"Power in Vulnerability" 2 Corinthians 1:3-2:11

Series: Expository Sermons

February 14, 2022

David Reyes

“Power in Vulnerability” summarizes the approach Paul takes as a founding apostle of the church in Corinth in order to bring them to a reconciliation point, and prompt them to act in forgiveness of the brother who was under church discipline. The Church today can learn much from Paul's explanation of his ministry. The second letter to the Corinthians can be outlined in three sections: 1-Paul Explains the Ministry of the New Covenant Chapters 1-7. 2-Paul Exercises the Ministry of Collection, Chapters 8-9. 3-Paul's Enemies in Ministry are Confronted, Chapters 10-13. The minister of God who serves in various capacities can learn from this letter and apply his service to God in the likeness of Christ's character displayed by Paul's approach to ministry. "We are ambassadors for Christ!"

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Download Media

Embed Code

Episode Notes

“Power in Vulnerability”

(2 Corinthians 1:3-2:11)

Introduction

Illustration of Quotes from minister experience in the work. Dr. Jowett, Spurgeon, and Paul. “You seem to imagine that I have no ups and downs, but just a level and lofty stretch of spiritual attainment with unbroken joy and equanimity. By no means! I am often perfectly wretched and everything appears most murky.” So wrote the man who was called in his day “The Greatest Preacher in the English-speaking World”—Dr. John Henry Jowett. He pastored leading churches, preached to huge congregations, and wrote books that were bestsellers.
“I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.”
Those words were spoken in a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon whose marvelous ministry in London made him perhaps the greatest preacher England ever produced.
“...how we were utterly weighed down, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life [itself]. 9 Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had received the sentence of death [and were convinced that we would die, but this happened] so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. 10 He rescued us from so great a threat of death, and will continue to rescue us. On Him we have set our hope. And He will again rescue us [from danger and draw us near], 11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then thanks will be given by many persons on our behalf for the gracious gift [of deliverance] granted to us through the prayers of many”
Paul the apostle in 2 Corinthians 1:8b-11.

The title of my sermon is, “Power In Vulnerability,” and my text is 2 Cor. 1:3-2:11
Text points to 3 elements of Paul’s encouraging ministry.

What are these elements?

I. The COMFORT of God, vss. 3-7.

From God to us encompassing all, vss. 3-4.
From us to others enduring all, vss. 5-7.

3. Illustration of “Whitefiled says that: ‘All trials are sent for two ends-that we may be better acquainted with the Lord Jesus, and with our own wicked hearts’”. ~“Practical Bible Illustrations

Application: Where do you find comfort during affliction? Are we in turn comforting others?

TRANSITION: “Not only does the text point to the Comfort in God but also…”

II. The COMMUNICATION of experiences, vss. 1:8-2:4.

Calamities in ministry, vss. 8-11.

2. Complexities in ministry, vss. 12-22.

3. Chronology of ministry, vss. 1:23-2:4.

4. Illustration of…“David Collins, testimony saved by drunkard singing “Jesus Love Me”. One of the elders at Sea Cliff Bible Chapel in Long Island, NY, tells his testimony of coming to Christ. He about to jump off an overpass bridge with the intention to commit suicide at night, meanwhile a drunkward staggering to cross the street for some reason was sing a Sunday School song:

‘Jesus loves me, this I know

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak, but He is strong .

Yes, Jesus loves me

The Bible tells me so’

This song was sung loud enough to catch David Collins attention and make him stop to think about; if God this man who is drunk is singing about God loving him, he is also reminding me of the love that GOd has for me, even me! He gave his life to God, placed his trust in Jesus Christ asked him to be his savior right and there!

-Testimony at Dean St Chapel. Freeport, NY.

Application: How transparent are we during afflictions? Is our suffering giving glory to God?

TRANSITION: “Not only does the text point to the Comfort in God, and the Communication of experiences but also…”

III. The CALL to forgiveness, vss. 2:5-11.

Restore amid pain, vss. 5-7.
Reaffirm all the love and obey all the commands, vss. 8-9.
Resist Satan, vss. 10-11.
Illustration of Our Daily Bread, Sept.-Nov. ‘97, p. Oct 31
GRACE IS EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING TO THOSE WHO DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING

Application: Are we prompting others' restoration? Are we ready to forgive? Are we obeying?

Conclusion

Therefore seeing, the COMFORT, the COMMUNICATION, and the CALL,
Let us understand, and apply these 3 elements of reconciliation that the text points to us!
Illustration of “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” ~Martin Luther King

“Now is the training time for the reigning time.”