SERMON SERIES: RENEWAL IN CHRIST

SERMON TEXT - 2 Corinthians 10:1–6

“I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”

‌

SERMON SUMMARY‌:

Recently, I endeavored to build my kids a playground in our backyard. I started with a burst of energy and supplies and I accomplished much very quickly. However, after a few days of toil fatigue and reality quickly set in. I was tired and was beginning to spend far more than I had initially budgeted for. Constructed ground to a halt for months. Everyday, my kids would ask when I would be done and my only answer was… soon. One day, I suddenly woke up with a burst of energy and recommitted to getting things done. In many ways, my new found commitment to finish was even greater than my first initial effort. As I neared completion, I kept finding new innovative additions until I was finally satisfied that the project was complete. I took a picture and told my kids to go and have a ball. Completing a task is often far more difficult than beginning a task. The same is true for the Christian life. The Corinthian church had repented and reconnected with Paul. They had given to the support of the church, but there was still work to do in completing the task of ridding their congregation from sin. The last 10% often proves to be the most challenging, but is needed to go from surviving to thriving. In our text today, Paul instructs them how to finish the job, by the power of Jesus, in the battle for the soul of their church.