Week 1 - The Church of God

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

WHY?…

TODAY: The Church of God

Opening Scripture:

2 Corinthians 1:1–2 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“One liners” from 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”

2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Background on Corinth

Ministering in the Spirit and Strength of Jesus (SFL; 2 Corinthians, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus) An Overview of 2 Corinthians

PAUL’S DEALINGS WITH THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH, A.D. 50–56

1. The founding visit to Corinth (A.D. 50) lasted approximately eighteen months (see Acts 18).

2. Paul wrote an earlier letter before 1 Corinthians (see 1 Cor. 5:9).

3. 1 Corinthians was written from Ephesus around A.D. 55.

4. A brief, but painful visit to Corinth resulted in sorrow for Paul and the church (see 2 Cor. 2:1; 13:2).

5. Shortly after the painful visit, Paul wrote a severe letter, which was delivered to Corinth by Titus (see 2 Cor. 2:4; 7:6–8).

6. Paul penned 2 Corinthians from Macedonia (probably A.D. 55 or 56), while on his way to Corinth again.

7. Paul’s last visit to Corinth (Acts 20) was likely when he wrote Romans, just before returning to Jerusalem.

The painful visit and the severe letter provide the immediate background for the writing of 2 Corintians.1

Why are we studying 2 Corinthians?

Teach us dependency on Christ Jesus

1. The Church of God’s foundation

(v. 1a, cf. Eph 2:20)

2 Corinthians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:”

Ephesians 2:20 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

2. The Church of God as the local church

The nature and makeup of the local church/CONGREGATION (v. 1b., cf. 1 Cor 1:26–31)

2 Corinthians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:”

church = assembly

saints = ones set apart or holy ones

The local church/congregation as a called assembly…

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 (ESV)

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

3. The Church of God needs His grace and peace

(v. 2, cf. Rom 8:31–39)

2 Corinthians 1:1–2 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 1:2 (EGGNT 2Co): In Paul’s letters God’s grace is linked with God’s love in sending his Son to effect salvation for humanity (Rom 8:32; 2 Cor 8:9), and then with his ongoing acts of loving provision (Rom 8:32). The peace Paul invokes is the subjective sense of peace and well-being that rests upon the objective peace with God won through Christ’s death (Eph 2:13–18).

Paul writes about this grace and peace in…

Romans 8:31–39 (ESV)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Story of the local church as called by God to serve God...

John Ortberg on Following God Instead of Your Gut

Jimmy, and his son, Davey, were playing in the ocean down in Mexico, while his family—his wife, daughters, parents, and a cousin—were on the beach. Suddenly, a rogue riptide swept Davey out to the sea. Immediately Jimmy started to do whatever he could to help Davey get back to the shore, but he, too, was soon swept away in the tide. He knew that in a few minutes, both he and Davey would drown. He tried to scream, but his family couldn't hear him.

Jimmy's a strong guy—an Olympic Decathlete—but he was powerless in this situation. As he was carried along by the water, he had a single, chilling thought: My wife and my daughters are going to have to have a double funeral.

Meanwhile, his cousin, who understood something about the ocean, saw what was happening. He walked out into the water where he knew there was a sandbar. He had learned that if you try to fight a riptide, you will die. So, he walked to the sandbar, stood as close as he could get to Jimmy and Davey, and then he just lifted his hand up and said, "You come to me. You come to me."

If you try to go the way your gut tells you to go—the shortest distance into shore—you will die. If you think for yourself, you will die. God says, "If you come to me, you will live." That's it—death or life.

(source: https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2009/october/2101909.html)

Conclusion/Reflection:

We become part of The Church of God by responding to His call, often proclaimed initially by apostles

We join in The Church of God through a local congregation (in our region)

We continue in The Church of God by continuing to rely on Him…his grace and peace…and extending it to others.

TALK IT OVER

How are the hope and patient waiting in Romans 8:18–25 connected to the mention of suffering in verse 18 and in the previous chapter of Romans?

What are the various dimensions of the purpose to which we are called in Romans 8:28–30? Which of these dimensions strikes you most and why?

How are these last verses of Romans 8 a great assurance for us in the tension of life and the suffering of the world?