  So serve Him with confidence, joy, perseverance and without fear.

2 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) 
2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 

On verse 2:  Since it is because of God’s mercy that we can serve God and be called ministers in His kingdom, we don’t need to pretend to be someone we’re not, or act as if it all depends on us.  Rather, we can just “set forth the truth plainly”.  The truth of what?  The truth of who God is as revealed in Jesus Christ and the truth of who we are, mere sinners who have been saved by His grace, who still make mistakes but who are loved, accepted and chosen by God through Jesus Christ.

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Why You Can Be Bold and Hopeful

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 3:7-12 (NIV)
7  Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,
8  will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9  If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
10  For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
11  And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12  Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

On verses 7-12:  What is Paul talking about in verse 7?  Paul is alluding to an incident from Exodus 34:29-35 where Moses carried two stone tablets containing God’s law (in particular, the Ten Commandments) to the people.  As Moses came down the mountain carrying God’s law, Moses’ face radiated with God’s glory so much so that the people were afraid and asked him to cover his face with a veil.  

Paul recalls this incident as a way to say that the old covenant, represented by Moses and the Ten Commandments, was glorious even though it was temporary (v7, 11), performance-based, and brought death (v7) and condemnation (v9) to people. 

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“New Covenant” Versus “Old Covenant” – What’s the Difference and Why Does It Matter?

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 3:1-6.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NIV)
1  Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2  You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.
3  You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

On verses 1 to 3:  When Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, a number of people in his church were questioning his authority as an “apostle”, that is, as a leader who plants and leads a church. They compared Paul to other individuals who were known as “super apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5 and 12:11), who looked more impressive than Paul was, and who brought with them letters of recommendation talking about their credentials.  They thought, “Look at Paul.  He faces problems, defeats and disappointments all the time, and he doesn’t have any letters of recommendation.  So he mustn’t be a legitimate apostle.”  Paul understandably was hurt that the very church he planted was now questioning his authority and competence as an apostle.

In response, Paul says, “We don’t need letters of recommendation, degrees or certificates, because the best proof of our competence as apostles is you!  The fact that you continue to follow Christ as a community — is that not proof that God has been working through us?” (vv2-3).

Ironically, in the end it was Paul — the guy whose authority was questioned because he went through so much criticism, opposition and difficulty and wasn’t afraid to share about it  — who ended up having the lasting legacy, whereas those super apostles faded out of history.

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How to Serve God Well

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 2:12-17.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 2:12-13 (NIV)
12  Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,
13  I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.

On verses 12-13:  Have you ever anxiously awaited a response from someone – maybe a text, an e-mail, a phone call – and found yourself unable to focus much on anything else until you get their response?  That was Paul’s situation.  Paul had gone to the city of Troas to preach the gospel and found that people were responding positively to his message (“the Lord had opened a door for me” – v12).  But Paul was distracted because at the same time he was waiting for Titus to give him an update on how the Corinthian church was doing, especially after Paul had written a strong letter rebuking them.   When he did not Titus in Troas, Paul decided to leave Troas despite the good work that was going on there, and go to Macedonia. 

What can we learn from this?  Because Paul was distracted by the state of his relationship with the Corinthian church, Paul couldn’t really focus on the mission to share the gospel with people in Troas.  The state of our relationships can have a real impact on our ability to focus on our work and do our work well.  It can also affect our ability to bless and lead others.  It’s no wonder that Jesus tells us to seek reconciliation and peace in our relationships before offering our gift at the altar.  It’s also no wonder that Paul says that an overseer of a church needs to have a good and healthy life at home, for if my private life is out of order, I will not last or be as effective as I could be in helping others. 

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Extend Forgiveness To Those Who Hurt You

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 2:1-11.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 2:1-11 (NIV)
1  So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.
2  For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?
3  I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy……

On verses 1-11:  It appears that there were two incidents that caused evident tension in the relationship between Paul and the church in Corinth.  The first incident Paul mentions was his most recent visit to the church in Corinth, a visit which Paul described as “painful” (v1).  It was painful probably because Paul seriously reprimanded people in the church for not resolving certain problems that he had warned them about before, or because someone in the church publicly criticized and tried to embarrass Paul to his face, or both.

