CCF Sunday Messages

It was the apostle Paul who said to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 4:

"For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

Paul had sacrificed and labored so they could be saved. And now, in 2 Corinthians chapter 3, they are demanding appropriate letters of reference from Paul. “How do we know we can trust you? Who is endorsing your ministry?” Unbelievable! They are forcing him into a place he does not want to go, so he treads carefully as he edges on boasting about his ministry. He is careful to get the attention off of the pastor (himself) and onto Christ.

Sometime the church can be guilty of the same thing today. Have you ever been at a church when they were searching for a new pastor? Have you been on a “search committee”? What were you/they looking for? The best seminary? A master’s in divinity? A graduate of church growth seminars? A PhD? What good is any of that unless the pastor is clearly a Spirit-filled man? All the education and training in the world cannot produce something spiritual. Only the Spirit of God can do that!

In chapter three, Paul addresses these topics. We can get so caught up trying to "sell ourselves" and what we can do and our abilities. If you have ever padded a resume or lied on a letter of recommendation to make yourself look better, you will appreciate the next section of 2 Corinthians! And pastors are some of the chief offenders. Oh, the need for the power of the Spirit and not the wisdom of man!

It was the apostle Paul who said to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 4:

"For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

Paul had sacrificed and labored so they could be saved. And now, in 2 Corinthians chapter 3, they are demanding appropriate letters of reference from Paul. “How do we know we can trust you? Who is endorsing your ministry?” Unbelievable! They are forcing him into a place he does not want to go, so he treads carefully as he edges on boasting about his ministry. He is careful to get the attention off of the pastor (himself) and onto Christ.

Sometime the church can be guilty of the same thing today. Have you ever been at a church when they were searching for a new pastor? Have you been on a “search committee”? What were you/they looking for? The best seminary? A master’s in divinity? A graduate of church growth seminars? A PhD? What good is any of that unless the pastor is clearly a Spirit-filled man? All the education and training in the world cannot produce something spiritual. Only the Spirit of God can do that!

In chapter three, Paul addresses these topics. We can get so caught up trying to "sell ourselves" and what we can do and our abilities. If you have ever padded a resume or lied on a letter of recommendation to make yourself look better, you will appreciate the next section of 2 Corinthians! And pastors are some of the chief offenders. Oh, the need for the power of the Spirit and not the wisdom of man!

We pick up in 2nd Corinthians chapter 2, verse 5 as we make our way through this very personal and very revealing exchange between Paul and the people in Corinth.

This next section offers a “case study” of sorts. Paul discusses a very specific situation involving an unnamed individual in the Corinthian church. The person’s behavior was causing issues and effecting everyone in the church! Too often people think their behavior is their business and just affects them. That couldn’t be more wrong, especially when it comes to sinful behavior. If we are to live in “family” or community, then we have to realize that our choices affect other people, like it or not.

Well, the Corinthians took Pauls advice and did something about the issue. They didn’t look to Paul to do it! The whole church urged that person to do the right thing! That is powerful; and it worked! It was time to welcome this person back in with open arms and open hearts. The spiritual “time out” is over and love is reaffirmed.

Who is this person? What did they do? How might Satan himself be waiting for an opportunity in the middle of such a situation? For a discussion of this and much more listen in as we cover this section of chapter two.

We pick up in 2nd Corinthians chapter 2, verse 5 as we make our way through this very personal and very revealing exchange between Paul and the people in Corinth.

This next section offers a “case study” of sorts. Paul discusses a very specific situation involving an unnamed individual in the Corinthian church. The person’s behavior was causing issues and effecting everyone in the church! Too often people think their behavior is their business and just affects them. That couldn’t be more wrong, especially when it comes to sinful behavior. If we are to live in “family” or community, then we have to realize that our choices affect other people, like it or not.

Well, the Corinthians took Pauls advice and did something about the issue. They didn’t look to Paul to do it! The whole church urged that person to do the right thing! That is powerful; and it worked! It was time to welcome this person back in with open arms and open hearts. The spiritual “time out” is over and love is reaffirmed.

Who is this person? What did they do? How might Satan himself be waiting for an opportunity in the middle of such a situation? For a discussion of this and much more listen in as we cover this section of chapter two.

Continuing our opening message in the letter of 2nd Corinthians, we find that reading this letter, like many of the New Testament letters, is like listening to one side of a phone conversation. What we hear in the conversation is a response to what the person on the other line said, and we try to infer what was said based on the answers given. Well then, based on Paul’s comments, we can make some assumptions about what the Corinthians said about him.

Remember, there was a faction in Corinth that just didn’t like Paul, and they were not afraid to say it or spread it. They had some issues with him. Can I tell you that is still true today! You and I will never please everyone. There will be those that just love the church or the pastor, and there will be those that find issues or make them up if necessary! Everyone is a critic and everyone has an opinion.

Paul was being accused of being wishy washy. He was wishy washy in what he said and wishy washy in the plans he made. He just could not be trusted! With much legal language, as if he is on trial and the Corinthians are prosecuting, Paul answers their accusations and in the process, we get some great lessons.

Continuing our opening message in the letter of 2nd Corinthians, we find that reading this letter, like many of the New Testament letters, is like listening to one side of a phone conversation. What we hear in the conversation is a response to what the person on the other line said, and we try to infer what was said based on the answers given. Well then, based on Paul’s comments, we can make some assumptions about what the Corinthians said about him.

