2 Corinthians by Ryan Lowery (2016)

As pressures and suffering mount, Paul shows how confident he is (and we can be) in God's faithfulness. You are able to receive comfort from God even in the midst of your suffering, knowing that God is producing in you an eternal weight of glory.

The Corinthian church is questioning Paul's authority as a result of Paul having written them a challenging letter previously. To defend speaking Biblical truth into their lives, Paul convinces the Corinthians that we must speak truth in love to one another. This means intervening in each other's lives, knowing when to be firm, and when to be gentle. Speaking truth in love is evidence of real relationships.

The Corinthians have been questioning Paul's authority and credentials to speak into their lives. Paul tells this church that its members are his credentials ? the way he loved them and led them to God and not himself is his proof that he speaks truth. Paul records four ways that we can know whether or not we should listen to a person's insight. We must ask: 1) from whom do they take their confidence, 2) where do they get their adequacy, 3) are they a servant, and 4) do they rely on the Spirit or the Law?

Paul has seen church after church be distracted by false teachers and turn against him, just like the church in Corinth. How is he able to persevere despite apparent failure after failure? He relies on God's power. We must be willing to fail at following God, because that is how God will teach us to rely on Him, and that is how we will grow.

We are called to let the love of God shine through us as we serve others, but what should motivate us to serve? Paul first discusses with the Corinthians what we should not be motivated by: glorifying self. He then discusses three good motives for serving. We serve because: 1) we will be rewarded, 2) God loved us first, and 3) He has asked us to serve others.

Our goal as Christians is to represent Christ and his love to the world. We are to be Christ's ambassadors. Paul addresses in his letter to the Corinthians first why we should be ambassadors for Christ, and then how to do this. We become effective ambassadors when we learn to: not be unnecessarily offensive, endure hardship, and represent God instead of our own interests.

Paul demonstrates good, Godly correction, and shows how Godly sorrow leads to real change. We are called to represent God well in our culture, and that involves taking the risk of speaking the truth in love to others. We must be willing to direct others toward truth, and we must be willing to accept correction in our own lives.

Money is a resource God wants to use to meet real needs. How do we achieve God's perspective on generosity? Paul describes six principles to guide us in our giving, starting with a need to give out of love, not obligation.

In this section, Paul describes spiritual warfare, a battle not fought with physical weapons, but with ideas and arguments. There are two sides, each presenting itself as the origin of truth: God and his enemy Satan. The implications of this battle extend beyond physical life and death, so we must decide if we will choose to believe God and His truth, or rebel against Him.

How do we arm ourselves in this spiritual battle against God's enemy, Satan? Paul describes how we must take our thoughts captive, carefully considering what we choose to believe. In order to combat the lies of the world, we must know God's Word.

Paul defends himself against lies charged to him as he calls the Corinthians to look inward and consider what they really believe. Are they willing to respond to God's truth and His promptings for change? Or are they willing to accept lies? Introspection can lead to paralysis by analysis, but we're called to serve others by looking inward at how God wants to grow and challenge us.