ELNORA'S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, 2 Corinthians, Chapter 4 - Friday, November 1, 2024

 

        

Introduction to Chapter 4

2Corinthians 4 follows Paul's teaching in the previous chapter about the transformation that happens for those who see God's glory in Christ. Some are blinded to it by sin and by the god of this world. Paul knows that he and his co-workers are fragile containers for the priceless message of God's grace through faith in Jesus. They won't quit, though, because God sustains them and will eventually resurrect them. Once in eternity, all the suffering in this life won't be worth comparing with sharing God's glory forever.  (https://www.bibleref.com/2-Corinthians/4/2-Corinthians-chapter-4.html)

An Introduction, Verses 1-6, TEANNIE

¹Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way,^[a] we never give up. ² We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this. ³ If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. ⁴ Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. ⁵ You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. What ministry is Paul referring to in verse 1? 

2. How does this new way God has given us help us not to give up? 

3. What type of methods might Satan use to try to blind people to the truth? 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 

4. What are some disgraceful things some preachers of the gospel do? Why do they do these things? 

5. What is our responsibility as ministers of the new covenant? 

6. How did God shine the light into your heart? 

The Glory of the New Covenant, Part 1, Verses 7-12, DESTINY

⁷We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.^[b] This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. ⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. ¹⁰ Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. ¹¹ Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. ¹² So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

7. What is the treasure Paul is referring to in verse 7? What is Paul saying in this verse (jars of clay)?

8. 2 Corinthians 2:16 says, "And who is adequate for such a task as this?" How can  a jar of clay adequate? (Verse 7b)

9. How does Paul describe some of our weaknesses and difficulties? 

^{THOUGHT QUESTIONS:}

10. What are some specific ways you can deflect praise from yourself to God? 

11. Would anyone like to share a testimony of how God sustained you through difficulty? 

Ministers of the New Covenant, Verses 13-18, TBD

¹³ But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”^[c] 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus,^[d] will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. ¹⁵ All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. ¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are^[e] being renewed every day. ¹⁷ For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸ So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

12. What is the motivational aspect of what Paul is saying in this section of scripture? 

13. The afflictions that Paul faced and that we face he says has a purpose. How is that? 

14. What is the eternal perspective that Paul describes in this passage? 

^{THOUGHT QUESTIONS:}

15. How does your faith in Christ have an impact on your daily life?

16. How can you renew your spirit daily? What are some things we are motivated to do?

Paul was weak in the eyes of many in the world. He wasn’t successful as the world defines success. The disciples also were mostly fishermen and peasants.

This was no mistake. It was no coincidence. God intentionally used normal people as vessels to spread the gospel to show that it is His power which saves (Romans 1:16) and not ours. It is not wealth, status, worldly logic, or arguments which save. As we saw in verses 5-6, it is the light of Christ. He changes hearts. Because it is all Him, He gets all the glory.

A clay jar holding the most expensive diamond in the world would only serve to be a contrast of the common with the exquisite. When a person saw the diamond being drawn out of the jar they would gasp with surprise at the beauty being stored in such a cheap container. All of their focus would be on the beauty of the diamond and not on the container. That is the way it is with the gospel. https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-4-7-12/

Prayer Confession for 2Corinthians, Chapter 4

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” 2Corinthians 4:3

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many witnesses to the Word of truth. Thank You that salvation is freely available to all who will open their eyes to the truth of Your Word and unblock their ears to the satanic lies and deceptions that come from the evil one. Look down in pity on those that are in the valley of decisions and bring many into saving faith this day, through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2Corinthians 4:6

Loving Father, thank You for the Light You have given me in the face of Jesus, my Saviour and Lord. It is only through His sufficient sacrifice, that I have been so blessed, for without the shining Light of the Spirit of Christ within, I would have continued to wallow in the darkness of the world. May the light of Your truth, love, and compassion, shine in me and reflect from me the glories of Jesus. May Your name may be glorified in all I say and do. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2Corinthians 4:7

Thank You, Father, that You have poured into my heart the light of Your gospel, which is from Christ Jesus my Saviour. I am not worthy to have received the new, resurrected life of Christ in this earthen vessel. Nor am I worthy to have the indwelling Holy Spirit in my heart to lead and guide me. But thank You that in Your grace, I have this wonderful treasure in my earthly body and I pray that the excellency of the power of God may work through me as I die to self and live for Christ. May my life be a living witness of Your saving grace and excellent power. I am not worthy to gather up the crumbs under Your table and yet You have given me this treasure in my heart, for which I thank You. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

“For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” 2Corinthians 4:11

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus died and was raised from the dead for my sake. Thank You for the ministry of Paul whose life was a little reflection of Christ's deep love for us... as he selflessly shared the gospel of grace to lost souls and was willing to be delivered over to suffering and death for love of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Christ might be manifest through him. I pray that I would be willing to die to my own self-interest for the love of Christ Jesus so that I may also be used by You to spread the good news of the gospel of grace and the life of Jesus might be manifest in my mortal body too. This I ask in Jesus' precious name, AMEN.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” 2Corinthians 4:17

Praise Your Holy Name O Lord my God, for the glory without limit that awaits all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. May I face the afflictions and difficulties that are inevitable in this world system, with the same eternal perspective, godly grace, patient endurance, and unspeakable joy, that I see in Paul. Help me not to look at the circumstances of life with dread and fear, but rather, may I view them as part of the eternal tapestry of my life that You are weaving together for good. I look forward with joy to the limitless glories that You have prepared for those that love You, no matter what difficulties and dangers I may be called upon to face in this world. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/2-Corinthians/4