Grace Under Pressure

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE—SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

The Algebra of Grace Opening Prayer Leader The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Leader Let us pray. Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message (Read 2 Corinthians 1:1-11) A. Bring your Bibles…to church and to small group. Jot down notes in the margins, underline. These are Ancient Words, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; words that are both timeless and timely. The Bible is an enduring message that transcends every generation and penetrates every heart. (Hebrews 4:12) The Holy Spirit speaks in Scripture to transform our hearts, our thoughts, our lives.

B. Background on the letter • This letter of 2 Corinthians was written in the spring of 54/55 A.D., 3 years after

Paul started the church in Corinth, and 22 years after the death of Christ. It was actually one of four letters written by Paul (the previous letter mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:9, the letter of 1 Corinthians, the tearful letter mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:3-4, and the letter of 2 Corinthians); two of the letters have disappeared into antiquity.

• Corinth itself was an opulent and decadent port city that served as a crossroads for sea traffic between the Aegean region and the western Mediterranean. It was a melting pot of cultures, religions, and peoples. The church in Corinth was growing and consisted of a number of house groups (like our small groups). They gathered to worship God and to face life’s struggles, issues, challenges, and joys together.

• This is the most personal of all Paul’s letters, filled with deep emotion. Paul is at the breaking point (1:8b-9) and throughout the letter he shares his experience of receiving God’s “Grace Under Pressure.” He also points to the relationship between suffering and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in him. This is the means of extending God’s comfort into the lives of other believers.

• Fr. David reminded us that Paul was blinded in his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Paul had a radical conversion but he shares much in common with us - he heard the voice of Jesus but he didn’t witness Jesus’ miracles, hear him teach, or see him on the cross. Just like Paul, we walk and live by faith.

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C. The Father of all Compassion and the God of all Comfort • God may be seen by some as a God of rules, laws, restrictions and judgments.

Paul points us to God who is the father of compassion and comfort. Fr. David unpacked “compassion” and “comfort” as two different responses. Compassion is feeling, understanding, hearing, and empathizing with another person while comfort is the actual administration of that compassion – it is compassion in action. God has compassion on us and, in an act of mercy, God offers comfort to us.

• Fr. David pointed out several ways we experience the comfort of God. Jesus on the cross. Resurrection. The power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. The gift of his word in scripture. Sacraments. Community – the body of Christ, small groups, families.

D. The Algebra of Grace

• God has compassion and gives comfort to us and we in turn comfort others out of the overflow of His comfort. Regardless of what is on one side of the “algebraic equation” (hardship, famine, suffering, trials, loss, violence, disaster) the other side of the equation is always CHRIST! For Paul, everything happens for one reason and one reason only: to bring us to Christ so that we might know Him more.

• Christ is not only the agent of compassion and comfort…but also of power and of strength. Some more algebra – whatever you are facing God will give strength and power needed to face it and to overcome.

• One final note: This is not about The Little Engine That Could…..”I think I can, I think I can.” If you’re living life as the little engine, trying to make it under your own steam then God invites you to turn to Him. The power of God extends beyond our own strength and points us and others to Christ.

Going Deeper

A. How have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through ancient words of scripture to bring about change in your life? What scripture passages in particular have been transformational in your walk with Christ?

B. Paul points his readers to God, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. What other stories or passages in the Old Testament reveal God’s com-passion and comfort? What stories of Jesus demonstrate his compassion and how is his compassion actively expressed in comfort?

C. There are many hardships that Paul and the early church experienced. What are some of the hardships they faced and what are the troubles we face today? (think globally, nationally, personally)

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D. How has God shown compassion and acted to bring comfort in your life? E. What are the ways you have witnessed the algebra of grace? When have

you received the overflow of God’s comfort from another? When have you given out of the overflow of comfort you have received? When has the an-swer to the equation of a difficulty in your life been simply, Christ?

F. What are you facing now that is an invitation to turn to Christ and receive His

comfort? Use this as an opportunity to draw near to Christ. Commit to pray for one another and to share God’s comfort with others this week.

Closing Prayer Lord God, king of the universe, you are amazing and powerful, you are filled with compassion and you give comfort. We thank you for the reality of your Son’s work on earth…the teaching, the cross, the empty tomb. We thank you for the released power of the Holy Spirit into our lives. We come to you, Father of compassion and God of comfort and pray that we would know you and experience your compassion and comfort in every part of our lives and that we would reach out to comfort other, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the honor of your Name.


What Forgiveness Does

Opening Prayer Leader The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Leader Let us pray. Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message (Read 2 Corinthians 2, focusing on v. 5-11. In addition, read aloud The Message translation, v. 5-8. Now, regarding the one who started all this—the person in question who caused all this pain - I want you to know that I am not the one injured in this as much as, with a few excep-tions, all of you. So I don’t want to come down too hard. What the majority of you agreed to as punishment is punishment enough. Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet. If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it. My counsel now is to pour on the love. A. What’s going on? We’re not sure exactly what has happened to occasion Paul’s note here, whether it is

in response to the man mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5 or to another person who has been criticizing Paul and his ministry and causing division in the church. Regardless, Paul is saying enough. The man has suffered enough—enough of the shame, enough of the guilt. It is time to forgive, to welcome him back into the fellowship and to overwhelm him with love.

B. Intellectually, we know how important forgiveness is: a. Unforgiveness interferes with worship (Matthew 5:23-24) b. Unforgiveness counteracts the commands of Jesus (Matthew 18:21-22) c. Unforgiveness blocks our own forgiveness from God (Luke 11:1-4) d. Unforgiveness dishonors the Lord and his words (Father, forgive...Luke 23:34) e. If you do not practice forgiveness...if you do not repent of unforgiveness you are

cutting yourself off from the fullness and wholeness of what God has to offer. C. Forgiving can be hard to do Some have suffered greatly—abuse, slander, theft, betrayal, abandonment. We may

hold grudges. We may be bitter and angry. We often replay an endless loop of tapes in our heads for the ways we could get revenge. But a spirit of unforgiveness poisons our own souls. Fr. David told stories of the poison of unforgiveness and the power of forgiveness. The first was a story of two Vietnam vets standing at the memorial in DC; One said, “Have you ever forgiven your captors for holding you in prison?” The other replied, “Not a chance...what they did to me is unforgiveable,” to which the first one answered, “Then, my brother, you are still in prison!” When we release someone through forgiveness we are set free as well. Fr. David then shared two powerful stories of forgiveness and reconciliation cited in the book As We Forgive by


Catherine Claire Larson. The book tells the story of the national effort to achieve rec-onciliation between the Hutus (perpetrators) and Tutsis (victims) after the genocide in Rwanda in which nearly 1 million people were killed within 100 days. The accounts of brutal butchering and murder go way beyond what most of us can fathom. We see the ugliness of the human heart and the hatred and betrayal that lies within. We can also see the unimaginable beauty and power of those three little words: “I for-give you.”

