CG Coaching for Week #11 of 2 Corinthians: A Church Compelled
Sunday, August 16th sermon by Pastor Kyle Van Tine
"Compelled by Obedience" - (2 Cor 10:1-18)
Growing deeper
Jesus didn’t strut onto the world stage like a Hollywood star. He came meekly into the world as a baby born in a barn, lived his childhood in obscurity, ministered while homeless and died a humiliating death on a cross. Yet His divine power was unimaginable. He contained His power to become the sacrificial Lamb that saved us. Meekness is strength submitted to the proper authority. Paul writes strong words against those who want their showiness to be interpreted as authority and power. Their super-apostle strength was all show with no real power. Their authority was devoid of God’s truth, and Paul outlines ways to not be deceived by their error. Paul wasn’t looking for man’s approval; he knew he wasn’t impressive by man’s standards. Paul wasn’t willing to compromise the gospel because he sought God’s approval only. He did not want the false elitism and improper boasting of the few to stop the many in the Corinthian church from growing in faith and maturity. Like the Tower of Babel, some had built citadels to their own works, believing in their own power to save rather than God’s. They were measuring themselves by the world’s standards, looking to impress. We must be careful not to muddy the gospel for approval. The only criteria we should measure ourselves, and others who claim truth, is Christ - His character, His meekness, His deeds, His words, His suffering, His resurrection. Our boast is in Christ alone.
Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-8, Galatians 1:6-12, Philippians 2:1-11.
Biblical meekness is a submissiveness towards God. Our pride is laid at the feet of Jesus. We must test true gospel messages to see if they are submitted and pointing towards the Gospel. No matter how impressive a speaker, a vision or a miracle is, if it doesn’t point to Christ it is useless. We need to become people of The Book.
Who are you seeking approval from?
How does what you are impressed by line up with God and His character?
What are some points of pride in your life you need to surrender to God?
Who in your life do you need to humble yourself and serve?
