"Living to Please Versus Pleading to Live" - 2 Cor. 5:6-10
July 1, 2025
2 Corinthians 5:6-10: [6] So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, [7] for we walk by faith, not by sight. [8] Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. [9] So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)
BIG IDEA: Pleasing Our Lord Trumps Saving Our Skin
With Christ is
[6] So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, [7] for we walk by faith, not by sight. [8] Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
We Live to
[9] So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
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. Have you ever thought about the fact that even believers are judged for how they live? Does it surprise you? Why or why not?
5. If Paul says death is better than life, why doesn’t he just kill himself? Why shouldn’t we? What’s so wrong with that?
6. Is your life’s ambition to please Christ? Why or why not?
7. If your life’s ambition is something else, what is it? How important is it to know?
8. If your life were all about pleasing Christ, how would it be different? Would you need to change much?