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)?
