ROUTE 66 EP 053

Introduction: Context and Framing

Sermon Series Context

• Title/Series: Route Sixty-Six (one book of the Bible each Sunday)

• Structure of the Overview:

  1. Primary view of the book

  2. Events and people in the book

  3. Pictures of Jesus

  4. Practical application

Opening Framing

• The sermon began with an analogy to illustrate a key spiritual principle. The pastor shared his personal dislike for individual ingredients like "cold fat" (shortening) and buttermilk. However, when these ingredients, which are unpleasant on their own, are combined by a master baker, they create something wonderful, like a biscuit.

  • Application: In the same way, the difficult things in our lives—the suffering and hardships we would say we "hate"—can be transformed into something beautiful when placed in the hands of the Master, God. Jesus Himself said in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," highlighting that what the world sees as negative, God can use for blessing.

• Gospels and Covenants:

  • The Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John—are the narratives of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection (the “Good News”).

  • The Gospels are written for us but not directly to the Church. The New Covenant goes into effect at Jesus’ death, per Hebrews (death of the testator).

  • Therefore, core Church doctrine is primarily drawn from post-resurrection apostolic teaching, not the pre-cross instructions within the Gospel narratives.

• Acts and Romans:

  • Acts: A transitional book describing the shift from Law to the Age of Grace. It features unique apostolic sign gifts (like tongues as known languages) meant to authenticate the message while Scripture was being written. The pastor cautioned against building core doctrine from these transitional narratives.

  • Romans: The doctrinal gateway of the New Testament, providing stable, foundational instruction for the Church.

First Corinthians: Correction in a Cultural Storm

• Historical Context: Corinth was a sensual, worldly port city. The church there was young, dealing with significant cultural "baggage," and did not have a complete Bible.

• Nature of the Letter: All 16 chapters are corrective, addressing issues like divisions, sexual immorality, and the misuse of sign gifts.

• Pastoral Insight: The core problem was that the "spirit of the city" had infiltrated the church. This serves as a warning for today: if the spirit of our culture enters the church, it will corrupt doctrine and practice.

Second Corinthians: A Pastor’s Handbook for Ministry

• Characterization: Often called the pastor’s handbook for ministry, this letter is tender and restorative, written to the most troubled church after they had received severe correction.

• Paul’s Posture: In Second Corinthians, Paul expresses his fear that his first letter may have crushed them but rejoices that it produced godly sorrow and renewal. He defends his unique apostleship (not as a model for all believers) and provides a master class in ministry.

• What this Reveals about God: God disciplines for restoration, not destruction. His grace actively works in flawed people and troubled churches, and He uses our weakness to display His power.

Part 1: Ministry, Suffering, and Weakness

Ministry is Trouble

• The Corinthian church, addressed in 2 Corinthians, was full of trouble. This reflects the nature of ministry itself. If a person's life is without trouble, it may indicate they are not truly living or engaging in ministry, because ministry exists to help a troubled world.

• Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

  • Context: Paul opens his letter by praising God.

  • Text: "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble."

  • Explanation: This is presented as a key to understanding the book. Ministry brings trouble, which requires us to receive God’s mercy and comfort. Once we have experienced that comfort, we are equipped and motivated to share it with others who are suffering.

• Pastor’s Example: The pastor shared his personal experience, noting that he and his wife did not realize how much trouble ministry would involve. They learned that serving God involves significant hardship. If we have no trouble, we have no ministry.

Key Words of Second Corinthians: Suffering and Ministry

• While many commentators suggest the key word is "ministry" (appearing about 21 times), the pastor argues for a different word.

• Proposed Key Word: The pastor suggests the true key word is "suffering," which appears in some form approximately 40 times.

• The Inseparable Link: Ministry and suffering are inextricably linked. Trouble in a church can be a sign that it is engaged in a spiritual battle. As the book of Job says, man is born to trouble.

• The Purpose of Suffering: God allows suffering so He can show us His mercy and comfort. The purpose is not for us to hold onto our broken pieces, but to allow God to assemble them into a beautiful mosaic that shines His light, equipping us for ministry.

God's Strength in Our Weakness

• The pastor emphasized the universal human experience of hating our weaknesses, using his own recent shoulder injury as an example. The frustration of not being able to use his dominant arm illustrates how life is full of troubles.

• Who God Is: God is drawn to our weakness. He desires to show Himself strong on our behalf.

• How We Are to Live: We are encouraged to bring our weakness to the Lord. Like a car with a dead battery needing an external power source, we need God’s power. When we are weak, we can experience His power. You may feel you cannot make it through a trial on your own, but God can and will carry you through.

The Message of Second Corinthians in Ten Words

• Distilling the message of the book down to its core, livable truth:

God's strength is revealed through our weakness, so go minister.

• We should not be fooled by outward appearances of perfection. A genuine, lived-out faith involves struggle, which is completely different from the world's standard of success.

Part 2: A Panoramic View of 2nd Corinthians

Dealing with Sin, Forgiveness, and Sorrow (Chapters 1-7)

• This section focuses on the practical application of biblical principles within the Corinthian church.

• Forgiveness and Comfort

  • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:6-7 - "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with much sorrow."

  • Context: In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul had instructed the church to discipline a man in unrepentant sin. Now, that man had apparently repented.

  • Application: The church was struggling to embrace the repentant man. Paul instructs them that the punishment was sufficient; their responsibility now was to forgive and comfort him.

  • Who God Is: He is a God of forgiveness and restoration.

