FINDING · Read 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18 • This section of 2 Corinthians uses 3 images to teach us how God works in the world through those who are believers in Christ . We’ll

Connect Group Studies

FINDING STRENGTHFINDING STRENGTHSTRUGGLESSTRUGGLES

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Contents

Introduction to 2 Corinthians and these studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Study 1: What comfort does God offer in a crisis? . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Study 2: How does God work through Christians? . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Study 3: Why aren’t Christians more impressive? . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Study 4: What is eternity like? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Study 5: Who do we live for? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Study 6: Can we ever be perfect? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Study 7: What does generosity really look like? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Study 8: How to spot a true Christian leader? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Study 9: What should we expect of God’s power? . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

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Introduction to 2 Corinthians and these studies

Welcome to our series of sermons and Connect Groups studies in 2 Corinthians: Finding Strength in Struggles .

2 Corinthians is a book that shows us Paul’s heart as he serves his spiritual children in the church at Corinth . In this letter we see Paul’s anguish, distress and sorrow but also his deep desires, hopes and joys for the Christians there . This is an emotional letter! Theologically, it develops a profound truth introduced in 1 Corinthians: God’s power is revealed in the midst of human weakness .

What an apt message for the particular moment we all find ourselves sharing right now!

Some of the key themes that we’ll explore in 2 Corinthians over the coming weeks are those of God’s power in human weakness and what that means in our lives; the new covenant and what it means to belong to Jesus; the ministry of reconciliation and how we might be part of that; stewardship and generosity; and the signs of true Christian leadership .

There are three sections in each of these studies . First, a question To get you thinking . These questions aim to warm you up and prompt you to start thinking practically about the theme of the particular study for each week . Second, Digging Deeper, which provides questions that push your thinking in conjunction with what you read in the passage . Third, The Bottom Line, which aims to make sure our learning isn’t just head knowledge but rather life transforming .

There may be too many questions for you in a particular study . Please don’t feel compelled to use all of the questions, but rather choose the questions that seem most appropriate for your group and the time available . I’m also aware that Connect Grouping via Zoom may reduce our capacity in terms of the amount of content we can push through . Use whatever is helpful and leave the rest! If group members wish to work through extra material that hasn’t been covered in the group, encourage them to do that during each week . But do make sure you get to The Bottom Line questions to make sure you apply what you’ve learnt in the study .

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about these studies .

And finally, as you and your groups walk through 2 Corinthians together, ‘may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all’ (2 Corinthians 13:14) .

Rev Natalie Rosner

M: 0438 462 254 E: natalier@sthils .com

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What comfort does God offer in a crisis? 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

To get you thinking• Can you think of a time of trouble where you were comforted by others? How did they

bring comfort to you at that time?

Digging DeeperRead 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

• How are God and Jesus described in this passage (vv2,3, 5 v9-10)? What’s your response to these descriptions?

• What kind of troubles do you think Paul is referring to in verse 4? (See also verses 5 and 8)

• Paul doesn’t make it clear in these verses exactly what happened in ‘the troubles’ he experienced in Asia . Perhaps he’s referring to the riot in Ephesus that we read about in Acts 19:23-41 . But Paul does make it clear that we can expect that God will comfort us in our troubles . How do you think this happens (vv8-11)? See also 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 .

• In this passage, we see that our own experience of both sufferings and comfort can equip us to bring comfort to others . Where do you see this in these verses, and how might this look in our own lives?

• This passage refers to both troubles and suffering, and comfort as being part of the Christian life . How does Paul say these experiences shape both our relationship with God, and with other believers?

• What part does hope play as we experience life with suffering and also comfort from God and other believers (vv9-11)?

The Bottom Line• In what ways have you experienced the comfort of God in times of trouble?

• How might you right now comfort others, because of the comfort you have experienced from God in times of trouble? Who might you be able to comfort at this time?

• Are you surprised that troubles and suffering seem to be part of the Christian life? How does it help you to have this expectation made clear in this passage?

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How does God work through Christians?2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18

To get you thinking• Have there been Christians who’ve had a big influence in your life? Either in helping you to

turn to Christ, or in encouraging you in your growth to maturity in Christ? Share how one of those Christians made an impact in your life .

Digging DeeperRead 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18

• This section of 2 Corinthians uses 3 images to teach us how God works in the world through those who are believers in Christ . We’ll look at each in turn .

