Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Title: Gripped: The Conviction of the Apostle Paul, pt. 1
Summary: The Bible is given, not only to instruct us, but to show us what faith looks like in real life in the grand redemptive narrative. We are not merely spectators, but active participants in the unfolding gospel story. Scripture is filled with real people who lived out their faith in the midst of suffering, persecution, wickedness, and every other reality of the human condition. This week we will begin a four week series looking at the conviction of the Apostle Paul through 2 Corinthians 4. The main question we will answer is, “What does it look like to be gripped by God?”
Outline:
I. Gripped by Mercy (4:1)
a. Being gripped by God brings freedom (3:17)
b. God’s mercy is accomplishing something glorious (3:17-18)
c. God’s mercy produces ministers (servants) who extend that mercy to others (4:1)
d. God’s mercy emboldens and sustains Christians (v. 1)
II. Gripped by Integrity (4:2)
a. Confidence in God’s word purifies the witness of the church
b. Confidence in God’s word leads to a clear conscience
III. Gripped by the Spiritual Reality (4:3-4)
a. Understanding the spiritual reality produces compassion towards unbelievers (v. 3)
b. Understanding the spiritual realm frees us from manipulating others (v. 4)
c. Understanding the spiritual realm reminds us who the true enemy is and where the true battle exists
IV. Gripped by Christ’s power (4:5-6)
a. Faith in Christ produces servants (v. 5)
b. Faith in Christ is forever rooted in God’s grace (v. 6)
c. Remembering God’s grace produces confidence in God’s people (v. 6)
Discussion Q’s:
1. Do you have the mindset of a minister (servant) because of God’s mercy? How is it showing itself in your life?
2. What tends to threaten your confidence in God?
3. Do you ever feel pressure to manipulate or coerce others (neighbors, co-workers, spouse, children, etc.) into believing the gospel?
How does confidence in God’s mercy and his gospel free you from that pressure?
4. What is your general attitude towards those who don’t believe the gospel? Are you merciful and compassionate, or self-righteous?
5. What can you do to remember God’s grace toward you this week?
6. Who is in your life that needs you to go to battle on their behalf against the true spiritual enemy?
November 4, 2018
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
November 4, 2018 • Pastor Josh Kee
November 25, 2018
November 25, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff
Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 Theme: What being gripped looks like in the life of the believer Attitude of the Believer: We do not despair (16a). Reason: Even as outwardly we may suffer, inwardly we are being renewed (16b). Result: Momentary lightness of suffering is preparing a super-exceeding weightiness of glory for us. (17) Response: Focus your eyes on the eternally spiritual rather than the temporarily physical (18). Application Questions: • Going back over 4:1–15, what could cause people to despair? According to these same verses, why do we not need to despair? • What evidence do we see that outwardly we are wasting away? How are we inwardly renewed day by day? What does this imply for how we should conduct our everyday life? • Why do you think it is easy for us to proclaim the truth of v. 17 in theory, but struggle with seeing it in our own lives? • Describe things that are seen and temporary vs. things that are unseen and eternal. How do we get our focus off of what is temporary and on to what is eternal?
November 18, 2018
November 18, 2018 • Pastor Phil Burggraff
Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:13–15 Theme: Gripped: The Response to God’s Grace Progression of those gripped by God’s glory and Christ’s Gospel: 1. True knowledge of the gospel 2. Accepting belief in it. 3. Bold proclamation of it. Motivation for those gripped by God’s glory and Christ’s gospel: 1. We will be raised with Christ on judgment day. 2. We give our lives now to be used by God for His glory. Main Idea: When we know and believe what God has done for us through Jesus Christ, we need to proclaim that He can do whatever he wants us to do through us for his glory. Application Questions: • In this passage, what is the order of progression for one to come to a place where they are gripped by God’s work on their behalf? Do you think that one reaches the end of this progression or that they continually cycle through it? • From this text and earlier in chapter 4, what is it that one must believe? Why do you think so many believers in these truths aren’t truly gripped by them? • What motivates you to continue to believe and follow Jesus Christ? Are they the same motivations that Paul gives in vv. 14–15? • Do you think our failure to proclaim God’s grace stems from us not being truly gripped by what God has done for us? What can be done to remedy this?