In the Bible having a good relationship with God is described in a few ways. God’s people are ‘redeemed’ reflecting the idea of payment. God’s people are ‘justified’ reflecting the idea of justice. In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul is going to emphasize a new idea of ‘reconciliation’ which reflects the idea of restoring a broken relationship. In this passage we have the astonishing good news that we can have a good relationship with God and are called to share this news with others.

Christians worship the God of comfort in the midst of pain and hardships. But the temptation is to serve the idol of comfort and seek to escape suffering. Paul shows us that as our bodies waste away, we can have confidence that our home is in heaven, not on earth; not in a mortal body, but an eternal one.

Discouragement is a real part of life. While many of us have great days, there are frequently in experience days where we lose hope, we lose heart. The Apostle Paul was deeply familiar with disappointment and had many moments of losing heart. Yet as he writes to the Corinthians he exhorts his readers ‘do not lose heart.’ In this section we explore where we can find encouragement as we follow Jesus, even in difficult times.

Christians carry the aroma of Christ everywhere we go. As we share Jesus with the world, some people will love it, some will hate it, but God is pleased to use us regardless of the outcome.

We live in a day where we are skeptical of leadership. Leaders are often dishonest, immoral, or just plain disappointing. In the Church of God, however, leadership plays a critical role in the proclamation of the good news. In this section the Apostle Paul defends his apostolic leadership and gives insight into what godly leadership entails.

Most of us want to live lives that are comfortable, free of pain, and filled with joy. While there is nothing wrong the desire for comfort, the reality is that we live in a broken world where our desires often feel out of reach. In fact for most of us, suffering and hardship seems more frequent than comfort. So how do we praise God in the midst of hardship? In 2 Cor 1:1–11 Paul addresses that issue, and the answer lies not within ourselves, but in the God of all comfort.