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)

Listen to "Compelled to Serve" here

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?

The Beauty of Humble, Kind and Compassionate Godliness

When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him-Proverbs 16:7 

Perhaps you wouldn't define yourself as an enemy of Christianity or an enemy of anything or anyone for that matter but you are certainly not a big fan of the organized church, televangelists or particular, seemingly outdated doctrines of the Christian faith.
But would you not agree that there is a self-authenticating beauty to the genuine Christian life?
A life lived for the glory of God and the good of others is a life that brings human flourishing in relationships, marriages, families, workplaces and neighbors. When someone is walking with the Lord, humbling caring for the poor, needy and broken, praying for God's favor, blessing and forgiveness over others as well as just kindly serving you with gentleness and compassion, it's morally beautiful.

Perhaps you say you respect this way of life even if you don't completely disagree with the Christian view of God, sin, salvation, and eternal life. You have enjoyed having Christian family members, coworkers or friends.

But let me ask you this, if you believe that Jesus left an example that is morally beautiful and worthy of emulation and you would applaud those who would give their lives, like Jesus, to serve, teach and care for others, could it be that Jesus' actual teachings, which infused his lifestyle and informed his ministry might also be true and helpful?  I have found that it becomes increasingly difficult to live appreciatively among Christians in your family, your workplace or your school while denying their beliefs.

The challenge comes in having to simultaneously deny the truth of Jesus life, death and resurrection while at the same time witnessing the self-authenticating beauty of the lives of service and compassion that those beliefs about Jesus create.

Christian doctrine shapes Christian service.

If you say you love our actions but dislike our beliefs you cut us in half. All we do is informed, shaped and influenced by what we believe about God.
We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)
We serve because he served us (John 13:15)
We forgive because we have been forgiven. (Matt 6:14)

Jesus isn't just a good example, he is a great savior and it is because we have been chosen, loved, forgiven and adopted that we can serve others selflessly because we're not living for the perfect spouse, the next iphone or even being a "good person." Christians our people of eternal hope that live for the life to come when every longing for adventure, every craving for pleasure, every desire to be known, understood, accepted and loved will be fully and finally fulfilled in the God who created us, loves us and saves us in Jesus!

Christ Will Build His Church

I just wanted to write you all briefly to tell you how encouraged I was by the joy and tireless service of Christ's people yesterday at church.

I woke up at 6:00am and opened my windows to see freezing conditions and fairly strong snowfall. According to the weather reports I heard the snow was supposed to have let up Thursday so I used the bad weather as a justification for grumbling and I allowed unrighteous discouragement in my heart.

I drove through the snow and slippery roads to the HQ/Office still muttering to myself. Upon arrive I was shocked to see John Bender hard at work putting chains on his truck’s tires and Ed Jones readying the AV Trailer for transport. They were both full of hope and joy! Pastor Steve arrived at the HQ and upon seeing Ed and John’s progress declared, “We’re going to have Church and people are going to get saved today!”

Instead of repenting right there for my grumbling, complaining, and unbelieving attitude, I thought that even if we got the trailer to the church nobody would show up in this horrible weather.

God changed my unbelieving heart when we drove up into the Marshall Middle School parking lot. Far from seeing the parking lot totally empty and covered in snow, there was cheering, smiling, excited people who had woken up early and driven through the snow just to set-up church! People were shoveling snow, laying down salt, and rejoicing in the opportunity to worship Jesus together with their church family.

As I helped unload the AV trailer, I can remember hearing someone say something that I think summed up the overwhelming feeling that snowy morning, “Jesus will build his church!”

I’m overwhelmed by the hope, joy, and love people expressed in my follow Christians faithful service last Sunday. Thank you God for giving his church a deep commitment to cooperate worship gatherings regardless of the weather!