I was in Corinth.
It's on page, if you're reading the Red Church Bible, it's on page 1114.
And we'll start on verse 1 of chapter 18.
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.
Paul went to see them.
And because he was a tent maker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them,
Your blood be on your own heads.
I am clear of my responsibility.
From now on, I will go to the Gentiles.
Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus, a worshipper of God.
Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believe in the Lord.
And many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision.
Do not be afraid.
Keep on speaking.
Do not be silent.
For I am with you.
And no one is going to attack and harm you.
Because I have many people in this city.
So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
And I'm just going to turn over to 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and just read the first two verses.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother.
To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia.
Grace and peace to you from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Johnny.
Thank you, Jonathan.
It's good to be with you again this morning.
And it's good to be able to share God's word with you.
Please have your Bibles open on those last couple of verses in 2 Corinthians.
I know I said to Jonathan it would be Acts.
It's actually 2 Corinthians verses 1 and 2.
Don't get too excited, you think.
Two verses.
He hasn't much to say.
Well, there's lots here for us.
To draw your attention to another book, if you haven't got a Bible, please help yourself just around the corner there.
There's plenty of Bibles.
It will help you as we go along and study God's word together.
Another little booklet, not on the same authority as Scripture, but nonetheless, it will help you.
2 Corinthians is just an introduction to some of the big themes that we will be coming across.
And it will help you in your understanding of the letter.
So pick up your copy of that as well.
Thank you, Jonathan.
Oh.
Place has fallen down.
Thank you very much.
Let me get a drink.
Let's pray together.
Father, we are privileged to have your word.
written down for us so that we can learn about you and your son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We pray that these words written on the page would be transformative in our lives.
changing us, changing us, humbling us, and helping us to see Christ.
Please pour out your blessing upon us as we gather today and as we study this letter of 2 Corinthians over the coming weeks.
May it be truly good for us.
May it be truly good for us to hear your word.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, we need someone who is more successful and influential.
A crowd puller.
A big named speaker.
We need someone who is more dynamic.
Well, that seems to be the word on the street in Corinth.
The Apostle Paul, as we've just read from Acts,
had brought the good news of Jesus Christ to the city.
And it records for us there that many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
However, despite the early growth, not all is well in the local church.
So-called super apostles have arrived and they're questioning Paul's ministry and his credentials.
Have a look with me in 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 1.
Paul writes to the church and he says,
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?
Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
It seems there were complaints that Paul's ministry CV was not up to scratch.
He hadn't been to the right college.
He wasn't mixing with the right people.
Or have a look at chapter 10 and verse 10.
Paul writes about what people are saying about him.
Chapter 10, verse 10.
For some say his letters are weighty and forceful.
But in person, he's unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.
That Paul, I wouldn't cross the road to hear him.
But despite all the criticism, Paul pushes back chapter 11, verse 5.
I do not think I am in the least inferior to those super apostles.
In fact, the one thing Paul has that they don't have is weakness.
Look at chapter 11, verse 24.
If you want a CV, if you want credentials, well then here it is, verse 24.
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods.
Once I was pelted with stones.
Three times I was shipwrecked.
I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
I've been constantly on the move and have faced many dangers.
Verse 27.
I have laboured and toiled.
I have often gone without sleep.
I've known hunger and thirst.
And often gone without food.
I've been cold and naked.
And besides everything else,
I face the daily pressures of my concern for all the churches.
Who is weak?
And I do not feel weak.
Who is led into sin?
And I do not inwardly burn.
If I must boast,
I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
It's not greatness that Paul has,
but weakness.
And in a culture that prized success
and encouraged the influential,
Paul, it appeared, was a complete failure.
He was neither an attractive personality
or an impressive speaker.
The church wanted someone who was powerful and dynamic,
not weak and fragile.
Well, isn't that how often we can think?
If only we had a better preacher.
Someone just like...
Someone who's influential.
Funny.
Draws a crowd.
If only we had better programs.
Something more creative and successful.
If only we had a better building.
An impressive place that we would be proud of.
A place to invite.
Who wants to be in a small church
with weak people?
But as Paul begins his letter,
he reminds us
that it's not about individual greatness.
It's all about God.
