Read 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7.

1. What do you think of when you hear the word comfort? What gives

you comfort?

2. Why is comfort important? Why do we need comfort? When do we

need comfort? What happens if we don’t receive comfort?

3. In today’s passage, who does Paul describe as our primary source of

comfort?

4. Pastor Mick talked about the Greek words paraklesis (comfort) and

paraclete (comforter, advocate, one called to the side of)? Why are

these words important? Who does John describe as paraclete in his

Gospel and letter?

5. Pastor Mick said we are to be human paracletes to one another.

What did he mean by that? How is this comment supported by

verse 4 of today’s passage?

6. Pastor Mick used the Jewish tradition of “Sitting Shivah” with

mourners when a loved one dies. What is “sitting shivah”? Why did

he use this example for providing comfort?

7. Pastor Mick said that comfort is not about fixing peoples’ problems,

but rather helping a person find a place of warmth and safety amid

their distress. Do you agree with that? Why/ why not?

8. How does receiving comfort produce “patient endurance” in us, as

Paul describes in verse 6? What did Paul mean by that? Have you

experienced this in your lifetime? If so, how?

9. Pastor Mick said that receiving comfort teaches us how to comfort

ourselves and teaches us how to comfort each other. Do you agree?

Why is this important?

Prayer for the Week:

Gracious and loving God, we thank you for your compassion and

comfort. We thank you for always being with us in times of grief and

trouble, never leaving us nor forsaking us. We thank you for others

whom you send into our lives, those who remind us of your presence, by

simply being present with us to comfort us in our times of distress. Help

us, Lord, to learn from this so that we might be a comfort to others in

the same way. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus, who lives and

reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.