D. Paul gives another reason for forgiving (see v. 11) Unforgiveness creates a spiritual poison that Satan serves up as a cocktail every day. The first story in the Bible about unforgiveness bears this out. Read Genesis 4:1-8.

Cain resents Abel and seethes with anger, jealousy, bitterness, and rage. The Lord sees Cain’s heart toward his brother and intervenes to exhort Cain to master the sin of unforgiveness and bitterness crouching at his door. Cain holds on to unforgiveness and kills his brother. He recognizes that he will be hidden from the presence of the LORD. A proverb says this: “If you are going on a journey of revenge, first dig two graves.”

E. Our response We don't know if the Christians in Corinth forgave the man, whoever he was...for the Sin, whatever it was. But 2000 years later we can receive the words Paul has written.

We can change the way we see our adversaries. We can release those whom we have had in our clutches of bitterness and unforgiveness for weeks, years, even dec-ades. We can let forgiveness flow and be released from the poison of unforgiveness in our hearts. We can speak words that our Savior spoke on the cross: “Father, for-give them…”

Going Deeper 1. Take a look at the following scripture passages: Matthew 18:21-35, Luke 15:11-24, and

Genesis 50:15-21. What are some take-aways from these passages on forgiveness? 2. Read again 2 Corinthians 2:5-11. Is there any reason why forgiveness might be with- held for a period of time? Explain your answer. 3. How have you experienced God’s forgiveness in your life? How have you experienced the

forgiveness of others? (In small group discussion, feel free to share as much or as little as you are comfortable with in the context of your group.)


4. Ask God to reveal someone whom you have sinned against. How will you seek forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration of relationship?

5. Are there ways in your life in which Satan has succeeded in carrying out his scheme to keep

you from enjoying the fullness and enjoying and worshipping God through the poison of unforgiveness? If so, what are they? (Consider the ideas listed in points B. and C. under Remembering the Message)

6. Many, if not all of us, have experienced the bitterness that comes from a spirit of

unforgiveness. Who are the people whom you need to release, those you need to get right with before you get right with God? Prayerfully ask God to bring to mind one or two people you need to forgive and write out a prayer of forgiveness.

What are the ways you can show forgiveness and “overwhelm them with love”?

Closing Prayer Father, we are all sinners in need of forgiveness. The things we have done...the things done to us...remind us daily of our need to be forgiven and to forgive. Jesus spoke words of forgiveness from the cross and we are called to forgive others. We know that it is not a natural occurrence. We know that if we are called to forgive...or called to ask for forgiveness ..that your Holy Spirit must go before us and must penetrate our hearts to release us from the poison of grudges….resentments….blame ….bitterness, and unforgiveness. Move in our hearts today. Create a room of grace and forgiveness, of peace and confidence….and then help us to unlock and open the door. Your Son died for us. We are fully forgiven and set free. Help us to fully forgive others and set them free to your care. In Christ’s Name...Amen. In your anger do not sin; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold….And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:26-27,30-32

Going Deeper The Sermon Study Guide

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 September 27, 2009

Opening Prayer We thank God for his word: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 Leader The Lord be with you People And also with you Leader Let us pray Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message Read 2 Corinthians 3:7-18. Now read 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 in the Message paraphrase: Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. Introduction Fr. David introduced the sermon, focusing on 2 Corinthians 3:18, stating that this is a special verse for him. He has underlined it in every Bible he has. Why? Because it best explains how change occurs in the life of a believer. Foundationally we all want change in our lives. But the change that God is interested in is not outside, not cosmetic. He wants to change us from the inside out. The change God is most interested in is that his children take on the nature and image of his Son, Jesus Christ.

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Going Deeper

Read Matthew 5:21-22,27-28. What does Jesus seem most concerned about – our outer behavior or the state of our heart? Now read Matthew 5:18. What does Jesus say is the source of our actions? What change do you want to see in your life? What does it mean to be transformed into the image of Christ? Is that transformation happening in your life?

God’s Work of Transformation Fr. David continued the sermon, discussing more fully the transformation God wants for our life. A point he made clear is that we cannot help ourselves. There is no way that we can change in our own strength or in our own power. We can change the cosmetic aspects of our life: our hair color (or a lack of hair!), our “laugh lines,” our material possessions. But the thing that matters most to God, our character, is only changed by God. No self-help guru, no daytime talk show, no spiritual leader can give you power to change yourself. It is only God’s work in you and on you that allows you to be changed. In the Bible, this type of change is always described in the passive voice. It is action done to us: [we] are being transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18) Be transformed (Romans 12:2) You must be born again (John 3:7) For it is God who is at work in you… (Philippians 2:13) Going Deeper

Do you agree with the statement in the old collect: “…we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves.”? Read the verses listed above. From the surrounding verses in each passage, discuss how it is that God works in our lives to change us. Have you ever tried to change your character in your own strength? Did it work? Can change happen in a person’s character just by following all of the commandments of the Bible?

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Old Testament Background Throughout 2 Corinthians 3, Paul discusses Moses, the veil, and letters on stone. Paul is alluding to Exodus 32-34. In this passage Moses returned to the holy mountain to receive the law for the second time. Moses angrily broke the first tablets of the law after he saw the children of Israel worshipping a golden calf at the base of the mountain. Graciously, God forgave the Israelites and renewed his covenant with them. All of this - Moses the prophet, the veil which hid his face, and the law God gave - are contrasted to Jesus Christ, the glory of the Spirit of the Lord, and the new covenant displayed in the Spirit. The earlier is temporary, the later permanent. And Paul emphasizes that only the permanent, the Spirit of the Lord, can bring lasting change to a person. Change we can believe in The change God’s Spirit brings is permanent, but can come instantly or over time. Most often, this is a life-long process of transformation into the likeness of Christ. Fr. David told the story of his brother Frank who had followed God since his early 20s. His relationship with God had transformed him over the years and had brought very practical change in his life: he was a great father to his children despite not having a good example in his own father. God had changed his character so that God’s Fatherhood was Frank’s example as he parented his children. The reality of change over time requires us to be patient with ourselves and with God while he’s at work in us. Fr. David quoted John Newton who said, “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.” Going Deeper

Read Exodus 32-34. Why did Moses wear a veil in front of the people? Why did God give the children of Israel the commandments a second time? How do you most often experience God’s work in your life: instantly or over time? Why do you think God doesn’t do his work instantly every time? In what practical ways has God changed your character to look more like Christ? (Are you a better parent, employee, friend, etc.?)