Firstly, in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, we find the image of the triumphal victory procession after a military victory . A king or military leader who’d won a victory would lead such a procession through a city to celebrate and re-affirm the victory. Their prisoners would be dragged along in the procession, their booty displayed, and incense would be burned as part of the celebration. Only the NIV and one or two other translations include the words ‘as captives’ in verse 14 . This phrase would emphasise believers being slaves of Christ as they take part in Christ’s triumphal victory parade . But most translations don’t include these words and the main point of this image is that Christ has been victorious, and we are part of his victory procession .

• What do you think Christ’s triumphal procession refers to?

• What is our role, as Christians, in this procession (vv15-16)? What does this say about how God works through Christians in the world?

Secondly, in 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, Paul uses the image of letters of recommendation, and then links this image to a comparison between the Old and the New Covenants . In the ancient world, letters of recommendation were important as people travelled for work and needed official documents to commend their work and character. Much like a reference in a job application today .

• In what ways were the Corinthians a ‘letter’ in verses 2 and 3? How are we also ‘letters from Christ’ and how does this clarify the way God works through us in the world?

• Paul then slides to a further use of the image of a ‘letter’ to compare the Old and New Covenants with an allusion to Jeremiah 31:31-34 . From both 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 and Jeremiah 31:31-34, what are the differences between the Old and New Covenants?

• What difference does it make, as you think about God working through you, that ‘our competence comes from God’ (2 Cor 3:4-6)?

Thirdly, in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18, Paul uses the image of glory to compare the glory of the Old Covenant, with the surpassing glory of the New Covenant and ministry in this new age . Paul refers back to the time that Moses came down from Mount Sinai with a radiant face as he brought the stone tablets of the covenant law with him (Exodus 34:29-35) .

• What differences can you see in these verses, between the ministry of the Old Covenant and the ministry of the New Covenant?

• How do verses 17 and 18 give us a bigger picture of how God works through us in his world?

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The Bottom Line• The image of being an aroma that brings either life or death in 2:16 is a really powerful

one . Can you think of people who have reacted either positively or negatively to you as a Christian and to the message that you believe? Is there anything you can learn or share from those experiences?

• As Christians, our faces don’t usually shine with glory as Moses face did . But in what ways have you seen the Lord’s glory in other believers, and how has this encouraged you in your own Christian walk and growth?

Why aren’t Christians more impressive?2 Corinthians 4:1-18

To get you thinkingI (Natalie) once had a conversation with a dear friend who isn’t a Christian, about the way we both see the world. We were talking about suffering and I shared that I find great help in the Bible’s picture of human sin as the doorway through which all suffering and death came into the world . The help, of course, comes in knowing that Jesus has defeated sin and death and that we look forward to the day Jesus returns to usher in his new creation where there is no suffering or death. My friend looked at me and said, ‘I just don’t see the world that way’.

• Have you had conversations with non-Christian friends like this, where they just can’t see things the way you do? What have been some of the sticking points for them?

Digging DeeperThis chapter of 2 Corinthians helps us to grapple with the question of why the gospel that seems so clear to us, isn’t clear to everyone . It also helps us to come to terms with the fact that as followers of Jesus, we aren’t always particularly impressive in the eyes of the world .

Read 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

• In these verses, Paul reflects on how he carries out the ministry of the New Covenant that he began talking about in chapter 3 . While Paul writes as an apostle, what he says here still has application for us today .

• What methodology does Paul recommend as he (and we) carry out the ministry of the New Covenant that is ours in Christ (v 1-2)?

• What explanation do we see in verses 3 – 4 about why many don’t see the truth and light that we see in the gospel of Christ?

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• If so many don’t see this truth and light, how is it that we do (v 6)?

• What is the content of our message, and how are we to relate to those with whom we share it (v5)?


• Explore the image of ‘treasures in jars of clay’ together. What is the treasure and what are the jars of clay?

• Verses 8 and 9 are very evocative . Have you ever felt like this and when? What was your experience of God at these times?

• Verses 10-12 talk about the death of Jesus and the life of Jesus both being part of our experience as Christians . What does this mean?


• Paul quotes from the Greek translation of Psalm 116 (verse 10) in 2 Corinthians 4:13 . The context of the Psalm fits well with the experience Paul has been recounting in this chapter. Have a look at Psalm 116 and reflect on the parallels you see and on why Paul might have quoted from this Psalm here .

• What do these verses indicate about Paul’s (and our) current experience of life?

• We also see in these verses some different perspectives, that transform what Paul describes of our current life experience . What are these perspectives and how might they help us in difficult situations now?