God is the one
who rules his church.
So, let's go to the beginning
of the letter,
2 Corinthians chapter 1.
And we're going to see
that the church begins
with God.
The church belongs to God.
And the church
is blessed
by God.
So, first of all,
the church begins
with God.
Despite what other people
have been saying about Paul,
he wants to make it clear
from the very beginning.
Verse 1.
Paul,
I'm an apostle
of Christ Jesus
by the will
of God.
And Timothy,
our brother.
He's wanting to show them
that the church exists
not because of anyone's greatness,
but because of God's will.
Now, to help us see this,
I want us to turn back
to Acts chapter 22.
Go to Acts chapter 22.
Here we have a record,
an account,
of when Paul became
a Christian.
He was formerly known
as Saul,
and his job
was to gather
all the Christians,
put them in prison,
and even kill them.
And as he was on his way
to Damascus,
you know the story,
the risen Lord Jesus
appeared to him
with a shining bright light.
He fell off his horse.
He was confronted
by Jesus
and he went blind.
And here in Acts 22,
he retells
his story.
So I want us to read this
thinking about
how the church
started.
Let's pick it up
in verse 11.
My companions
led me by the hand
into Damascus
because the brilliance
of the light
had blinded me.
A man named Ananias
came to see me.
He was a devout
observer of the law
and highly respected
by all the Jews
living there.
He stood beside me
and said,
Brother Saul,
receive your sight.
And at that very moment,
I was able to see.
Then he said,
The God of our ancestors
has chosen you
to know his will
and to see the righteous one,
that's Jesus,
and to hear words
from his mouth.
You will be his witness
to all people
of what you have seen
and heard.
And now what are you
waiting for?
Get up,
be baptized,
wash your sins away,
calling on his name.
Verse 21.
Then the Lord said to me,
Go,
I will send you
far away
to the Gentiles.
So from these
few verses,
I want us to see
three things.
First,
that Paul was saved
and sent
by God.
He was converted
as he was confronted
by the risen Lord Jesus.
And he was commissioned,
Go,
Paul,
I want you to go
to where people
have not heard
about Jesus.
So he was,
sent
by God
and saved
by God.
second,
he was sent
with the authority
of God.
Look at verse 14.
The God of our ancestors
has chosen
you
to know
his
will.
So if you were
to ask Paul,
Paul,
by what authority
do you have
to do
what you do?
His answer
was very simple.
I'm sent
with the authority
of God.
He chose
me
and I have
obeyed
and gone.
So he was
saved and sent
with the authority
of God
to preach,
thirdly,
the good news
about Jesus.
His sending
and choosing
was for a purpose.
Let's read verse 14
and 15 again.
The God
of our ancestors
has chosen
you
to know
his will,
to see
the righteous
one
and to
hear words
from his
mouth
and you
will be
his witness
to all
people
of what
you have
seen
and heard.
So as Paul
went,
he only
spoke
the words
about Jesus
that God
had spoken
to him.
So when
Paul
arrived
in Corinth,
he came
with the
authority
of God
and he
came
with a
message
from God
about
Jesus
Christ
that he
is God's
saving
king
and we
must
believe
in him
for the
forgiveness
of our
sins.
Let's
go back
to 2nd
Corinthians.
Now in
reading that
we might
think,
isn't
Paul
amazing?
Isn't
he great?
He went
and he
planted a
church in
Corinth.
Well at
one level
he did
and he
is great
but in
another
reality
it was
all
of God.
Do you
see that
verse 1
and this
is what
he recounts?
Paul,
an apostle
of Christ
Jesus
by the
will
of
God.
Paul
didn't
save
himself,
he
didn't
send
himself
and he
didn't
speak
his
own
words.
It was
all by
the
will
of
God.
God
had
planned
and
purposed
all the
events.
God
had
saved
him
and
God
sent
him
and
God
gave
him
the
words
that
he
was
to
speak.
You
see
it's
God
who
started
his
church
and
it's
God
who
has
started
this
church.
God
had
planned
and
purposed
before
time
began
all
the
events
to
bring
Carigoline
Baptist
Church
into
existence.