Closing Prayer – Surrendering to Change Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Grace Under Pressure: We Do Not Lose Heart The Sermon Study Guide

2 Corinthians 4:7-12, 16-18 October 4, 2009

Opening Prayer We thank God for his word: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 Leader The Lord be with you People And also with you Leader Let us pray Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message (Read 2 Corinthians 4) Introduction Fr. Jason shared a story of a record-setting tennis match – the longest match ever played on a single day: 6 hours and 31 minutes. Sometimes our lives can feel like a marathon tennis match – we are at the point of absolute exhaustion. We may want to just give up in the face of the challenges of life. We may be exhausted, overwhelmed, in the place of losing heart. The apostle Paul was also under a lot of pressure. Nevertheless, he is able to affirm in the beginning and the end of 2 Corinthians 4 that “we do not lose heart.” Going Deeper

1. What are some of the things we face today which might cause us to lose heart?

2. From your study of the book of Acts and Paul’s letters make note of some of the difficulties Paul was facing in ministry and life in general. Look at 3 or 4 of the following examples or include some examples not listed here.

Acts 13:49-50, Acts 14:19-20, 36-39, Acts 16:6-10, 19-24, Acts 20:7-9, 36-38, Acts 21:10-14, 27-36, Acts 23:12-15. Other references to some of the hardships faced by Paul can be found in 1 Cor. 2:1-5, 16:9, 2 Cor. 6:3-10, 10:10, 11:23-12:10, Galatians 1:6-7, Ephesians 6:19-20, Philippians 1:15-18, 4:10-13, 2 Thess. 3:1-2, 6-13, and 2 Timothy 4:9-16.

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Background: Paul’s Ministry Paul was responsible for writing half of the books in the New Testament. He was the evangelist commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ himself and he brought the gospel into Galatia, Asia Minor, and Greece. And yet, it seemed in many ways that his ministry was a failure. Background: The Church in Corinth The city of Corinth was the third most important city in the Empire and had as many as 1 million people in it. Compare that to Dallas with 1.2 million in 2005. But as we consider the church in Corinth we find that it was a series of small cell groups that met in homes, occasionally meeting as an entire church in the home of Gaius. The entire church in a single home! Scholars estimate that the church in Corinth could have been as small as 50 - 100 people. Paul’s struggles: Failure (4:1-4) and Weakness (4:7-9) So many things could have caused Paul to lose heart; he speaks of 2 of those things here in this passage – failure and weakness. 50 out of 1 million people in Corinth converted under the teaching of Paul? Paul could have looked at the numbers and seen the fruit of his commissioning by Jesus as a failure. And this wasn’t happening just in Corinth. Everywhere Paul goes there are far more people who reject his message and seek to discredit or even persecute him than respond to the gospel. Paul could see this discouragement and sense of failure as intimately tied to his identity as a Christian and even his job. Paul also sees himself as weak. He has human frailties and limitations. Fr. Jason unpacked what it means to be “hard-pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, struck down”. Paul feels constant pressure from the world. He is constantly at a loss and without answers to the things going on in the world and to him. There are those coming after him trying to harm him in so many ways. He is thrown down constantly by the world around him. Paul is suffering over and over again – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Going Deeper

1. What does it mean to be hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed? Perplexed, but not in despair? Persecuted, but not abandoned? Struck down, but not destroyed? How did Paul specifically experience these things in life and ministry? What keeps Paul from being crushed, in despair, feeling abandoned, destroyed?

2. When have you experienced failure? Weakness? What are some of the ways you responded?

3. What are the things that you are currently facing that could cause you to “lose heart”?

4. What might “loss of heart” look like in terms of thoughts, words, and/or actions?

5. What are the places in which people find identity, significance, or meaning for their lives? What about you – as you consider your own life, where do you find your identity? Explain.

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Paul’s Response Fr. Jason directed our attention to Paul’s response to failures and weaknesses. When there was failure, Paul focused on being faithful to God (4:1-3). Rather than dwelling on what he could not change, Paul put his effort into being faithful to the God who could change all things. When there was weakness, Paul focused on God’s power in him (4:7-11). Paul never minimized his suffering, never denied his own confusion and pain, never acted as though everything was just fine. Paul was honest about his suffering but he saw God’s plan and power. What Paul sees is that his life is a mess, but the fact that he is not crushed, in despair, abandoned, or destroyed is the greatest evidence that God’s power and presence is at work in his life. Paul saw a present and a future purpose in everything he went through. The present purpose was to transform. The future purpose was to prepare for glory.

1. When have you experienced God’s power in the midst of failure and weakness? What did that look like in your life?

2. Can you look back at times of suffering, failure, and weakness in your life and see God’s purpose? If so, how has God used suffering, failure, and weakness in your life? How has God’s glory been revealed through those times? How did God use those events or circumstances to transform you?

3. What are ways we can be faithful to God in times of failure?

Closing Scripture (Read aloud together) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Closing Prayer Take time to pray, either aloud or silently, for those places where you are hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. If you are in a small group, divide into smaller groups of 3-4 people. Pray for one another – for God’s strength to we might respond faithfully in times of failure, for clarity of vision to recognize God’s power at work, for an increase of faith, and for God’s purpose to be revealed. Pray together: Gracious Father, thank you for your tender mercy towards us. You are the God of all hope, the God who gives strength, the God who is at work redeeming every circumstance, every failure, every weakness. We trust that your purpose is being worked out in the stuff of our lives – in this present life to transform and in the future to prepare us for glory. Strengthen us by your grace. When we fail, help us to be faithful to you. Help us to remember that your power is at work in us when we are weak, for your power is made perfect in weakness. Lord, we believe – help us in our unbelief. Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of your love; the love you have made known to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Going Deeper Grace Under Pressure: If Anyone is in Christ…

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 October 11, 2009

Opening Prayer We thank God for his word: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 Leader The Lord be with you People And also with you Leader Let us pray Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. Introduction In his sermon, Fr. David brought us to this central passage of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church. In these verses, Paul brings razor-sharp clarity to the message and meaning of the gospel. It is as if the snow in a snow globe is settling down after being shaken up. As it settles, the image inside – the gospel – becomes crystal clear. Paul does this by making three declarations about the work of Jesus Christ. Declaration 1: We have changed (vs. 16) One change that comes over us is the way that we see the world. Once we have come to know Christ – and seen the power of his work on the cross – we never look at anything the same way again. Paul says that because of Jesus, we don’t see things from “a wordly point of view,” that is, the way the world sees people and situations and events. We see them with new eyes, the eyes of Christ. Imagine walking into the extreme poverty of a small town in Peru. On the surface you see small huts that serve as the homes of the people in the town. You see the largest cemetery in Peru, not with well-manicured lawns and pristine headstones, but with mounds where people have come and buried their loved ones in nothing but a cloth. But you turn a corner and come to a small building with a corrugated tin roof. Gathered outside are men and women and children singing a song of praise to God.