The Bottom Line• So to summarise this passage, why aren’t Christians more impressive?

• If we aren’t impressive, what or who is?

• Share together the names of some non-Christians who you’d like to pray for . Pray particularly that the gospel might not remain veiled to these friends or relatives, but that that God might ‘make his light shine in their hearts to give them the light of the knowledge of God’s glory’ so that they turn to Christ in repentance and faith .

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What is eternity like?2 Corinthians 5:1-10

To get you thinking• 2020 so far has been a year of cancelling plans for the future, rather than making them . In

normal circumstances, are you someone who feels energised and excited by planning for the future, and how much do your future plans shape your current life and decisions?


• Having turned our eyes at the end of 2 Corinthians 4 to what is eternal and unseen, Paul now explores this further .

• What are the ‘earthly tent’ and the ‘eternal house’ in heaven that Paul refers to in verse 1? What do we learn from the contrast between our earthly tent and the eternal house in heaven?

• Verses 2 – 4 add to the image of our earthly tent and eternal house the idea of being clothed as opposed to naked . Why do you think Paul uses the contrast between being naked or unclothed now and clothed with our heavenly dwelling later?

• What is the groaning that Paul refers to in these verses and how will it be remedied by our heavenly dwelling? Is this your experience of life now? Why or why not?

• ‘So that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life’ in verse 4 is an incredibly evocative phrase . Is this the way you normally think about life now and in the future? How does this phrase re-calibrate your thinking? What difference would it make to how you live if this re-calibration shaped your life each day?

• For what purpose has God made us, and how does the Spirit remind us of this purpose?


• The ‘therefore’ of verse 6 links this paragraph with the previous one. Why are we always confident?

• What does Paul say about where he is currently at home, and where he would rather be at home? Do you resonate with this desire of Paul’s or not? What can we learn from this desire of Paul’s?

• ‘For we live by faith, not by sight’ (verse 7) again challenges the very basis of our lives. What do you find challenging in this verse? What do you find encouraging in it?

• Having given a framework for thinking about life now and life forever in the future, Paul states in verse 9 that his goal is ‘to please the Lord’. When is this his goal and what strikes you about this time frame? To what extent is this your goal?

• The reason for the goal of verse 9 is given in verse 10 . What is this reason and how do you feel about this? How does this judgment fit together with the fact that God does not count our sins against us (2 Cor 5:19)?

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Who do we live for?2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13

To get you thinking• What is your answer to the question: ‘who do I live for?’

Digging DeeperRead 2 Corinthians 5:11 – 6:2

• Looking back at the previous section of 2 Corinthians 5, why should we fear the Lord and how might this shape how we relate to others (v11)? Does this ring true for you? Why or why not?

• Some of the tensions in Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church are apparent in verses 11-13 . For whom does Paul say he shapes his behaviour (v13)?

• As Paul explains the way he lives to the Corinthians in this section, he overflows with explanations of what Christ has done for us . And each of those explanations has a resulting change of behaviour that goes with it for those who belong to Christ . Follow this through on the table below. As you talk through what Christ has done in each case, reflect carefully on what this actually means for us .

The Bottom Line• What have you learnt or been reminded of about eternity today that you find either

encouraging or challenging?

• How will this perspective about eternity shape the way that you live this week?

Verses What Christ has done Change in status or role

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

2 Corinthians 5:21

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The Bottom LinePaul says in 2 Corinthians 5:13 that he lives for God and for others (in this case, the Christians in Corinth) .

• What might it look like for you to really live for God right now?

• What might it look like for you to really live for others right now?

• Do you have any questions about each of the ways that Paul explains what Christ has done for us in his death? Discuss these together so that you’re all sure about what the core message of the good news of Jesus is all about .

• While Paul had a unique role as an apostle, we can still carry out in our own lives each of the changes in status or role that he refers to. Which of these do you find easier and which do you find more difficult?

• What changes might you make in your life so that you can more effectively carry out these roles that we have as believers in Christ?

• We all have our own perceptions of other people . Sometimes these perceptions are accurate, sometimes not . What does Paul say in verses 16-17 about how his perception of Christ has changed . When would this have happened for Paul?

• Also in verses 16-17, Paul mentions a change that takes place for those who are ‘in Christ’. What is this change and why do you think we sometimes don’t feel very ‘new’? How can we grow in living more fully as the ‘new’ people we are in Christ?

• In 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, Paul urges the Corinthians (and us) not to ‘receive God’s grace in vain’? What might it look like to receive God’s grace in vain, and how can we be sure not to do that?

