Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Compelled to Serve 2 Corinthians 4:1-15 Summit View Church
CG Coaching for Week #4 - 2 Corinthians 4:1-15
Sunday, June 28th - Pastor Kyle Van Tine - 2 Corinthians: A Church Compelled
"Compelled to Serve" (2 Corinthians 4:1-15)
"Compelled to Serve" (2 Corinthians 4:1-15)
GROWING DEEPER
Being exposed to God has a compelling transformative power. As Moses’, face was physically transformed to shine when exposed to God’s glory, likewise, our hearts are transformed. For us, though, it is a permanent glory that does not fade. When we accept Christ as Lord our lives are forever changed. Daily, as we think on the gospel, God is doing a heart-work in us, sculpting us and unveiling to us His truth so that we do not lose heart when we see the word of God being distorted and watered down. We must be bold in our faithfulness to the gospel and in our prayers for those whose hearts are veiled to the truth. We must not be tempted to change our message for the hearers. John Calvin clarifies that “the blindness of unbelievers in no way detracts from the clearness of the gospel, for the sun is no less resplendent because the blind do not perceive it.” We must continually point the blind to Christ as the light they need in their lives to rid themselves of their blindness. We are fragile clay vessels that show, from our joy in the face of suffering, the everlasting power of the Creator God who does not abandon us but sustains us with his Word. God’s light grows as our weakness does. It is a strange and magnificent paradox that our weakness invites the strength of God. In our weakness we can reveal God’s light of grace into a dark and perishing world.
Read Revelation 7:9-10
- Paul’s boldness and joy in suffering for the gospel comes from his focus on the future hope of eternity with God. Do you live today with a future hope that sees eternity as our ultimate destination?
- How have the Scriptures come alive and been life changing to you? What might need to change in your life to allow this to happen?
- How have you personally experienced the unique challenges of the Christian life that Paul highlights in verses 8-9?
- How are you being daily transformed by Christ?
- How has your weakness glorified God and displayed his power? (John 12:24-26)
- How have you seen or experienced the spiritual blindness that Paul mentions in verse 4 either in yourself, your family or in the world?
Friday, June 26, 2015
Thursday, June 25, 2015
"Compelled to Reflect God to Others" 2 Corinthians 2:13-3:18
2 Corinthians: A Church Compelled
"Compelled to Reflect God to Others" 2 Corinthians 2:13-3:18
Sunday, June 21st 2015
Sunday, June 21st Care Group Coaching with Pastor Kyle
"Compelled to reflect God to others" 2 Corinthians 2:13-3:18
Growing deeper
We are all ministers. True ministry starts when we accept Christ as our Lord. As receivers of the New Covenant, which has been inscribed on our hearts, all believers are equipped to be ministers because God has given us the Holy Spirit who brings us inward joy and guides us to a deeper life in Christ. A new heart, along with a new relationship, a new knowledge and true forgiveness is the promise of the New Covenant (Read Jeremiah 31:31-34). God is not looking for strength, but instead is looking for those weak enough to let him lead. True ministry comes when we die to our self, trust God in all circumstances, remember God is the source of all power and ability and then faithfully carry our message of hope to the people in our lives. Paul’s beautiful visual of aroma is hope-filled for those who carry God’s message of grace into a hostile world. Odors are pervasive. They can travel for miles and cling for days. The “sweet aroma” of our message of hope and the delight we take in Christ should give us boldness and confidence to proclaim our message to the world even if some reject it.
Read Philippians 1:19-21 and Matthew 16:24 -26.
- Think about dying to self. There is a tension between being God’s joyful captive slave being led to our deaths in God’s triumphal procession (2:14) and being alive in Christ (Colossians 2: 13).
- What does fullness of life in Christ look like as we die to self in our ministry to others, both inside the church and out?
- Do a heart check. What are your motives for ministry (2:17)?
- Paul says that we are the “aroma of Christ to God” (2:15), meaning God delights in us and in our lives. What does knowing that our lives as Christians are a delight to God mean to you?
- What is the aroma of Christ to you? How do you delight in Christ?
- What weaknesses are you hiding behind that you need to release to Christ’s sufficiency to help you minister (3:4-6)?
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
"Compelled to Integrity and Forgiveness" 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11
Sunday, June 14th - Pastor Kyle Van Tine - 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11 "Compelled to Integrity and Forgiveness"
Growing deeper
There are several themes that flow together in this passage - integrity and confidence, discipline and love, mercy and grace, forgiveness and restoration. Each theme is grounded in the others. Paul knows that by following God’s wisdom for life, he can be confident in a clear conscience that is fully dependent on the triumph of God’s grace.
Christ’s character is Paul’s character, and our own character.When we say “Yes” to Christ in our lives, we are saying “Yes” to a life of integrity, confidence, sincerity and power centered on a reliable and gracious God. God is the God of truth and restoration. He fulfilled all His promises of the Old Testament Covenants (Genesis 9, 12, Exodus 19, 2 Samuel 7, Jeremiah 31) in Christ.
God disciplines us lovingly, mercifully warning us of our sin and patiently waiting to restore our fallen standing with Him (2 Peter 3:9). He makes us His people, guarding and protecting our faith, giving us His Holy Spirit and granting us full inheritance when we accept Christ as Lord.
Now, as recipients of the New Covenant, we must, in obedience, grant forgiveness and restoration to repentant fellow sinners with whom we are bonded together in Christ, for both the health of the individual and the church body. In our new life, acknowledging our own weakness and sin, we must passionately pursue integrity in prayer, Bible study and intentionally move forward as we stand firm in Christ.
Read 2 Peter 1:2-4
Integrity comes from the Latin word for wholeness or completeness. How does the knowledge of the character of God create wholeness in us?
What does merciful love look like biblically?
What are ways God has been faithful, loving and merciful to you?
Do you have anything for which you need to repent and seek forgiveness?
What does the restoration of repentant sinners look like, according to Paul?
Is there anyone in your life who is repentant that you need to forgive and restore?
Prayer is a powerful tool in our Christian lives. God listens. Take some time to bring your struggles to God and seek His wisdom.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
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