2 This is their church. These are God’s people. Where the world would see poverty and lack and death, through God’s eyes you see people rich in love for God, overflowing with blessings, and full of the life of Christ. This is seeing with the eyes of Jesus. Going deeper: Read James 2:1-13, I John 4:7-12, Philippians 2:3-13

1. What ways is favoritism practiced in our society? As a Christian, how can you come against it in your day to day life?

2. How can you take up the spiritual practice of looking at people, situations, and events through the eyes of Christ?

3. Is there a particular situation in your life that would be different if you looked at it not as the world sees it, but as Christ sees it?

Declaration 2: We have been changed (vs. 17) We are able to see the world differently because we are no longer the same! God has changed us from the inside out…made us new. We are a completely new creation. Think of it this way: All around Dallas, people are buying older homes, tearing them down, and building new homes. Rather than doing a patch job of remodeling, they’ve chosen to build something brand new. That’s the same thing God has done for us. He didn’t just patch us up…giving us a fresh coat of paint over the destruction of sin. He made us brand new! We have a new life, a new start! Don’t feel new? Do you see cracks in the plaster, leaks in the plumbing? Do you feel more like “This old house” than “Extreme home makeover?” Well, that’s part of what Jesus is doing in our relationship with him. He’s helping us learn to live into that new life. In the Philippians passage you just read (Philippians 2:12), Paul admonished the church to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” What he’s saying is this, “learn what it means to be the people of God. Learn to live like the new creation God has made you to be!”

Going deeper:

1. Answer the question Fr. David asked in his sermon today: How have you been changed by God? (If you don’t feel comfortable sharing with the group, take this home and answer it later by yourself.)

2. Another question from Fr. David: Despite all of the new work God is doing, how much of the “old you” is still in you? (Again, answer this at home if you’d rather not share with the group…but please take time to think through this important question!)

3. Read Psalm 51. How does God want to take away the old life and give us a new one?

3 Declaration 3: All of this is from God (v. 18) In this passage, Paul makes clear that the change we’ve experienced – in ourselves and in the way that we view the world – is the result of nothing else but God’s work in us. Fr. David reminded us that we often forget the results of sin. It didn’t just make us do “bad” things. It made us enemies with God. His holiness is offended and can’t live near our sin. C.S Lewis put it this way in his book Mere Christianity:

In other words, fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, surrendering, saying you are sorry, realizing that you have been on the wrong track and getting ready to start life over again from the ground floor--that is the only way out of our “hole.”

That’s the bad news! But the good news is this: Rather than leaving us in that state of despair and separation, God made a peace treaty – He reconciled us to himself – through the work of Jesus on the cross. Paul ends this section of his letter reminding us of the gospel in summary. God made Jesus, who didn’t have any sin, to become sin for us on the cross. He did that so that we who were full of sin could become righteous and holy and live in relationship with God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Now we have peace: peace with God, peace within ourselves, peace in our relationships with other people. We remind ourselves of this every week in our service as we pass the peace. It isn’t just a fellowship moment (although that’s important!), it’s a reminder: We’ve been reconciled to God and one another through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. All that was old is gone…everything is being made new! Going deeper:

1. Read Philippians 4:6-7. What are ways that God’s peace can come to your life?

2. Is there a relationship or situation in your life that needs to experience reconciliation – a peace treaty?

Closing Prayer O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to your with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Grace Under Pressure: The Prodigal God and Two Lost Sons A Heart Wide Open

The Sermon Study Guide Mark 4:33-34 and Luke 15:11-32


Opening Prayer We thank God for his word: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 Leader The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Leader Let us pray….. Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message (Read Mark 4:34-35) Introduction: The Gospel presentation from Luke was introduced by this reading from Mark on Jesus’ use of parables. Fr. David spoke of parables as “direct from the infinite heart of the Father….coming down and touching us deeply at some point in our lives.” Parables are memorable stories with a message. Jesus conveyed truth through the use of the metaphorical story or parable.

Going Deeper: Read Luke 18:1, 18:9, 19:11 1) What were some of the things Jesus was responding to when he told parables? 2) How can hearing the truth told through a parable help us receive that truth? Are

there parables which you have found difficult to understand? If so, which one and what made/makes it difficult to understand?

3) Look back on the parables recorded in Luke. When has God used one of the parables of Jesus to reveal his infinite heart of love for you and to touch you deeply? What was your response?

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The Lost Son: Read Luke 15:11-24 Carol Anderson began with a dramatic telling of the story of a mom and dad with 7 children. One child was lost and the mom searched and searched for her son, Danny. Listening with every part of her being she heard an intake of breath and then quiet sobs from the closet under the stairs. She opened the door, found her son and cried out, “I love you! Why did you hide? We were so worried about you!” Danny asked for forgiveness for breaking something of great value to their family but she replied, “I’m not angry – it’s you I care about.” Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters, as well as friends and neighbors who knew that Danny had been lost were invited to a party where they celebrated the son who was lost but was now found. Going Deeper:

1) The word, “prodigal”, means recklessly extravagant or having spent everything. How is that a description of the younger son? Of the father?

2) When have you lost something valuable? When did you find something that was important to you? What was your response in each instance?

3) Have you ever wandered away from God? Was it intentional or did it seem to “just happen”? How did God rescue you?

4) Was there a time when you went to the “distant country”? How can you relate to the experiences of the younger son?

The Elder Brother: Read Luke 15:25-32 Jim Shores and Carol Anderson-Shores then acted out a version of the response of the elder son to his younger brother’s return and the father’s response to the elder son. The elder ‘sister’ in their story is angry with her younger brother and even with the father. For one who is obedient to the father, who has been focused on doing everything right, it just doesn’t seem right or fair for the father to love the younger son as much as he loves the obedient child. It can be all too easy to become the elder brother. One of the signs that our heart attitude is that of the elder brother is when our prayer life becomes heavy on petition and light on gratitude. When we are the elder brother our actions are focused on duty and “supposed-to’s” rather than being about relationship with God, walking with him, and desiring to live a life of grateful response to his love. Going Deeper:

1) Read Luke 15:1-2. Who is Jesus’ audience when he tells this parable? What do you think prompted Jesus to tell this series of 3 parables?

2) What does “running around with the wrong crowd” look like in our society? Who do we tend to see as the “right” people to hang out with? The “wrong” people?

