I'm Saved. I'm Growing. I'm Sharing.

2 Corinthians 4:1–9 ESV

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I’m Saved. I’m Growing. I’m Sharing.

atthew 5:11-12

Introduction

Introduction

The need to respond to the God of the bible in a biblical way.

1. A biblical response to his love

2. To his mercy and grace

3. To his blessings

3. To his commands

4. To his promptings

I’m Saved

2 Corinthians 4:1 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 4:

Paul is facing personal attacks on his ministry, he is watching false teaches attempt to take over the church in Corinth. When he talks about having a ministry by the mercy of God he is talking about more than ministry. He is talking about everything that he has been given - grace, salvation, a changed life, the opportunity to reveal to people the true God, the will of God, and the ways of God. He is an ambassador for Jesus Christ, the true and living God and savior of all men and women.

By the mercy of God - grace is when the police officer pulls us over and pays the ticket for us. Mercy is when we deserve the ticket but he lets us off with only a warning.

We do not lose heart - Salvation is a big decision. It is not just chuckles and tickles. To be saved is to face our sins , our inadequacies. It can be both humbling and discouraging.

I’m Growing

2 Corinthians 4:2–4 ESV

2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

There’s a right way to grow and a wrong way to grow

2 Corinthians 4:2-

disgraceful, underhanded ways - deceitful, secretive, deceptive (bait on the hook)

tamper with God’s word - I live God’s word

we commend ourselves - areas in my life where I see growth

3-4: Growing in my view of the the world, the lost, the evil one

I’m Sharing

2 Corinthians 4:5–9 ESV

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

2 Corinthians 4:5-

What we proclaim - in a world where we invite people to hear the speaker, listen to the band, join the social club Paul points to two things:

The lord who saves

2 Corinthians 4:1–9 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

the believer who serves

It all points to Jesus

our imperfections, our problems, our personal attacks

When God is working though us : not crushed, not driven to despair, not forsaken, not destroyed.

How can I be Saved, Growing, Sharing?

Matthew 4:19 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

Saved: Follow me

Growing: I will make you (are you making yourself?)

Sharing: fishers of men (the lamp, the false lures, jars of clay displaying the power of God)