• In this passage, Paul is absolutely transparent about his passion for God and for the Corinthian people . Where do you see this passion expressed? (See 5:14, 5:20, 6:1) . Do you have the same passion for God and those around you? If not, would you like to and how can you change?

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• How does this conclusion follow from Paul’s reasoning in the previous verses?

Note: The primary application of this passage from 6:14-7:1 is that we’re not to share in the wickedness of unbelievers, as is clear from 7:1 . This passage has sometimes also been used in secondary applications in terms of business partnerships and marriages . In thinking about marriage, we must be sure to hear Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 7 as well . There Paul encourages those who are not married that they are free to marry anyone they wish to marry ‘but s/he must belong to the Lord’ (1 Cor 7:39). However, Paul urges those who are married to an unbeliever to remain in their marriages and assures them that the unbelieving partner has been ‘sanctified’ through the believing partner. God can be at work in families where one parent is a believer just as much as in families where both parents are believers (1 Cor 7:12-14) .


• In 2 Corinthians 7:8, Paul refers to a previous letter by which he caused the Corinthians sorrow . He now writes that he doesn’t regret that letter but is happy they were made sorry . Why is this?

• What distinction does Paul draw between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow in terms of their effects?

• What did godly sorrow produce in the Christians at Corinth?

Perhaps we might understand these two types of sorrow better by looking at two examples in the gospels. Think first of Peter, who followed Jesus to the house of the high priest before denying three times that he knew Jesus. When the rooster crowed, Peter ‘went outside and wept bitterly’ (Luke 22:54-62) . But after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5) and had a conversation with him on the shore of the lake (John 21:15-19) . Peter’s restoration with Jesus followed his sorrow – godly sorrow .

Can we ever be perfect?2 Corinthians 6:14-7:16

To get you thinking• What image do you have in your mind of the ‘successful’ Christian? How do you measure

up to that image?

Digging DeeperRead 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

• What contrasts do you see in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, between believers and unbelievers?

• Are you surprised by the starkness of these contrasts and how do you account for this starkness?

• Paul follows his statement that believers are ‘the temple of the living God’ in verse 16 with a number of quotes from the Old Testament . Verse 16 echoes Ezekiel 37:27, verse 17 echoes Isaiah 52:11, and verse 18 echoes 2 Samuel 7:12-14 . Your Bible may also have other OT verses footnoted at these points . Look back at the references listed here and see if you can work out the historical context of each of these passages . Why do you think Paul used these references at this point in 2 Corinthians?

• In 2 Corinthians 7:1, Paul reaches a conclusion, flagged by ‘therefore’. What action does Paul call us to as a result of these promises that we have from God?

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What does generosity really look like?2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-15

To get you thinking• How or when have you experienced generosity from someone else or seen generosity in

someone else? What was that experience like and how did it impact you?


For some background on this collection that Paul is making for the churches in Jerusalem, have a look at 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, where Paul has already written to the Corinthians about this . Romans 15:23-33 also gives some insight into the next stage of this project, where Paul indicates that he will take the collection from both Macedonia and Achaia (including the Corinthians) to the Lord’s people in Jerusalem .

• Paul begins chapter 8 by sharing about how the Macedonian churches had responded to the financial needs of the Christians in Jerusalem. What do you notice about the attitude and actions of the Macedonian churches in this description (verses 1-5)?

• With what challenge does Paul present the Corinthians in verse 7? How do you think he tries to get under their skin?

• In verses 8-9, we see that generosity is all about love . How do we see this love in the example of Jesus, and how was he rich and then poor? How did his poverty enable us to become rich?

• What principles for generosity do you see in verses 10-12?

• Compare this with Judas and read Matthew 27:1-5 . After betraying Jesus, Judas was filled with remorse. But the outcome for Judas was very different to that of Peter. Worldly sorrow brings death (literally in the case of Judas) .

• When you realise your own sin, or when you are called to account by someone else, do you respond with godly sorrow or worldly sorrow? In what ways has a realisation of sin in the past led to change in your life? When has it led to a negative sorrow that hasn’t produced any change in godliness?

• Finish this section by coming back to Paul’s challenge to us to ‘perfect holiness out of reverence for God (7:1). How does that call fit together with his reflection on godly sorrow and repentance?

The Bottom Line• Are there ways in which you need to separate yourself from people or practices that aren’t

consistent with your Christian faith? What are they and how might you go about doing this?