3) Tim Keller, in his book “The Prodigal God”, states that Jesus uses the younger and elder brothers to portray the two basic ways that people try to find happiness and fulfillment: the way of moral conformity and the way of self-discovery. How is the younger son lost? What is the barrier between the father and the younger son? How is the elder son lost? What is the barrier between the father and the elder son?

4) Why is the elder brother so angry with the younger brother? With his father? 5) Of the two brothers, which reminds you the most of your own story in the life of your

family? In your relationship with God? 6) When a newspaper posed the question, “What’s Wrong With the World?” the

Catholic thinker G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: “Dear

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Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton.” As you reflect on his response and Jesus’ words in Luke 18:14, what would you say is the prerequisite for receiving the grace of God?

7) What are the qualities of the Father that you most need to respond to the lost? How will you join in the celebration for the lost who have been found?

8) What is the lesson in this parable for you today? Staying the Course in 2 Corinthians: Read 2 Corinthians 6:3-13.

1) How does Paul defend his ministry to the Corinthians? How is our ministry commended to others?

2) What is Paul asking the Corinthians to do in verses 11-13? What are ways in which we can respond “with hearts wide open”?

3) How do you measure “success” in ministry? How do your guidelines align with Paul’s list? When has God used someone’s response of “grace under pressure” to reach you? When has God used your response to reach someone else?

Connect the Dots!

1) In one or two sentences how would you “connect the dots” between Luke 15:11-32 and 2 Corinthians 6:3-13?

Closing Prayer Thank you, Father, for loving us freely and unconditionally, despite our flaws and failures. Thank you for seeking us in those times and places in our lives when we are the younger brother – lost because we want to go our own way, to be independent, when we go to distant lands of self-indulgence and try to gratify our wants and desires with earthly things. Thank you for seeking us out when we are the elder brother - self-righteous and proud, angry, resentful, bitter, and looking down on others. Forgive us, Father. Let the scales fall away from our eyes and help us to see clearly the depth of our need for you and the depth of your love for us. Help us to receive your love, to rest and rejoice in your presence so that our hearts would be full of love and thanksgiving for you. And then, Father, may we reach out to those who are lost and in need of your grace and forgiveness. All this we pray in the name of Jesus - our Shepherd, our Savior, and our Lord. Amen.

Going Deeper Grace Under Pressure: Journey to Generosity


Opening Prayer We thank God for his word: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 Leader The Lord be with you People And also with you Leader Let us pray Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-13. What words or phrases stood out to you as you read this passage? What is Paul seeking to emphasize in this part of his letter to the Corinthian church? Introduction Paul begins this section of scripture with a very personal admonition. “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know…” (8:1) (Your translation may, like the NIV, simply say, “brothers.” However the noun “adelphoi” can be understood to mean either “brothers” or “brothers and sisters”.) That’s because he’s going to be talking about a very personal subject: giving. Rather than speaking from above with the authority he could hold over them as an apostle, he comes alongside, speaking to them as a brother in Christ. He even goes so far as to say that he is not commanding them to give (8:8). Paul is intentionally taking the road of grace as he commends the example of the Macedonian churches to the Corinthian church. Fr. David took a similar tack as he commended us to think about ways that Christ Church has given over the past 25 years. He used stories about the buildings on our campus, giving to Peru, the Roof Dog Run, people inviting friends to church, and even the young people who received communion for the first time at the 11:00 service Sunday morning. All are examples of ministries that happen because of the gifts of God’s generous people. However, one is not coerced or commanded to give, it comes out of the overflow of relationship with Jesus Christ.

2 Going deeper 1. Read Matthew 5:16. How does this relate to the invitation to give?

2. What are ways that you have seen the Christ Church family (your brothers and sisters) at work for God?

The Severe Trial In this text, Paul describes the plight of the Macedonian churches. Macedonia was a region of northern Greece that encompassed the area where the towns of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea were located. While Paul doesn’t give any specifics about what type of severe trial these churches faced, we can guess that it would have included oppression by the Roman government that the entire region endured as well as particular persecution because they were Christians. Whatever the reason, the trials had left the Macedonian churches in poverty, which Paul compared to the affluence of Corinth. Yet rather than shrink back from contributing to Paul’s offering, the Macedonian churches “welled up in rich generosity” (v. 2), giving as much as they could, “and even beyond their ability” (v. 3). What’s amazing is that they weren’t asked or instructed by Paul to give, they begged (“urgently pleaded”) with Paul for the opportunity to give! Despite hardship and heartache, their lives were filled with joy (v. 2), which lead them to generously share what little they had with others. This is an example to us as well as the Corinthian church. Rather than have our hearts shrink back in fear during a difficult time, the example of the Macedonian church would call us to have joy and generosity that we can share with others. Going deeper

1. Paul himself had known difficult times, yet he remained content. Read Philippians 4:10-13. What circumstances had Paul faced with joy and contentment? How have you known contentment in difficult times?

2. Paul said that extreme poverty in Macedonia had overflowed into great generosity. Have you seen this? What about the opposite? Have you ever seen great wealth result in great greed?

3. How do you handle times of difficulty? Do they result in joy in your life? The Source of Generosity Paul gives a clue to the source of the Macedonian’s great joy and generosity. In verse 5, he said that they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to [Paul]. The Macedonians had a relationship with Jesus Christ that had forever changed them. They knew that Jesus had been generous with them, going so far as to give up his life so that they would know forgiveness of sin. Paul said that in giving up everything, Jesus had made us rich (8.9). The Macedonians understood what James, the brother of Jesus, meant when he said that “every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:15). Because Jesus had given generously to them, the Macedonians wanted to express his life by giving to other people whose need might be greater than their own.

3 This gives us two important truths about biblical generosity:

1. Giving has to come out of our love for God in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of everything we might give to another person. His life becomes our life (2 Corinthians 4:10). His light becomes our light (I John 1:7). His love our love (I John 4:19). His generosity is our generosity (2 Corinthians 8:9).

2. Giving has to come out of love for our neighbor. When we have known the life and love of Jesus, we naturally want to pass it on to other people. The Macedonian church couldn’t wait to share with others. They had been given so much that they begged to share – even though they were financially impoverished!

Does this sound familiar? Giving is one way we fulfill the Great Command to love God with all that we are and love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 27:37-39). Going deeper

1. What ways have you seen the love of Christ overflow from your life to another person?

2. What ways have you been blessed by giving to further God’s work? 3. Has there been an occasion that you’ve given in the midst of a difficult,

even impoverished, time? Did you find joy in those moments? 4. Do you need a “restart” button in giving? How will you follow the example

of the Macedonian church in its joyful giving? Concluding Prayer Prayer for Generosity Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve You as You deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I am doing Your will. Amen.

