Sunday Talks

How will we handle our money? The Bible shows again and again that Christians need to find ways of using money in ways that reflect an eternal perspective.

Here in chapter 4, Paul's describing and explainingthe experience of authentic gospel messengers. They look a lot different than some of the would-be teachers in Corinth.

Paul’s urging Christians to line up with him in the task of defending and proclaiming the gospel. Because if you are a Christian, there’s a danger of drifting away from Paul and the real gospel.

Listen as Paul runs a comparison of the 2 covenants – the old covenant ministry associated with Moses… and the new covenant ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. One is clearly a better deal.

Paul is teaching a wavering local church how to recognise authentic gospel ministry. Through him, the Bible urges Christians like us to recognise the authentic gospel minister and then to get to work ministering the authentic gospel. We are going to see here in 2 Corinthians that God can use people like us to bring his live-winning salvation to dead sinners.

Christians are in danger of veering off-course as they stare down into the mirror of their own wisdom. Studying this letter should re-focus us. Here at the start of 2 Corinthians, Paul explains what his experiences of suffering taught him and the reasons for his changed plans. We can learn a lot from his perspective.

In writing 2 Corinthians, Paul provides us with a brilliant defence of authentic gospel ministry. This letter resonates with life in Dublin, where Christians are constantly bombarded with calls to switch allegiance from Christ and his apostle. This introduction poses two questions as we study 2 Corinthians:

1. What is authentic gospel ministry?

2. How have I experienced a pull towards other ministries and a push away from the authentic gospel ministry of Christ and his Apostle, Paul?

What is the mission of Jesus all about? Matthew's gospel shows us that Christian must have an outward-looking urgency to declare God’s rescue instead of an inward-pointing goal to socialise and enjoy fellowship.

Paul tells a story about us and our predicament. And then the amazing, gracious way God intervenes to save us. But how will you respond?

You might describe this Psalm as "An Anthem of Breakthrough Joy" because we hear someone describing the overwhelming joy he feels because he is no longer estranged from God. And so, he can sing. With God, everyone has a choice that this part of the Bible brings us to consider: stubborn silence or humble repentance.