People
who brought
the same
message
that Paul
had heard
and he
passed
down to
others
through the
centuries
that we
now have
written
down
for us
people
have
heard
and
believed
and have
been
baptized
and are
now
part
of this
local
church.
As
Paul
said
in his
first
letter
I
planted
the
seed
I
brought
the
good
news
of
Jesus
Apollos
watered
he
began
to
teach
others
but
God
made
it
grow
so
neither
the
one
who
plants
nor
the
one
who
waters
is
anything
but
only
God
who
makes
things
grow.
So
God
is the
one
who
begins
the
church.
Second
the
church
belongs
to
God.
Again
we're
going
to
look
at
three
things
all
from
the
second
part
of
verse
one.
Let's
read
the
second
part
of
verse
one.
To
the
church
of
God
in
Corinth
together
with
all
his
holy
people
throughout
Achaia.
Three
things to
note.
First
we belong
to
God.
Do you
see it
there in
verse
one?
To
the
church
of
God.
You
see if
we've
heard
the
good
news
about
Jesus
if
we've
trusted
in
him
we
become
part
of
God's
church.
We
become
his
special
people.
We
belong
to
him.
And
that's
really
important
for us
to
note
because
it
means
that
when
we
belong
to
God
we
belong
to
him
forever.
eternally.
Just
have a
look over
at
chapter
one
verse
twenty
one.
We're
reminded
of how
we belong
to God
forever.
Now
it is
God
who
makes
both
of us
and
you
stand
firm
in
Christ.
He
anointed
us
and set
his seal
of
ownership
on
us
and
put
his
spirit
in
our
hearts
as
a
deposit
guaranteeing
what
is
to
come.
It's
God
who
makes
you
stand
firm.
It's
God
who
puts
his
seal
of
ownership
of
belonging
upon
us.
So
we're
his
forever.
We
belong
to
him
for
eternity.
But
it
also
means
that
we
belong
to
each
other.
Do
you
see
there
a
very
simple
phrase
to
the
church
of
God
in
Corinth.
So
it
is
for
us
we
are
the
church
of
God
in
Carigoline.
You
see
our
belonging
to
God
and
our
relationship
with
God
is
always
expressed
in
our
belonging
to
a
local
church.
None
of us
can
ever
say
I
belong
to
God
but
I
don't
belong
to
a
church.
The
Bible
doesn't
think
of
it
like
that
ever.
The
two
are
always
together
and
never
ever
separated
to
the
church
of
God
in
Carigoline.
And
the
way
we
show
our
belonging
to
each
other
is
through
baptism
and
membership.
It's
saying
I'm
committed
to
God.
Yes
I
belong
to
God
but
I
also
belong
to
you.
I'm
committed
to
God
and
I'm
committed
to
you.
We
belong
to
his
people.
And
third
Jonathan
picked up
on this
in his
introduction
we
belong
to
the
worldwide
church.
Look
at
scripture
to
the
church
of
God
in
Corinth
together
with
all
his
holy
people
throughout
Achaia.
God
has
his
people
all
over
the
world.
Just a
couple
of
weeks
ago
I
and
some
others
here
from
the
church
went
to
a
Christian
festival
called
Kinfire.
Recommend
that you
go next
year.
And
gathered
together
were over
700
people
from
different
churches
from
all over
the
island
of
Ireland.
together
we
came
and
we
celebrated
that
we
belong
to
God.
But
of
all
those
people
there
with
such
a
crowd
it's
only
a
drop
a
sprinkle
in
the
bucket
of
the
millions
of
Christians
who
love
Jesus
and
who
are
gathering
today
all
around
the
world
and
they're
belonging
to
God
and
to
one
another.
You
see
the
church
is
much
bigger
than
just
me.
It's
much
bigger
than
just
belonging
to
God
it's
belonging
to
one
another
and
to
the
church
worldwide
and
as
we
reflect
on
our
belonging
we
see
that
we
belong
not
just
to
God
but
we
belong
to
his
work
and
all
that
he
is
doing
among
us.
God
is
building
his
church
both
locally
and
globally
through
all
those
who
belong
to
him.
Paul
reminds
us
of the
kind
of
people
that
he
uses
to
do
his
work
those
who
belong
to
him.