Remember, there was a faction in Corinth that just didn’t like Paul, and they were not afraid to say it or spread it. They had some issues with him. Can I tell you that is still true today! You and I will never please everyone. There will be those that just love the church or the pastor, and there will be those that find issues or make them up if necessary! Everyone is a critic and everyone has an opinion.

Paul was being accused of being wishy washy. He was wishy washy in what he said and wishy washy in the plans he made. He just could not be trusted! With much legal language, as if he is on trial and the Corinthians are prosecuting, Paul answers their accusations and in the process, we get some great lessons.

As we continue our journey through the New Testament, today we open up to the first chapter of 2nd Corinthians and get started into this very personal letter between the Apostle Paul and the Corinthian church.

One very common misunderstanding is that God, in His infinite power and love, would never let His children suffer; but that is not a biblical truth. In fact, we learn that pain and discomfort are really important in our lives. Some of the most valuable life experiences are the painful ones!

No one likes to experience pain, but everyone experiences it on some level. This can be physical pain, relational pain, and/or emotional pain. The root of it may be external or internal. As Christians, we are not immune from discomfort. However, it’s right there that we have the opportunity to discover something about God: that He comforts. How does He comfort? Can He really help me?

Another thing suffering and pain do is make us compassionate. When you have suffered or experienced painful pressures and emotions, you understand how it feels in the lives of others and for many there is a desire to help. Think about ministries like GriefShare, singles ministry, Divorce Recovery, addictions ministry, cancer support —— all born from a desire to come alongside of others who are suffering and to comfort and encourage them!

Where do you go for comfort? Food, drugs and alcohol, video games, social media? Do you isolate or do you look to work through pain with God or a friend? These are the topics we will address right out of the starting gate with 2nd Corinthians!

As we continue our journey through the New Testament, today we open up to the first chapter of 2nd Corinthians and get started into this very personal letter between the Apostle Paul and the Corinthian church.

One very common misunderstanding is that God, in His infinite power and love, would never let His children suffer; but that is not a biblical truth. In fact, we learn that pain and discomfort are really important in our lives. Some of the most valuable life experiences are the painful ones!

No one likes to experience pain, but everyone experiences it on some level. This can be physical pain, relational pain, and/or emotional pain. The root of it may be external or internal. As Christians, we are not immune from discomfort. However, it’s right there that we have the opportunity to discover something about God: that He comforts. How does He comfort? Can He really help me?

Another thing suffering and pain do is make us compassionate. When you have suffered or experienced painful pressures and emotions, you understand how it feels in the lives of others and for many there is a desire to help. Think about ministries like GriefShare, singles ministry, Divorce Recovery, addictions ministry, cancer support —— all born from a desire to come alongside of others who are suffering and to comfort and encourage them!

Where do you go for comfort? Food, drugs and alcohol, video games, social media? Do you isolate or do you look to work through pain with God or a friend? These are the topics we will address right out of the starting gate with 2nd Corinthians!

How many of you grew up with a mother who insisted upon you finishing everything on your plate before you left the table? I heard a story about a family where this was the case, and at least one of the kids would fall asleep at the table, determined not to finish the green beans! Maybe many of you can relate and have memories of such a dinner time dilemma!

You might be saying, “Steve, what does this have to do with the Mother’s Day scripture??” Well, after much prayer and consideration, I decided that in honor of Mother’s Day, we at CCF will finish what is on our plate! Huh? First Corinthians is on our plate! We will be in 1st Corinthians chapter 16 for the final few spoonfuls of truth we have been eating bite by bite, chapter by chapter, for the last year or so! We are so close to finishing this letter, I think moms will be proud of my decision.

Tomorrow we will look at the final section of chapter 16; verses 12-23. And the best way to describe it, in sticking with our analogy, is “mixed vegetables”. Remember those? Peas and carrots and green beans and corn and lima beans all in one can! That is what we face tomorrow. A wonderful mixture of truth that will include a discussion on addiction, growing up, being strong, and even loving Jesus!

I don’t think mom will be disappointed, and I know her wish is for her loved ones to draw close to God on her special day! Listen in and see what the Lord has for us with our final message from 1 Corinthians!

How many of you grew up with a mother who insisted upon you finishing everything on your plate before you left the table? I heard a story about a family where this was the case, and at least one of the kids would fall asleep at the table, determined not to finish the green beans! Maybe many of you can relate and have memories of such a dinner time dilemma!

You might be saying, “Steve, what does this have to do with the Mother’s Day scripture??” Well, after much prayer and consideration, I decided that in honor of Mother’s Day, we at CCF will finish what is on our plate! Huh? First Corinthians is on our plate! We will be in 1st Corinthians chapter 16 for the final few spoonfuls of truth we have been eating bite by bite, chapter by chapter, for the last year or so! We are so close to finishing this letter, I think moms will be proud of my decision.

Tomorrow we will look at the final section of chapter 16; verses 12-23. And the best way to describe it, in sticking with our analogy, is “mixed vegetables”. Remember those? Peas and carrots and green beans and corn and lima beans all in one can! That is what we face tomorrow. A wonderful mixture of truth that will include a discussion on addiction, growing up, being strong, and even loving Jesus!

I don’t think mom will be disappointed, and I know her wish is for her loved ones to draw close to God on her special day! Listen in and see what the Lord has for us with our final message from 1 Corinthians!