Facing death is not just an abstract topic for Paul. It was built into his daily life as an apostle. 

In this episode, Krisan walks through 2 Corinthians 5:1–11, exploring how Paul can be brutally honest about suffering and the fragility of life, yet deeply confident about his future with Christ. As he reflects on tents and buildings, groaning and glory, judgment and reward, we see how the hope of resurrection shapes the way he lives, speaks, and serves right now.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Paul’s imagery of our present bodies as “tents” and the promise of a permanent, resurrection “building from God”
• How the gift of the Holy Spirit functions as God’s guarantee that believers really will share in future glory
• Why Paul can say he is “of good courage” even while facing constant danger, rejection, and the possibility of death
• The long-standing debate over what happens between death and resurrection and why it is as a secondary, not central, issue
• What it means to “walk by faith, not by sight” in the middle of real discouragement and pressure
• How the reality of appearing before the judgment seat of Christ shapes Paul’s priorities and whom he ultimately fears
• The relationship between faith and works: why our deeds do not earn salvation, yet still reveal the genuineness of our faith
• Paul’s longing for the Corinthians to see his heart and motives clearly—even as he rests in the fact that God already does

After listening, you’ll come away with a steadier grasp of how the hope of resurrection is meant to steady your own heart in the face of weakness, aging, loss, or fear of death. You’ll be invited to think less about how others evaluate you and more about living openly before the Lord who knows you, to anchor your courage in the promise of eternal life, and to let that coming “weight of glory” reshape how you suffer, serve, and trust Christ today.

Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity is available now wherever books are sold.