2 Corinthians 1:23–2:4: But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. [24] Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. [1] For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. [2] For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? [3] And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. [4] For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
BIG IDEA: Your Good Guides My Decisions
My Joy is
[1] For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. [2] For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?
I Want to
[3] And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.
I Want You to
[4] For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
Applications/Uses:
Discussion Questions:
1. What was the big idea of the sermon? Is it faithful to what the text says?
2. What struck you most about the passage as you listened?
3. How does this passage help or motivate us to live for God through Christ?
4. How was Paul’s decision not to visit the Corinthians a loving one?
5. What do you think motivates Paul’s love for the Corinthians? How does your love for others compare to his love for them?
6. Can you see how Paul was not motivated by a desire for personal vengeance or anger but the good of the Corinthians instead? How does that compare to the way you treat people who wrong you?
7. What does it mean to work with someone for their joy? Is anyone doing it with you? Are you intentionally doing that with anyone else?