• How do you give yourself space for repentance in your life? How do you remind yourself of God’s forgiveness, won in Christ’s death and resurrection, and move forward once you’ve come before God in repentance each time you need to?

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• What factors inhibit us in being generous and how have these passages addressed those factors?

• What about generosity with other parts of your life? Time, gifts, hospitality, …? How might you grow in generosity in the future?

• What is the goal of generosity and what example does Paul give from Israel’s history to support this goal (vv13-15)?

• You may have noticed that the word ‘grace’ occurs 4 times in these verses (vv1, 6, 7, 9). It occurs in verse 9 with the usual meaning that we expect . How would you describe the way Paul uses this word in the other 3 verses in this section? How does this add to your understanding of generosity from God’s perspective?


• 2 Corinthians 9:9 is a quote from Psalm 112:9 . This Psalm paints a picture of those who fear and delight in the Lord and generosity is one of their core characteristics . What do you see in 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 about who God calls us to be and about how God loves us in a way that encourages generosity to be part of who we are as his people?

• How does God provide for us, and how does this then enable us to be generous (vv10-11)? Has this been your experience in the past, and in what ways?

• What are some of the impacts of generous living? (vv11-15)

The Bottom Line• Is being generous with money something that you enjoy and practice? What motivates you

in this?

• Is being generous with money something that you find difficult and struggle with? Why do you struggle and how might you change?

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• How do unwise leaders evaluate themselves?

• How should wise Christian leaders evaluate themselves?


• What are Paul’s hopes for the Christians at Corinth?

• How might they fall prey to a false teacher/leader?


• In what ways do the Corinthians appear to be critical of Paul as a leader? What is Paul’s reply?

• What is at the heart of Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians?

• What warning do we see in verses 13-15?

• How might we as a church guard ourselves against ‘false’ leaders and teachers?

How to spot a true Christian leader?2 Corinthians 10:1-11:15

To get you thinking• What qualities must a Christian leader have?

Digging DeeperThere was some real tension between Paul and the Christians in Corinth about Paul’s leadership and that of some others who Paul refers to as “super-apostles” (11:5) . So, 2 Corinthians 10 and 11 contain something of a defence of Paul as a Christian leader and give us some tips on how we can spot a true Christian leader as well .


• What does Paul say here about his leadership, and therefore more generally about Christian leadership?

• What shapes Paul’s thinking as a Christian leader?


• What critique are the Corinthians making of Paul (vv9-11)?

• How does Paul answer their critique (vv7, 11)?

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What should we expect of God’s power?2 Corinthians 12 – 13

To get you thinking• Have there been times in your life when you’ve been disappointed that God hasn’t acted

more powerfully? Why/why not?

• Have there been times in your life when you’ve been suspicious of claims made about God’s power? Why/why not?


• In what ways did God work extraordinarily in Paul’s life (12:1-4; see also 12:11-13)?

• Rather than giving details of these amazing experiences that God gave him, what does Paul choose to boast of instead? Why is this (vv 5-7)?

• What was Paul’s response to his ‘thorn in the flesh’? What was Jesus’ response back to Paul?

• How does this answer shape Paul’s response to weakness and suffering?

The Bottom Line• In what ways do you think you personally are vulnerable to being impressed by a ‘worldly’

Christian leader, and missing the qualities of a godly Christian leader?

• In what ways do worldly leadership criteria, and Biblical criteria clash and how might this then shape our expectations of our Christian leaders?

• Is it ever okay for Christian leaders to learn from secular leaders?

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• What do you think it looks like for God’s power to be made perfect in weakness? Are there any other parts of 2 Corinthians that help you understand what Paul means by this?

Read 2 Corinthians 13:1-13• How does Paul indicate that Christ will be powerful among the Corinthians on Paul’s return

to see them (vv1-4)?

• How might this expression of Christ’s power be unexpected to the Corinthians? How might we respond to such a use of God’s power by our leaders?

• For what purpose has God given Paul authority among the Corinthians (vv8-10)?

• How does this fit together with Christ’s power to deal with the Corinthians if they remain in their sin?

The Bottom Line• How is Paul’s approach to ‘boasting’ the same or different to our own? What might we

learn from Paul in this respect?

• Should we expect to see God’s power at work in dramatic ways regularly in our world now? Why or why not?

• How might you live consistently with Jesus’ answer to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”?

Documents

FINDING · Read 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18 • This section of 2 Corinthians uses 3 images to teach us how God works in the world through those who are believers in Christ . We’ll