  • How We Are to Live: We must deal with sin but also love sinners. When a person repents, they need the church in their corner. We must bring truth in love and be ready to extend forgiveness. The church would be empty if it were only for "clean" people.

• Godly Sorrow and Repentance

  • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:9 - "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing."

  • Context: Paul’s first letter caused them sorrow, but it was a "godly sorrow" that led to repentance.

  • Application: Sometimes, we must be hurt to be made whole. The pastor used the analogy of his shoulder surgery: doctors had to cut and injure him to bring healing. In the same way, God uses the "scalpel" of His Word, which can hurt our feelings but is necessary for spiritual health. Our opinions must be secondary to what the Bible says.

• The Power of Authentic Ministry:

  • The pastor shared a personal story of confessing a sin before a group, feeling ashamed and expecting rejection.

  • The Outcome: A woman told him afterward that she had never respected a man more because he was so honest.

  • Key Lesson: God’s strength is shown in our weakness. We will never find the strength we need until we drop to our knees and admit we don’t have what it takes.

Structural Breakdown of the Book

1. Chapters 1-7: Reconciliation and the Ministry of Comfort

   • Main Idea: Details Paul’s accounts of his ministry.

   • Pastor's Summary: Suffering = The Cost of Ministry. The pastor noted that mothers, in particular, understand this through childbirth.

2. Chapters 8-9: A Collection for the Saints (Giving)

   • Main Idea: Paul collects a financial offering for the poor believers in Jerusalem. These two chapters are the most detailed on giving in the New Testament.

   • Application: This is an early example of missions. Giving is the tangible proof of our love for God. Our calendars and bank accounts reveal our true priorities and what we love.

3. Chapters 10-13: The Defense of Apostolic Authority

   • Main Idea: Paul defends his authority against false teachers in Corinth.

   • How Paul Proves His Authority: His proof is not his education but the long list of his sufferings for the Gospel. The pastor compared this to a fighter who is confident because he gets "his tail kicked in the gym every day," preparing him for the real fight. Suffering for Christ builds spiritual authority.

Part 3: Pictures of Jesus in 2 Corinthians

1. God's Divine "Yes"

   • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:20 - "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."

   • Who Jesus Is: Jesus is the fulfillment of all of God’s promises, the "divine yes" that bridges the gap between God and humanity.

2. The Image and Glory of God

   • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:6 - "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

   • Who Jesus Is: Jesus is the physical image and radiant glory of God. While humans were created in God’s image, sin left us incomplete. Jesus is the perfect, complete image of God.

3. Our Sin Bearer

   • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

   • Who Jesus Is: Jesus, who was perfect, took our sin upon Himself so that we could be made righteous.

4. The One Who Became Poor for Us

   • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:9 - "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."

   • Who Jesus Is: Jesus left the riches of heaven and became poor so that we, who are born into spiritual poverty, could become spiritually rich.

5. Our Strength and Power

   • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

   • Who Jesus Is: Jesus is our strength. His power is perfected and most evident in our moments of weakness. Miracles often begin in situations of impossible trouble.

6. The Crucified and Triumphant Savior

   • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:4 - "For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you."

   • Who Jesus Is: He is our crucified Savior who triumphed over the ultimate weakness of the cross. Because He was triumphant, we can be too.

Part 4: Application and Closing

Life Application: Earthen Vessels and New Creations

• Get God's View of Your Suffering: Your difficulties make you a candidate for a miracle and qualify you to be a powerful minister. Those who have suffered greatly can offer hope to others.

• We Are Earthen Vessels

  • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7 - "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."

  • What God Tells Us We Are: We are like "jars of clay"—frail, common, and easily broken.

  • Who God Is: God places His divine treasure—the Gospel—inside our weak human vessels.

  • How We Are to Live: The ministry and strength come from God’s power inside us, not our own abilities. The value is in the contents, not the container.

• We Are a New Creation

  • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

  • What God Tells Us We Are: If you are in Christ, you are a brand-new creation, not defined by old labels or your past.

  • How We Are to Live: We must let the old self fade away, remembering our new identity in Christ. The strength to live this new life comes from the power of God within our "earthen vessel."

Who God Is and How He Responds

• He is the God of all comfort, who disciplines to restore and matures His children through trials.

• He is drawn to our weakness and desires to show Himself strong on our behalf.

• He is a God of forgiveness and restoration who provides a path back for the repentant.

• He places His divine treasure and power inside our frail human lives.

Who God Says You Are

• You are an ambassador of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21), a vessel of grace, and a participant in the New Covenant ministry of the Spirit.

• You are an "earthen vessel" designed to contain God's power.

• If you are in Christ, you are a new creation, no longer defined by your past.

How to Live

• Filter all experiences and cultural pressures through Scripture; do not let the spirit of the age infiltrate the church.

• Embrace weakness as the arena for God’s power; pursue integrity, generosity, and reconciliation.

• Receive correction as grace, letting hard truth lead to renewal.

• Boast in your weakness so that Christ’s power may rest upon you (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

• Remember your suffering can be transformed into a tool that makes you a powerful and effective minister.

Closing: When Pain Has a Purpose

• The pastor concluded with a powerful analogy:

  • A heavy weight can be used to crush a person’s skull, causing harm. That same weight, when used in a gym with a trainer, brings pain but ultimately leads to strength.

• Application: The pain and brokenness in your past can either crush your life or, if you allow it to have a purpose as seen in 2 Corinthians, God can use it to make you a strong ambassador for Him. For those carrying "baggage," 2 Corinthians offers hope that God restores, equips, and uses imperfect people.