The Ministry of Reconciliation part 2-Words of Intensity

Prepare Your Heart: Read Luke 4:15-22.  Pray that God would open your heart to see what He has for you to learn about your desire to share His good news with others. 

Today writing to communicate has so many outlets.  We can text, Facebook, Tweet, email, instant message, chat, post, comment, blog…I’m sure there are many more but the written word to communicate is all around us.  I think sometimes I write more than I talk to people anymore because everyone is on such opposite schedules we communicate when it’s convenient for us. Words today can lack meaning and punch because there are so much of them!  But in this letter to the Corinthians Paul holds nothing back.  His words are intense and emotional because he feels deeply for them.  He isn’t there.  He can’t just text.  His words are passionate because he doesn’t have many opportunities to wake them up.  He needs his words to be remembered.  Letters were often passed around.  One church would get it and then another, as letters from the apostles may have been written to regions and churches were small that often met in homes.  Today let’s study Paul’s relationship to the Corinthians by looking at their history together and his fervent desire for them.  Does this same need exist in our lives today?

1.       What do you know about Paul’s time with the Corinthians?  Read Acts 18:1-17 and record what you learn.  Note any details you learn about the people he met at Corinth and any important people he interacted with.

2.       Scan chapter 5 of 2 Corinthians for Paul’s purpose in writing to them.  The read the following verses in the same letter: 3:1, 4:2, 6:4, 10:12,18.  What further information do you gather supporting his purpose in chapter 5?  Underline this passage and in the margin write "purpose."

3.       Scan chapter 5 and looking for words of intense emotion.  For example in verse 2 Paul says he is groaning and longing.  If you are writing in your bible underline these words.  If using colored pencils, pick the same color to underline them all.  (See part 1 for a link to a site where you can print out this passage for writing on.)  After marking all the words you can find, how would you describe Paul’s feelings toward them?  What is their relationship like based on this chapter?

Some facts about Corinth (summarized from study notes of the ESV Bible by Crossway):

Corinth was on an isthmus and based on its location a flourishing port city.  It experienced wealth and was greatly influenced by many cultures and religions as trade brought many different peoples to its town.  With many gods there were many temples.  Sexual acts were often associated with pagan worship so this church struggled in this area.  It was known for division within the body because of “social snobbery” as well (wealth).  2 Corinthians is actually the fourth letter from Paul to this church, though the second canonized book.  This letter comes after a stern letter he wrote (see 2 Corinthians 2:3-4).  In this letter he is trying to establish his authority as an apostle because if they questioned his commission, they would also question the gospel he was sent to proclaim. 

4.        So what do we learn about such passion in this man’s desire for this church?  Read chapter 5 one more time and search for the answers to these questions:

·         What motivated Paul to encourage the Corinthians to be reconciled to God?

·         The he longs to be home with Christ, why for their sakes is it not the right time?

·         Who is his ultimate judge (and theirs and ours) in matters of what we have done with how we have lived?

The One Thing:  What motives you to reconcile others to God?  Are you like Paul beside himself (v. 13) controlled by Christ (v. 14) begging others enslaved to worldly temptations to embrace the opportunity of a new way (v. 17, 20)? Are you ashamed?  Paul says in Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone.  If you are ashamed, why?  Maybe some soul searching here is needed.  And I’m with you in this.  There are times when I am bold in my faith and others when I hesitate and the moment passes.  I will give an account for that and don’t like to think of the sorrow that will be mine when I realize the opportunities that I have missed for sharing His work and grace in my life.  But maybe godly-sorrow is needed in my life and yours to bring about an awakening to our ministry of reconciliation.  I pray that like Paul, I would be courageous and always ready to share His good news, so He will say of me and you Well done…you were faithful…enter into My joy (Matthew 25:21).  For He also says, But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven (Matthew 10:33). Let us press into Him and live unashamed of His sacrifice for us.