It's
not
through
our
greatness
but
it's
through
God's
power
in
his
people.
Go
back
with
me
to
1
Corinthians
chapter
2
1
Corinthians
chapter
2
Here's
the
kind
of
people
that
God
uses
to
do
his
work
the
people
who
belong
to
him.
Let's
pick
it
up
chapter
1
verse
26
Brothers
and
sisters
think
of what
you
were
when
you
were
called
when
you
became
a
Christian.
Not
many
of you
were
wise
by
human
standards.
Not
many
were
influential.
Not
many
were
of
noble
birth.
But
God
chose
the
foolish
things
of the
world
to shame
the
wise.
God
chose
the
weak
things
of the
world
to shame
the
strong.
Now go
down to
chapter 2
verse 1
and Paul
says,
so it
was
with me
brothers and
sisters.
When I
came to
you I
didn't
come with
eloquence
or human
wisdom.
It
wasn't
about my
impressive
speaking
or my
wonderful
training.
Verse 3
I
came to
you in
weakness
with
great
fear
and
trembling.
My
message
and my
preaching
were not
with wise
and persuasive
words but
with a
demonstration
of the
Spirit's
power so
that your
faith might
not rest
on human
wisdom,
on my
cleverness
and all
my wonderful
ideas but
on God's
power.
Let's go
back to
2
Corinthians.
You see
we belong
to God
and we
belong to
God as
he does
his work
through weak
people like
us.
So he
begins the
church, we
belong to
the church
and third
the church
is blessed
by God
because
this is
God's
church
he will
ensure that
everything we
need is
provided for
so that we're
not lacking
anything.
Have a look
at verse 2
Grace
and peace
to you
from God
our Father
and the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
Two things
that God
gives to
his church
today
two blessings
that we
can count
on.
First
the gift
of grace.
Grace in
the Bible
always refers
to God's
undeserved
favour
towards people
like us.
It's God's
goodness
and his
kindness
that we
don't
deserve.
Let me
give you
two examples
of God's
wonderful
grace
to people
like us.
Go to
chapter 8
verse 9
You'll
know this
chapter 8
verse 9
an example
of God's
undeserved
favour
goodness
and kindness
here it
is
for you
know
verse 9
the grace
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ
that though
he was
rich
yet for
your sake
he became
poor
so that
you
through
his
poverty
might
become
rich.
Christ
who had
everything
the eternal
God
stepping
into this
broken
world
taking
on flesh
just like
you and
I
but taking
on our
sin
becoming
poor
taking
the blame
for all
the wrong
things that
we have
done
so that
we might
become
rich
in all
the bountiful
goodness
and kindness
that God
would pour
out on
his
people
here's
another
example
chapter
12
verse 8
and 9
another
example
of God's
goodness
and
kindness
here Paul
is talking
about a
particular
suffering
in his
life
chapter 12
verse 8
three times
I pleaded
with the
Lord
take it
away
take this
suffering
out of
my life
but God
said to
me
my
grace
is
sufficient
for you
for my
power
is made
perfect
in weakness
we
sang
didn't
we
Christ
is
enough
for me
the
grace
of
Christ
is
sufficient
to
save
us
from
our
sin
and
to
strengthen
us
in
our
suffering
what a
wonderful
gift
that
God
gives
to
his
people
his
church
not only
is the
blessing
of
grace
but
there's
the
blessing
of
peace
and
peace
in the
Bible
is not
just
the
absence
of
conflict
and
trouble
it's
about
primarily
a
restored
and
right
relationship
with
God
and
with
others
so
just
look
over
the
next
chapter
13
verse
11
here
we
see
an
example
of
peace
at
work
God's
peace
at
work
in
the
church
he
closes
his
letter
by
saying
finally
brothers
and
sisters
rejoice
strive
for
full
restoration
encourage
one
another
be of
one
mind
live
in
peace
and
the
God
of
love
and
peace
will
be
with
you
see
when
we've
received
the
peace
of
God
when
we
are
in
right
relationship
with
him
we
become
agents
of
peace
we
become
a
conduit
of
God's
peace
to
one