Grace Under Pressure: Cheerful Giver The Sermon Study Guide

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 November 1, 2009

Opening Prayer We thank God for his word: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 Leader The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Leader Let us pray Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message (Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15)

1. In 1 or 2 sentences and using your own words, summarize Paul’s message to the church in Corinth in this passage.

2. According to Paul, what are some results of the service of giving?

Introduction Fr. David likened our journey to that of the NW pilots overshooting/missing their destination by 150 miles. Just like those pilots we are at the same risk of losing our way, being distracted from the single most important thing there is, and missing our destination. He directed our attention to a dial in our lives: something that appears throughout scripture. That dial is found in v. 8 – “God is able…” Paul encourages the church in Corinth with these words in v. 8, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” He says something very similar to the church in Philippi in

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Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” The truth that “God is able” is a bedrock understanding for everything that comes from the Bible. Going Deeper

1. What are some other places in scripture where you see this foundational principle that God is able at work in the lives of people? Using the concordance found at the back of most Bibles, write one or two “God is able” statements.

2. Where have you seen this principle (God is able) at work in the lives of friends, family, brothers and sisters in Christ?

Is God Able? “God is able” is one of the most important ‘dials’ on your life in Christ ‘dashboard’. The culture of convenience, consumerism, affluence, and self-reliance encourages us to dial our ‘need for God’ way, way down. When we’re out of work or facing some crisis we may dial it up temporarily and say to God that we need him. But the setting of this dial on a day-in, day-out basis will determine how you and I live as disciples of Jesus. Our answer to this question, “Is God able?” will determine the time and content of our prayer, it will determine our focus in times of worship, it will determine our giving. If we trust that God is able then we will pray expectantly for the things we need, for others, for hearts to be changed. If we have seen that God is able we will not worship idols – things or people – we will worship the only One who is worthy of praise and thanks and adoration. If we remember the ways that God is able then we will give generously, cheerfully, and with a deep sense of joy. Going Deeper

1. Where is the “God is able” dial set in your life in prayer? In worship? In giving? What does that look like in each of these areas?

2. When have you experienced this foundational principle that God is able as being true in your life? Specifically in the area of giving? What was your response?

God is Able to Make All Grace Abound Fr. David reminded us that when we give we are sowing seeds. How that giving comes back to you in abounding grace is determined by God. If we’re looking at the fine print and expecting to see that grace come from a slot machine win or a big gain in the stock

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market or money for a big screen TV we’re looking in all the wrong places. Grace abounding in our lives is what makes life worth living. It’s measured in forgiveness, mercy, kindness, love, peace, contentment, relationship. It is grace that brings us the joy we long for. C. S. Lewis said that just as a car is made to run on petrol, so we, as humans, were designed to run on God Himself. We run on God’s grace – that is the way we function best. Our God is able to bring an abundance of grace into your life so that you may become more closely the person God intended you to be. Going Deeper

1. How have you experienced God’s grace abounding in the last week?

2. When have you trusted God’s ability to work in your life and felt a corresponding awareness, power, confidence, a presence, and ‘peace that passes understanding’?

Can You Believe It?

1. In all things….not some 2. At all times…..not some 3. Having all you need….not some 4. You will abound in every good work….not some.

Take a few minutes to reflect on this question.

Going Deeper

1. Are you being challenged and exhorted in any of these areas of prayer, worship, and/or giving to turn up the dial of “God is able”? If so, where? In prayer, ask for God’s help and commit these areas into his grace and care.

2. Write and commit to memory this verse: 2 Corinthians 9:8. “And God is able to

make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Closing Prayer Holy Father, through the witness of creation, the witness of scripture, and the testimony of the saints who have gone before, you are revealed as the mightiest power in the universe, the God of heaven and earth. We praise you - you are able in all things and at all times to make all grace abound. Send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, into our lives that we might see your grace at work all around us. Empower us to live out of the abundance of your grace. May the overflow of the grace that you pour into our lives flow into the lives of others in order that they might know you. And may the service of our giving and our confession of the gospel of Christ result in thanksgiving and praise of you, for you alone are worthy of all glory and power and praise. Amen.

Going Deeper Grace Under Pressure: Taking Down Strongholds


Opening Prayer We thank God for his word: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 Leader The Lord be with you People And also with you Leader Let us pray Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-6. What words or phrases stood out to you as you read this passage? What is Paul seeking to emphasize in this part of his letter to the Corinthian church? Introduction When was the last time you got a handwritten letter? There’s something very personal about a letter that was written specifically to you, seen in the handwriting of a person you know cares about you. This letter to the Corinthian church was just that: a personal, specific word of love and concern from the Apostle Paul to a church that he founded and for which he cared deeply. In fact, Paul didn’t intend this – or any of his letters - to be part of the Bible. He was simply writing from his heart to people he pastored. As the church read them, however, it became evident that these letters had a special anointing. They were especially inspired by the Holy Spirit. As such, they were cherished by the church and became part of the canon of scripture. This letter is especially personal because through it Paul acknowledges that there is negative sentiment in the church regarding his ministry. It has been said that he is “timid” in person and “bold” when absent and writing letters. This is what he is addressing in verse 1 of chapter 10. But in other places Paul admits that he isn’t a great speaker. In his first letter to the Corinthians he says, “I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power…” (1 Corinthians 2:3-4). Then, there was the time Paul preached so long that a young man named Eutychus fell asleep and fell out a second story window. Paul had to pray for him to brought back from the dead! (Acts 20:7-12) Not the exact results a preacher seeks!

2 Going Deeper

1. What does it mean to you when you get a personal, handwritten letter? When did you last receive one? When did you last send one?

2. Why do you think God sent a person like Paul, who wasn’t a gifted speaker, on missionary journeys to proclaim the gospel? What other biblical characters were sent as messengers despite a lack of giftedness? What does that say about the nature of work in God’s kingdom?

3. How do you think Paul’s personal word to the Corinthian church reflects God’s personal concern for his people?

Breaking Down Strongholds Paul wrote that in his life and ministry he had had to face many strongholds. However, the weapons and tactics for fighting these were completely different than what the world would count necessary for battle. Paul had learned to use these as he observed Christ break down strongholds in his own life. Prior to his work as an apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul was known as Saul – a Jewish religious leader who tormented and persecuted Christians. He had built up strongholds of pride, hatred, anger, and perfectionism in his life. On a journey from Jerusalem to Damascus, however, Paul met Jesus himself. The risen Lord spoke seven words that forever changed Paul, breaking down these strongholds and setting him free for new work: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). Paul was blinded during this encounter with the Light of the world. However, as evidenced by his later ministry, his eyes were really opened to the truth of the gospel and the freedom in Christ. Read more about Paul’s conversion in Acts 9. Fr. David talked about his early relationship with Fran, how one sentence from her broke down a stronghold in his life. As he finished seminary, Fr. David was set to move to Tucson when he met Fran. They went on a few dates but just prior to leaving, Fr. David decided that a long-distance relationship wouldn’t work. In a conversation with Fran, she spoke just a few words that broke down strongholds of doubt in Fr. David and changed his life forever. She said, “If you wanted me to I’d follow you anywhere…” Well, the rest as they say, is history. Her words melted Fr. David’s heart. They were married one year later! Ah, the power of words! In 1987, Ronald Reagan also spoke words that changed history. At the Brandenburg gate, President Reagan challenged Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev to act on promises to bring change to the Soviet Union. He encouraged him to break down the barrier between east and west, saying, “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” With those words the end of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War began. Going Deeper 1. What are “weapons” we typically use to fight our day to day battles?

