Hope in Pain
Part 1
Anthony Fusco
Part of Small Groups—Questions
April 7, 2024

OVERVIEW OF SCRIPTURE

Prior to group, get a better understanding of the overall biblical text with these resources.

Main Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7–10

Biblical Summary: Click here for a brief summary on the Book of 2 Corinthians.

KNOW

Allow these questions to help you better understand what Scripture says contextually.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul says, “to keep me from becoming conceited.” Conceited can be translated “to be over exalted,” “to uplift oneself,” “to raise over.”

  • What does this teach us about the danger of pride in our lives?

Paul goes on to say in 2 Corinthians 12:7, that pride could have been an issue “because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations.”

  • What is Paul referencing when he says “revelations”? Reference 2 Corinthians 12:1–6; Galatians 1:11–24.

The end of 2 Corinthians 12:7, says “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” Discuss the following…

  • Paul does not say he was “inflicted” with a thorn, but “given.” The word “given” means “to be granted,” “to be given as a gift.”
  • The root of the word “thorn” is not some minor irritation, rather it describes a tent stake. In the Old Testament, the word “thorn” often shows “something which frustrates and causes trouble in the lives of those afflicted.” (Kruse)
  • Notice the thorn was given—ultimately given by God—but it was also a messenger of Satan. As in the book of Job, Satan is ultimately under God’s authority and can never do anything apart from the sovereign purposes of God.
  • The word “harass” means “to hurt,” “to strike hard as with a fist.”

Read 2 Corinthians 12:8. Paul lived out what he instructed others to do.

  • What does Paul instruct us to do in Philippians 4:6?
  • What do we see Jesus doing and modeling for us in Mark 14:39–41?

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9.

  • God does not remove the thorn in Paul’s flesh; what does God give and continue to give Paul?

Read 2 Corinthians 12:10.

  • Although his pain and struggle is not solved, what conclusion does Paul come to?
  • Note and discuss that Paul’s continued dependence upon God made him stronger than he would have ever been if his revelations had made him proud and self-sufficient.

GROW

These questions are geared towards application of Scripture and Sunday’s message.

As we look at Paul’s pain, weakness and burden in 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, notice…

Relief can come by removing the load or by strengthening the shoulder that bears the load. Instead of taking away the thorn, God strengthened Paul under it, and God would show His strength through Paul’s apparent weakness.

Paul had to believe that God’s grace is sufficient. We really don’t believe God’s grace is sufficient until we believe we are insufficient. For many of us, especially in American culture, this is a huge obstacle. We are the people who idolize the “self-made man” and want to rely on ourselves. But we can’t receive God’s strength until we know our weakness. We can’t receive the sufficiency of God’s grace until we know our own insufficiency. (Guzik)

“Great tribulation brings out the great strength of God. If you never feel inward conflicts and sinking of soul, you do not know much of the upholding power of God; but if you go down, down, into the depths of soul-anguish till the deep threatens to shut her mouth upon you, and then the Lord rides upon a cherub and does fly, yea, rides upon the wings of the wind and delivers your soul, and catches you away to the third heaven of delight, then you perceive the majesty of divine grace. Oh, there must be the weakness of man, felt, recognized, and mourned over, or else the strength of the Son of God will never be perfected in us.” (Spurgeon)

God’s grace could meet Paul’s need because: It expresses God’s acceptance and pleasure in us. It was available all the time.It was the very strength of God.

As we observe and learn from Paul’s life, in today’s message, we discussed several challenging thoughts and application points. Discuss the following:

  • God doesn’t waste pain and God doesn’t waste experience.
  • Sometimes God leaves you in your pain because He’s not done molding you. (Romans 8:29)
  • We want the results of God without going through God’s process of molding us.
  • I am better because I was broken.
  • In our pain, God is accomplishing something we can’t see.

GO

Take a next step and put your faith into action!

When we sin or fail, it does not put us outside the reach of God’s grace. Since grace is given freely to us in Jesus, it can’t be taken away later because we stumble or fall. When we come to God by faith through the blood of Jesus, His grace is ever ready to meet us and to minister to our insufficiencies.

  • Where do you need to step into God’s grace this week?

PRAYER

Pray for one another and bring your requests to God.

Small Group Prayer Requests: Take some time to gather prayer requests from the group. Have someone write these down to see how God moves and answers prayer.

Northwest Prayer Highlight: Please be in prayer for Lifewise Academy as God continues to allow them to expand and grow.