another
he
fills
us
with
his
peace
so
that
we
can
live
at
peace
and
the
God
of
peace
will
be
with
you
he
will
bless
you
now
these
two
blessings
let's
go back
to
chapter
one
to
the
beginning
second
Corinthians
chapter
one
and
verse
two
these
two
blessings
grace
and
peace
to
you
come
from
God
our
father
and
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
blessings
that
the
father
loves
to
give
to
his
children
the
church
he
delights
in
blessing
us
but
they
are
only
experienced
this
grace
and
peace
are only
experienced
in
Christ
it's
as
we
trust
in
him
we
are
united
to
him
and
all
the
blessings
that
belong
to
Christ
now
become
ours
how
rich
we
become
it's
like
those
all
you
can
eat
and
drink
restaurants
I
love
them
you
just
pay
your
25
euro
whatever
and
you
fill
your
plate
and
your
cup
again
and
again
no
limits
well
the
good
news
is
even
better
than
this
Christ
has
paid
the
cost
he's
dealt
with
our
sin
and
shame
and
guilt
he's
dealt
with
everything
and
he
gives
us
access
to
a
banquet
filled
with
goodness
and
kindness
with
his
blessings
you
see
God's
blessings
are like
an
overflowing
river
that will
sustain
and provide
us with
all that
we need
it's a
tap
that's
never
turned
off
and
never
runs
dry
it's
like
a
gushing
fountain
that
flows
day
after
day
after
day
grace
and
peace
again
and
again
and
again
for
our
every
moment
and
our
every
need
you
see
the
church
is
not
about
individual
greatness
or
dynamic
speakers
or
having
successful
programs
or
impressive
buildings
it's
not
about
me
it's
not
about
you
it's
about
God
our
father
who
pours
out
his
blessing
on
his
church
through
Jesus
Christ
it's
about
his
people
coming
to
Jesus
in
all
our
helplessness
and
depending
entirely
on
him
it's
about
embracing
our
weakness
and
experiencing
his
strength
it's
recognizing
our
desperate
need
to
receive
his
grace
and
his
peace
in
abundance
you
see
as we
begin
a new
church
year
together
as we
step
out
into
a new
term
with
a new
program
we
need
to
leave
pride
at
the
door
you
see
you
and
I
we
didn't
start
this
church
we
can't
grow
this
church
we
can't
even
plant
a
church
this
is
this
is
God's
church
it
is
his
work
through
weak
people
like
us
and
he
calls
us
in
all
our
frailty
and
with
all
our
fears
and
with
all
our
failures
he
calls
us
to
admit
to
our
worries
to
come
to
him
to
confess
our
sins
and
to
receive
from
him
his
grace
and
his
peace
so
that
we
can
go
into
our
community
with
the
grace
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
so
that
people
can
become
rich
in
Christ
and
we
can
go
as
people
of
peace
and
show
how
they
can
be
at
peace
with
God
and
peace
with
one
another
and
peace
within
their
families
and
no
more
strife
we
come
to
God
the
God
who
starts
the
church
who
owns
his
church
and
who
blesses
his
church
we
come
to
God
who
rules
over
his
people
and
we
go
filled
with
his
grace
and
peace
this
is
God's
church
let's
praise
him
and
thank
him
in
prayer
now
Father
thank
you
for
showing
us
in
just
a
few
short
sentences
the
wonder
of
your
church
thank
you
that
it
is
yours
and
it
is
safe
in
your
hands
thank
you
that
we
as
your
gathered
people
are
safe
in
your
hands
saved
and
secure
forever
coming
to
you
in
all
our
mess
and
brokenness
asking
that
even
now
Father
through
your
son
Jesus
Christ
will
you
pour
out
your
grace
in
abundance
upon
us
fill
us
with
your
peace
and
send
us
into
our
school
and
into
our
college
into
our
neighborhoods
and to
wherever
we are
working
into
this
new
term
and
new
year
send
us
that
we
might
bring
the
grace
of
Christ
and
be
people
of
peace
and
showing
them
how
they
can
be
right
with
God
thank
you
that
you
will
do
it
because
you
have
promised
thank
you
Lord
Amen
we're
going to
sing
oh
church
arise
from your
seats
to your
feet
if you
are able
and let
us pray
one another
into this
new