Sermon20120902

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Sermon20121226

2 Corinthians 1:15 – 2:4

15 In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing;
16 that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea.
17 Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time?
18 But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no.
19 For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him.
20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
23 But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.
24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.

CHAPTER 2
Reaffirm Your Love
1 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?
3 This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

Introduction:

Theme: Four questions to evaluate your personal integrity so you can minister in love to others.

I. Is your word your bond? 1:15-18

II. Have you experienced the faithfulness of God 1:18-22

A. He is faithful through His Son
B. He is faithful to His promises
C. He is faithful in His saving work

III. Do you consider the good of others when making decisions? 1:23-24

IV. Are you honest with your own struggles in ministry? 2:1-4

Four Indications of Paul’s Struggle

A. He made his decision not to come to them for his own sake.
B. He admits that another visit would inhibit his own gladness.
C. He opted to write the sorrowful letter rather than experience another painful visit.
D. He suffered affliction and anguish of heart in writing the letter to them.

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Sermon20120819

2 Corinthians 1:15 – 2:4

15 In this confidence I intended at first to come to you, so that you might twice receive a blessing;
16 that is, to pass your way into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be helped on my journey to Judea.
17 Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will be yes, yes and no, no at the same time?
18 But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no.
19 For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him.
20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
23 But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.
24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.

CHAPTER 2
Reaffirm Your Love
1 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?
3 This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

Introduction:

Theme: Four questions to evaluate your personal integrity so you can minister in love to others.

I. Is your word your bond? 1:15-18

II. Have you     the faithfulness of God 1:18-22

A. He is faithful through His Son
B. He is faithful to His promises
C. He is faithful in His saving work

III. Do you consider the good of others when making decisions? 1:23-24

IV. Are you

with your own struggles in ministry? 2:1-4

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Sermon20120812

2 Corinthians 1:12-14
Paul’s Integrity
12 For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but

in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.
13 For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end;
14 just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

Introduction:

Theme: Three keys to a effective ministry so you won’t lose focus in times of challenging circumstances.

I. Your

conscience

is the key to

confidence

in

ministry vs.12

II. Mutual

boasting

is the key to

fulfillment

in ministry vs.13-14

III. The day of the

Lord

is the key to a

right perspective

in ministry vs.14

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Sermon20120805

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Sermon20120729

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;
10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.

Introduction:

Theme:

Three common Christian responses to severe affliction so you know what to expect in the midst of the trial.

I. Severe affliction will often

Cause

you temporal despair vv. 8-9a

II. Severe affliction should

Compel

you to trust in God rather than yourself vv. 9b-10

III. Severe affliction leads you to

Call

on fellow Christians to pray vs. 11

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Sermon20120722

2 Corinthians 1:3-8
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

Introduction:

Theme: Five reasons why God grants His ministers comfort in trials so we will understand the nature of divine comfort.

I. It is in His

nature

to grant it

vs. 3

II. It is His

design

that they be able to comfort others

vs. 4

III. It is His unique

provision

to match their sufferings for Christ

vs. 5

IV. It is His

purpose

to produce patient endurance in you

vs. 6

V. It is His

intention

that all believers share in the sufferings of Christ

vs.7

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Sermon20120708

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Sermon20120701

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Sermon20120624

Introduction:

Three Formative Questions:

1. What does it mean to call God our Father ?
2. What can an earthly father learn from God our Father ?
3. What is the proper response to God our Father?

Homiletical Proposition: Three aspects of God our Father which leads us to worship Him as His children.

I. The Important characteristics of God our Father
A. The Creator , father of all things.
B. He is uniquely the Father of Abraham and thus Israel.
C. God is Jesus’ Father, making him the Son of God
D. God is our spiritual Father

As the Father of believers in Christ:

1. Unconditional love for us
2. His intimate relationship with us.
3. Full acceptance of us as sons
4. Loving discipline of us
5. Constant protection of us
6. Faithful provision for us
7. Complete forgiveness of our sins.

II. The Example provided by God our Father
A. Continuous role model
B. Continuous parenting opportunity
C. As a father to children at home.

III. The Right response to God our Father
1: Worship God alone
2: Completely Trust God
3: Pray to God always
4: Obey God willingly.
5: Love God with your whole being.
6: Serve God diligently
7: Become like God, be an imitator of God.
8: Honor God your father !

Dads –

Have you placed conditions on your love ? Or do you love them unconditionally like God our Father?
Do you discipline your children in sinful anger or thoughtful love?
Be at peace with your kids. Do you forgive your children from your heart.?
Do you cultivate an intimate relationship with your children ?
Do you protect your children ? Spiritually
Do you provide for your children?

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