The Basis of Real Comfort
We should be prayerfully confident that God will orchestrate and apply comfort to our hearts as we draw near to him and each other in the midst of difficult times.
Series: 2 Corinthians
Verse by Verse
January 12, 2025
• 2 Corinthians 1-13
Verse by verse exposition of the book of 2 Corinthians
The Reciprocity of Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:4-4
If we are cognizant of the ways God helps us through our trials, we can then become skilled at helping other Christians through their seasons of suffering.
The Practical Requirements of Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:8-11
We must employ the divinely sanctioned means of comfort modeled by the Apostle Paul to experience God’s strength and hope in the midst of difficult times.
Knowing Our Absolute Standard
2 Corinthians 1:12
We must be especially attuned to the state of our conscience, making sure it is rightly calibrated to God’s truth, and then faithfully followed by God’s grace.
Managing Misunderstandings
2 Corinthians 1:13-14
When there are misunderstandings, hurt, and conflict we must seek to repair the problems without ever compromising our integrity before God.
Aiming to Be a Blessing
2 Corinthians 1:15-16
Our love for God’s people ought to drive us to a purely-motivated loving service and care that goes even beyond what we think is possible.
Resting on the Immutable
2 Corinthians 1:17-22
If we are to navigate the variabilities of this present life with confidence and a godly attitude then we must trust in the immutability of God and his good overarching plan.
Serving with Sympathy
2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4
To keep a clear conscience before both God and people, we must serve them with love and sympathy as God defines, not as we or they might prefer.
The Joy of True Repentance
2 Corinthians 2:5-8
We should seek to find true joy in repentance – our own and others’ – as we celebrate grace and purpose to genuinely love other forgiven brothers and sisters.
The Pains of Testing
2 Corinthians 2:9-11
We must be prepared for the challenges of the testing that will be sure to come in the Christian life, passing these tests without falling to the schemes of our spiritual enemy.
The Unsettling Concerns of Love
2 Corinthians 2:12-13
We need to be ready for the challenges, sacrifices, and emotional discomfort that come with truly loving other Christians the way God calls us to.
The Satisfaction of Stewardship
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
It is an honor and a solemn stewardship to represent Christ in our world—a task that brings profound satisfaction when done faithfully, even though it will not always be well-received.
Letting the Bible Use You to Make a Difference
2 Corinthians 3:1-6
We should live as genuinely regenerate Christians, consistently speaking and acting so that others are clearly shown the transforming power of God’s living and active Word.
Standing in Awe of the Gospel’s Greatness
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
We need to appreciate and celebrate the greatness of the God-breathed New Testament gospel and its power to transform and shape our lives.
Refusing to Distort the Truth to Fit Our Culture’s Demands
2 Corinthians 4:1-4
We need to keep representing and sharing the truth without compromising it, regardless of people who don’t get it or oppose us for upholding it.
Keeping the Focus on Christ
2 Corinthians 4:5-7
To be effective in relaying the life-changing truth of the gospel, we must keep both our weakness and God’s greatness clearly in view.
Holding Tightly to His Faithful Promises
2 Corinthians 4:13-18
Keep being sacrificial and confident as you hold up God’s powerful word, knowing this his saving promises are guaranteed by his faithful character.
Considering God’s Resurrection Plan
2 Corinthians 5:1-3
As Christians we shouldn’t be discouraged by failing bodies, but should always pin our hope on the eternal glorified bodies that God has graciously promised to us.
Checking Your Confidence in the Resurrection
2 Corinthians 5:4-8
We should live with the kind of confidence in God’s promises that makes it obvious we are certain about our perfected and eternal future.
Investing in Our Post-Resurrection Life
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
We need to live thoughtfully, carefully, and boldly for Christ, knowing that one day, our King will evaluate and reward us for how well we did.
Purifying Our Motives
2 Corinthians 5:11-13
In light of all people one day standing before God, we must be motivated to live and speak with a deep concern for others, always with a clear conscience, resolved to be faithful regardless of how we are perceived.
Narrowing Our Audience
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Because Christ paid the ultimate price to redeem us, our love for him should compel us to put aside our old desires and live wholly for him.
Broadening Our Acceptance
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
Stop prejudging fellow church members by outward measures or their worldly pasts, and accept them as redeemed new creations in Christ.
Deepening Our Concern
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Take up the responsibility of being Christ’s ambassador with the time you have left by working to see the people around you as in desperate need of being reconciled to God.
Heightening Our Urgency
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
We must no longer be casual or timid about relaying the gospel to our generation, but we must be bold and urgent about it, as Christ would have us be while there’s still time in our crazy and chaotic culture.