![]() Who, then, is capable for such a task? 17 We are not like so many others, who handle God’s message as if it were cheap merchandise but because God has sent us, we speak with sincerity in his presence, as servants of Christ. 16 For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench that kills but for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that brings life. 15 For we are like a sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who are being lost. God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance. Victory through Christġ4 But thanks be to God! For in union with Christ we are always led by God as prisoners in Christ’s victory procession. So I said good-bye to the people there and went on to Macedonia. 13 But I was deeply worried, because I could not find our brother Titus. Paul’s Anxiety in Troasġ2 When I arrived in Troas to preach the Good News about Christ, I found that the Lord had opened the way for the work there. For when I forgive-if, indeed, I need to forgive anything-I do it in Christ’s presence because of you, 11 in order to keep Satan from getting the upper hand over us for we know what his plans are. 10 When you forgive people for what they have done, I forgive them too. 9 I wrote you that letter because I wanted to find out how well you had stood the test and whether you are always ready to obey my instructions. 8 And so I beg you to let him know that you really do love him. 7 Now, however, you should forgive him and encourage him, in order to keep him from becoming so sad as to give up completely. (I say this because I do not want to be too hard on him.) 6 It is enough that this person has been punished in this way by most of you. Forgiveness for the Offenderĥ Now, if anyone has made somebody sad, he has not done it to me but to all of you-in part, at least. 4 I wrote you with a greatly troubled and distressed heart and with many tears my purpose was not to make you sad, but to make you realize how much I love you all. For I am convinced that when I am happy, then all of you are happy too. 3 That is why I wrote that letter to you-I did not want to come to you and be made sad by the very people who should make me glad. 2 For if I were to make you sad, who would be left to cheer me up? Only the very persons I had made sad. Scripture ReadingĢ So I made up my mind not to come to you again to make you sad. The chapter concludes with Paul affirming the victory that believers experience through Christ. He also describes his visit to Troas, a major seaport city located in the northwest corner of Asia Minor. He then addresses the issue of someone who had caused Paul and the Corinthian faith community offense, and he encourages the Corinthians to forgive that person. How do you think Joshua would respond to our complaints and excuses?Īsk God to mold your faith to be like Caleb's.God’s Saving Word: Spiritual Renewal IntroductionĢ Corinthians 2:1-17: Today’s reading begins with Paul explaining why he did not wish to visit the Corinthians but chose to write to them instead. We sometimes act like the people of Joseph, complaining about how little God has given us when we have not fully used what we have.Which reasons help to explain why God's promises to us are sometimes only partially fulfilled? (For example, his promise to purify our lives of sin.) Explain. ![]() ![]() As you look back over these chapters, what reasons can you give for why Israel had difficulty taking full possession of the land?.Seven tribes had not yet received their inheritance.How does Joshua deal with their complaint (17:17-18)?.How does the attitude of the people of Joseph contrast with that of Caleb?.Why then do you think Israel had difficulty dislodging them (see also Ex 23:29-30 and Dt 7:22-24)? God had promised to drive these Canaanites out of the land. How is Caleb's faith just as strong at eighty-five as it had been at forty?.In what one area of your life would you most like to see spiritual progress? These chapters look at why Israel had failed to possess all that God had promised. Yet in spite of many victories, much of the land remained to be conquered. He had promised to be with them in the conquest of Canaan and had kept his promise. What hinders our spiritual progress? Why do we sometimes experience so little when we are promised so much? God had proven himself to Israel throughout their many battles. For more context before you begin studying, read this introduction to the book of Joshua.Ĭhristians often feel more like captives than conquerors.
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