2. What strongholds has God broken down in your life? Did he use a particular word to confront and heal?

3. What word has God specifically given to you? How did it change your life?

3 God’s Word God’s primary tool in speaking to his people is his word, the Bible. At the beginning of each study, we’ve reflected on 2 Timothy 3:16 which says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” See, God’s plan is for us to live and act like Jesus Christ. That’s why Paul said, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Everything we say and do should be compared to the standard of Jesus Christ. The Bible is the tool God uses to show us how his people should live. It’s also the spotlight that searches our lives for places he needs to be at work. Strongholds of sin and addiction. Fortresses of pain from past experiences. Places that we’ve created by our poor choices. Places that were created by others who mistreated us. Whatever they are, God’s word can break us out of prison and bring freedom to us! Mark 5:1-20 tells the story of a man possessed by legions of demons. They had ruined his life. They caused him to live in a graveyard, away from his family and community. He cut himself with stones and lived the life of a wild animal. Yet with one word from Jesus, he was restored. When the people of the town arrived to see Jesus, they saw this man – previously wild and naked – restored and in his right mind, talking with Jesus. Your need may not be that dramatic. (Or it may be even more intense!) God has power through his word to bring healing to you! Open yourself to his word, to his Spirit. Allow him to break down the strongholds in your life. Going Deeper

1. Fr. David asked this question in the sermon today, “Where do you need the word of God to speak in your life?”

2. Another question from Fr. David: “Are you living in a stronghold of your own making?” Are you willing to allow God to break it down?

3. How frequently do you read God’s word, the Bible? Do you find yourself encouraged to read it more frequently?

Closing Prayer May thy strong hand, O Lord, be ever my defense; thy mercy in Christ, my salvation; thy all-veritable word, my instructor; the grace of the life-bringing Spirit, my consolation, all along and at last. Amen (Lancelot Andrews)

4 Word of God Speak

(sung by Josh Havens at the end of the sermon) I’m finding myself at a loss for words And the funny thing is it’s OK The last thing I need is to be heard But to hear what You would say Word of God speak Would You pour down like rain Washing my eyes to see Your majesty To be still and know That You’re in this place Please let me stay and rest In Your holiness Word of God speak I’m finding myself in the midst of You Beyond the music, beyond the noise All that I need is to be with You And in the quiet hear Your voice Chorus (repeat) I’m finding myself at a loss for words And the funny thing is it’s OK Written by MercyMe and Peter Kipley © 2002 Simpleville Music (ASCAP)/Songs from the Indigo Room (SESAC)

Grace Under Pressure: The Thorn and His Grace The Sermon Study Guide


Opening Prayer We thank God for his word: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 Leader The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Leader Let us pray Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message (Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-12)

1. What words or phrases stood out to you as you read this passage?

2. In your own words summarize Paul’s message to the church in Corinth in this passage.

Introduction In Anglicanism, we have two books that we use in worship – the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. 87% of the BCP is straight from scripture; it is the Bible arranged for worship. The prayer which we’ve been using week by week to open up our study of 2 Corinthians is a collect written by Thomas Cranmer. Cranmer had a vision for what it would take to change the heart of a nation. He sought to place Scripture in the hands of every person in a language plainly understood. The Bible is not a Sunday-only book for only a few to hear and understand – we are all called to be open to hearing God speak through his word every day of the week. Cranmer wrote a prayer with five verbs….hear, read, mark, learn and digest…a prayer that was part of a radical change in the spiritual landscape of England. Over the next few centuries the gospel was carried around the globe.

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Going Deeper

1. How has this prayer to “hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” holy

Scriptures been realized in your life as we have studied 2 Corinthians?

2. Which of these 5 verbs has been the most applicable to your study in these last 10 weeks? How so?

Paul Caught Up to Heaven There is a marked contrast in the text of this passage – Paul, the spiritual giant and Paul, our brother with whom we share much in common. The first 6 verses point to Paul as a spiritual giant – a man who has been caught up to the “third heaven” which in the ancient world would have been the top of the heavens or paradise. Through Paul we get the briefest of glimpses of the throne room of God. Paul heard things…things inexpressible. Heaven is a place where things are heard. In Isaiah 6 and in Revelation all around the throne are those who are singing and shouting praises to God. God communicates through word. Even Jesus’ ministry on earth included miracles in which Jesus spoke: calling out demons, declaring forgiveness of sins, speaking words of healing for the lame, the leper, the deaf, the mute, the blind; even speaking words which brought life to the dead. As we read this first section of verses 1-6, Fr. David reminded us of one question that God is asking over and over again of you and me….. Can you hear me now? David reminded us that God is speaking to each one of us. God has a Word for you! The most important human activity in we can engage on a day-to-day basis is to clear up the noise, eliminate the static, and have quiet time to think and to hear a word from God. It can be difficult to hear that word over the noise of our lives. Are you listening? Going Deeper

1. Read Psalm 143:8, Habakkuk 2:1, and 1 Kings 19:1-18. What do these passages tell us about God’s speaking and our listening?

2. What is the “noise” or the “static” in your life that gets in the way of hearing God speak?

3. Do you sincerely want to hear God speak his Word into your life? Can you hear God now? What will you do this week to create space and quiet in order to hear from God?

4. When have you heard God speak in your life? What did God say to you?

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Paul’s Thorn Here we get a glimpse of Paul, our brother and peer, as he shares something that is common to all of us – a thorn in the flesh. He takes us from the heights of heaven to the depths of what it means to be human. Something major hit Paul’s life. He’s out there preaching, writing letters, defending the faith, and being a leader of leaders. He is caught up to heaven where he hears things he cannot express with words. And then he is given a thorn. We are not sure exactly what it was but it was a crisis in Paul’s life. Last week we heard about strongholds – the things we hold on to that keep us from a full life with God and others. It is the word of God that breaks down those strongholds. This week we see the other side of the coin – things we’d like to get rid of, things we want to let go of but they won’t let go of us. We pray that God would take away those things and yet they persist. Paul’s response to the thorn is this: God’s grace is sufficient! God’s power is made perfect in weakness! We are reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Cor. 1:9 – Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. In our weakness, we cry out to God, we are desperate for Him. Paul ends in 2 Cor. 12:10 with this: For when I am weak, then I am strong. Going Deeper

1. What are the “thorns in your flesh?” Is there one that is particularly thorny at the present time? (When doing this study in the context of a small group share as led.)