The second incident was a letter Paul wrote “out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears” (v4), a letter in which Paul poured out his heart for the church, expressed his distress about the direction they were moving in (v3) and likely rebuked the church as well.  Paul’s goal in writing that letter was “not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you” (v4) and “to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything” (v9).  This letter caused a minority in the church – in fact, probably just one person – to behave extremely immaturely and start bashing Paul.

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Power in weakness

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 1:12-24.  There is a tremendous amount we can learn from this passage.  Let’s go!

To understand verses 12-24, it’s important to understand the state of Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth when Paul wrote 2 Corinthians.  It seems that Paul was being heavily criticized by a number of Christians in Corinth.  One reason they would criticize Paul was because they knew of the great difficulties that Paul experienced as he sought to spread the gospel wherever he went, including great persecutions, shipwrecks, imprisonment, and other life-threatening trials.  Some of the Corinthians thought that Paul’s afflictions meant that Paul was not “blessed by God” and thus was not as great a leader as other individuals who were coming to the Corinthians and calling themselves “super apostles” who seemingly never had any problems.  In reality, it could be that these “super apostles” were simply not telling the Corinthians about their difficulties, whereas Paul was open and transparent with the Corinthians about his problems.  But instead of respecting Paul and being proud of Paul for being open with them about his trials and for persevering through those trials, the Corinthians would hold Paul’s trials against him, seeing them as a reason to be ashamed of Paul.  

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The God of All Comfort

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Hi GAMErs,

Now onto today’s GAME passage.  Today we begin the book of 2 Corinthians, which Paul wrote to the church in Corinth in approximately 56 AD.  We start today with 2 Corinthians 1:1-11.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 1:1-2 (NIV)
1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
2  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

On verses 1-2:  Though it is called “2 Corinthians”, scholars believe that this letter is actually the fourth letter that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth.  Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians has never been found. His second letter has become known as “1 Corinthians” and was written to address a number of problems happening in the church.  After writing the letter known as 1 Corinthians, Paul would make a “painful visit” (2 Corinthians 2:1) to the church in Corinth, probably to reprimand the church because the problems he wrote about in 1 Corinthians had not been adequately dealt with.  Paul would then write a couple more letters to the church in Corinth, with 2 Corinthians being the last of these letters.  As shown in verse 1, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians with the help of Timothy, Paul’s apprentice, who was likely writing down Paul’s words as he dictated them.  Paul would make one more visit to the church in Corinth after writing this letter.

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Be A Thoughtful Planner

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 16:1-12.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 16:1-12 (NIV)
1  Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.
2  On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
3  Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.
4  If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. ……

On verses 1-12:  In 1 Corinthians 16:1-12, Paul shares his plans with his church in Corinth.  Notice how intentional and thoughtful Paul is in his planning.  Whether it’s about giving and collecting offerings (v1-4), about his travels and how he spends his time (v5-8), about how to treat his own disciples like Timothy (v10-11) or how to lead and take care of the church (v12), Paul explores different options, considers their advantages and disadvantages, and carefully plans out his steps.

What can we learn from this?  Whether it’s in regard to your ministry, your family, your finances, the way you give, your future, or your friendships, be a thoughtful planner.

Beware the misconception that spiritual leadership is all about “feeling the Holy Spirit” and nothing more.  Those who think this way will try to make it seem as though thoughtful planning is somehow unspiritual, that to plan means you’re not trusting God, and that it is more spiritual and supernatural to be spontaneous than to be strategic. 

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Imperishable Hope

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 15:50-53 (NIV)
50  I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51  Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed–
52  in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

On verses 50-53:  What is Paul saying here?  Let me explain it this way.  When you trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  You received a new heart and a new spirit (one destined to be with God forever rather than one destined to be apart from God forever) (Ezekiel 36:26).  But while your spirit was made new in Christ, your body didn’t change.  I would be really surprised if the moment you received Jesus into your life, you went from balding to a full head of hair, or from a beer belly to six pack abs, or from your current bodily measurements to a clothing size up or down.  In other words, though some crucial changes happened in your spirit when you received Jesus, your body stayed the same.  

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