Comforted to Comfort: How the Gospel Shapes our Suffering

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Outline of Passage

• Vs. 1-2 Paul’s introduction• Vs. 3-4 Suffering begins with God• Vs. 5-7 Suffering builds our witness• Vs. 8-10 Suffering points us to God• Vs. 11 Prayer’s purpose in suffering

Paul’s Introduction (Vs. 1-2)

• Paul’s credentials, authority, and general greeting

• Paul had helped found the church in the city of Corinth (Acts 18:1-18)

• He had visited them before, already had an established relationship, and knew them well

• He jumps right in to a difficult topic - suffering

Suffering Begins with God (Vs. 3-4)

• God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (vs. 3)– This is good news!

• Part of the reason we suffer is so we can be equipped to help others who suffer

• The end goal of suffering isn’t alleviation, or just alleviation, but ministry to others

• How have you suffered, or better yet, how have you been equipped?

Suffering Builds our Witness (Vs. 5-7)

• Christians are not exempt from suffering. This is a false gospel.– Jesus was afflicted, and so are we, as we share in his

sufferings and ministry of reconciliation• Paul’s afflictions, in part, resulted in the

Corinthians’ salvation (vs. 6).• Paul reminds us to set our hope on God as we

patiently endure suffering (vs. 6, 10)• Paul’s hope is unshaken because he knows the

holding power of the gospel (vs. 7)

Suffering Points us to God (Vs. 8-10)

• “That was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God” (vs. 9).– The hope of the resurrection is hope in the midst

of suffering.• We don’t know the length of the trial, but we

know the outcome. See James 1:2-4.• Sometimes the best thing for us is to suffer. It

gives us time to think about our lives, and our priorities.

Prayer’s Purpose in Suffering (Vs. 11)

• We praise the One who heals, not the one uttering the petition

• Have you heard anyone talk about God’s blessing, but in a way that seems to magnify the receiver rather than the giver?

• Prayer is a means God uses to connect the one suffering to the greater Christian community.

Application1. When you suffer, begin with God, the Father of Mercies

and the God of all comfort.2. Have a gospel-centered view of the purpose of suffering.

– Equips us to comfort others– Builds our witness– Helps us rely on God– Don’t be afraid of suffering, or irrationally avoid it

3. Know others well enough to talk about their suffering (vs. 8).– Don’t suffer alone, you are not weak to speak up– Get in some kind of small group– Comfort one another– Pray for one another

Closing Thought

As Christians, we should see suffering as a gift that points us to Jesus, and equips us to extend His grace and mercy to others in need. If our hope is in Jesus, we can be more willing instruments in the Redeemer’s hands to minister in the broken world around us.