2. How has God used a thorn, a weakness to reveal his strength at work in you?

3. Do you, for Christ’s sake, delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties? What would it look like to “boast….about your weaknesses?”

4. How have you experienced God’s grace as being sufficient for you?

5. Commit to memory this word from God: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9

Closing Prayer Father, we are desperate…..desperate to hear you, to hear your voice spoken through your word. We need you and we cry out to you right now out of our deepest need. Your word spoken…….it is our daily bread. We wait upon you; we will wait to hear you speak. May the noise of our lives be silent. May the static be stilled. Speak, Lord, and let us hear the voice of your word. (A time of silence.) We’ve prayed for the thorns in our flesh to be removed and yet they stay with us. We stand on the truth of your word, that your grace is sufficient for us. We name those weaknesses and difficulties and hardships now, aloud and silently. (Pause for a few moments.) We will give thanks that you use those thorns, whatever they might be, in a way that reveals your glory. Let it all be in praise of you – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace Under Pressure: Aiming for Perfection The Sermon Study Guide

2 Corinthians 13:11 November 22, 2009

Opening Prayer We thank God for his word: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 Leader The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Leader Let us pray Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Remembering the Message (Read 2 Corinthians 13. Read again 2 Cor. 13:11)

1. What words or phrases stood out to you as you read this passage?

2. Briefly summarize Paul’s message to the church in Corinth in this passage. Introduction

We were reminded by Father David that, while Paul did not write these letters to us, the Holy Spirit did have us in mind. The Bible was written by humans who were guided by the Holy Spirit: over 40 authors, spanning 1500 years, and a broad spectrum of ethnicities, cultures, and places. We are called to observe the text, interpret the text, and then apply the text.

Going Deeper

1. Biblical hermeneutics is the study of the interpretation of the written texts of

scripture. Why is the issue of interpretation so important as we read the Bible? What might be some important factors in interpreting scripture?

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The Hard Letters to the Corinthians The letters that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth weren’t “nice”. Some of his letters to other churches were full of joy, thanksgiving, even praise. In contrast, much of the content of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians was tough. Paul was hard on the Corinthians. He calls them out on several things and says he “will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others”; he’s hammering a message home to them. “Brother”…. Paul then binds them all together with a single word: “Brother”. Yes, there was trouble in the Corinthian church – problems in worship, with idol feasts and the Lord’s Supper, lawsuits among believers, sexual immorality, divisions in the church, rebellion, as well as ugly words and rumors against Paul himself. And yet Paul reminds them that they are always brothers and sisters in this new family they are a part of through Jesus’ death on the cross. “Brother.” Paul is speaking to brothers and sisters in the church. This one word would have stopped his readers cold. When Paul says “Brother” he introduces an idea that would have been shocking and foreign to the people first hearing the letter. He speaks across cultural barriers, across socio-economic lines, across racial divides. Where did Paul get this radical idea? Jesus had already planted the seed for this new idea of family. Jesus blew the social structure of his day apart and re-defined family in a way that included tax collectors, sinners, harlots, and lepers, Samaritans, the despised and the outcast, - people from every walk of life. Just like the church in Corinth, Christ Church is filled with people who’ve made wrong choices and who sin. And it’s not “those other people”, it’s us. We all make wrong choices and we all sin. We are all affected by the sin of others. Sometimes the difficulties and sorrows we face are the consequence of living in a broken world. There are people who are struggling through a long season of unemployment. There is arguing and rebellion and pride and condemnation of others. Some are having a crisis of faith. Others are facing tremendous suffering and anguish because of some circumstance in their marriage or family. But we are all brothers and sisters under the Fatherhood of God. We are family.

Going Deeper

1. What are the struggles that churches today face, including Christ Church? How are we called to respond to trouble, divisions, and sin in the body? How can we build up the body in the face of these difficulties?

2. What are some things you are facing where you are tempted to try and “go it alone”? How is God calling you to respond in light of Fr. David’s sermon?

3. Read Mark 3:31-35 and John 19:25-27. How did Jesus re-order the idea of family in his early ministry and from the cross? How have you experienced this new idea of “family” in your life? How is the Father calling you to expand this value – this radical idea of a new family – in your life?

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4. How have you come to know your Father in heaven through brothers and sisters in the Bible? Through your brother, Jesus? Through your brothers and sisters of Christ Church or other church families to which you’ve belonged?

5. Is God calling you to extend peace (figuratively, a holy kiss) to a brother or sister in Christ with whom you are at odds? If so, what will you do this week to reach out to that “brother” or “sister” and share the grace of Christ?

6. How would you describe your Christ Church family? What kind of family are we? Grace Under Pressure We have journeyed together through the book of 2 Corinthians. Paul didn’t write this letter with us as his intended audience. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit has used this letter written 2000 years ago to speak to the hearts and lives of many in our congregation over the last 11 weeks. We’ve heard and discussed how the Holy Spirit moves in a person’s life, why suffering happens and how we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received. We’ve read, heard, marked, learned, and inwardly digested words on the new creation we are in Christ Jesus, words on tearing down strongholds, and words about the thorns in the flesh that we all experience. This is life…the rough and tumble of what it means to be a follower of Jesus in a world of unbelief, a world of joy and pain and sometimes deep sorrow. Jesus has provided for us Grace. A loving way of living. A power made perfect in weakness. A place where you can be a brother or a sister. A confidence in knowing that His love will lead you through everything. Our Father in heaven sees us in our weakness and throws a lifeline of hope – the gift of grace for every moment of our lives. Going Deeper

1. Reflect on the messages and lessons from the last 11 weeks. Is there one passage from 2 Corinthians that has been particularly meaningful? Explain.

2. How have you experienced God’s grace under pressure in these weeks? How has your life been a witness to God’s grace under pressure? How will you share this message of God’s grace as an encouragement to others in the family of God?

Closing Prayer Using some of the words from this letter to the Corinthians and including praise, thanks, and petition, write a brief (1 or 2 sentences max) prayer to God. If you are in a small group, close your time together by praying these prayers aloud. If you are doing this as a private devotion speak your prayer aloud to your holy and loving Father God.

Documents

Grace Under Pressure