BEING SHREWD ABOUT DECEPTION

In our message, BEING SHREWD ABOUT DECEPTION (2 Cor. 2:1-17), we continued our new study in the book of Second Corinthians which is about ministry and the suffering it can entail as one stands for the Bible (Gen. 3:1, etc.).

Paul continues to explain why he postponed his intended visit (2 Cor. 1:16; 2:1-4, etc.). It was because he had “made up [his] own mind” not to come to them again in sorrow (2 Cor. 2:1 NET).… Continue reading

PURE MOTIVES IN MINISTRY

What Ministry Is All About – Part 2

In our message, PURE MOTIVES IN MINISTRY (2 Cor. 1:12-24), we continued our new study in the book of Second Corinthians which is about ministry, and the suffering it can entail as one stands for the Bible (Gen. 3:1, etc.). In Second Corinthians, we see “false apostles” led and instigated an attack against the truth of God’s Word spoken through the apostle Paul (2 Cor. 1:1; 11:13-15, etc.).… Continue reading

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT

What Ministry Is All About – Part 1

In our message, THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT (2 Cor. 1:1-11), we started a new book in the Bible- Second Corinthians. Both First and Second Corinthians deal thematically with the church and church life. While First Corinthians focuses on several specific problems in a local church and how God says we are to approach those issues, Second Corinthians deals primarily with what ministry is all about and defending the Word of God.… Continue reading

THE CALL TO BE SPIRITUAL

In our message, THE CALL TO BE SPIRITUAL (1 Cor. 16:13-24), we completed our series on the book of First Corinthians.

The Holy Spirit summarizes the message of this book here: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Cor. 16:13-14). The Greek word to “be brave” (andrízomai) is translated “quit you like men” in the old KJV and means literally “to make a man of… make brave,” to be courageous… This is the role of course of every godly husband to lead his house spiritually, strongly in the Lord, but it is also the role of every Christian to be “spiritual,” instead of “carnal” (1 Cor.… Continue reading

BEING STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE

Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 31

In our message, BEING STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE… (1 Cor. 16:1-12), we looked at additional questions the church had for Paul (1 Cor. 16:1, 12). The first one deals with stewardship. In view of our certain future of being glorified and reigning with the Lord (1 Cor. 15:51-52, 58), we are called to also excel in the grace of giving (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-8, etc.).

While this question from Corinth to Paul (i.e.… Continue reading

THE FINAL VICTORY

In our message, THE FINAL VICTORY (1 Cor. 15:42-58), we continued our series in the book of First Corinthians looking at the Gospel and specifically the time when Jesus will return for the church and Christians will be glorified in Him (Rom. 8:30, 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Cor. 5:9-10, etc.).

Paul continued to explain what would happen to a Christian who had died before Jesus’ return (1 Cor. 15:42-49) and then transitioned to what would happen bodily to those of us who are alive when Jesus returns for the church (1 Cor.… Continue reading

THE GLORIFIED BODY

Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 29

In our message, THE GLORIFIED BODY (1 Cor. 15:29-41), we looked at two additional arguments for the glorification of the body of Christians followed by some discussion on what that body would look like…

There is a conversation we are not privy to between the apostle Paul and the church in Corinth, and we see this here as Paul brings forward an argument based upon a practice that had crept into the church in Corinth at that time (i.e.… Continue reading

THE DEATH OF DEATH

Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 28

In our sermon, THE DEATH OF DEATH (1 Cor. 15:12-28), Paul continued his discussion on the Gospel and specifically the resurrection.

He first used the hypothetical of what it would mean if Christ had not risen from the dead (1 Cor. 15:12-19). Paul explains that if the resurrection of the body is impossible, then the resurrection of Christ is also fiction because Jesus rose bodily (i.e. was resurrected) from the dead (1 Cor.… Continue reading

THE BEST NEWS EVER

Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 27

In our sermon, THE BEST NEWS EVER (1 Cor. 15:1-11), Paul defines the Gospel which is the most important message in all of the Bible. “Gospel” means good news and truly it is THE BEST NEWS EVER! (1 Cor. 15:1, 3-4, etc.). Jesus is the hero (the Messiah) of the story as He rescues humanity from a plight we could not deliver ourselves from (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23; 5:8; 2 Cor.… Continue reading