by admin | Jul 6, 2021 | Shaped by the Cross
Likely in response to false teachers in Corinth who were teaching the Old Covenant (i.e., that people are saved by faith in Jesus PLUS obeying the Law), Paul had 3 things to say: (1) the New Covenant has greater glory than the Old Covenant [7-11], (2) the Jews have a...
by admin | Jul 1, 2021 | Shaped by the Cross
Paul begins the third chapter of 2 Corinthians with a couple of rhetorical questions that set up a discussion about where one’s confidence in ministry comes from. Paul makes clear the confidence he has comes from Christ, but that is not unique to his call as an...
by admin | Jul 1, 2021 | Stand-Alone Messages
God has entrusted a powerful instrument to His people…their voices. As God has spoken words of blessing over His people, so too are His people to use their voices to be a “fountain of life” which would build others up. Life-giving words are hard to...
by admin | Jun 15, 2021 | Shaped by the Cross
Each of us have a God-given influence on the lives around us. How do we make the most of this? We are not to be passive, yet we are also not to try and take control as if we are the ones who guide the Holy Spirit. Our passage today will provide us with much-needed...
by admin | Jun 10, 2021 | Shaped by the Cross
2 Corinthians 2:5-11 shows us how the practice of church discipline and restoration tests a church’s obedience to Christ as well as its love for one another. The church who models this obedience and love results in greater unity in the body and protection from Satan’s...
by admin | Jun 2, 2021 | Shaped by the Cross
Paul had visited the church in Corinth in ~56 AD, for the first time since founding it 6-7 years earlier. During his visit, which he called his “painful visit”, Paul had been publicly humiliated by an individual in the church, who slandered Paul’s character, and...
by admin | Jun 2, 2021 | Shaped by the Cross
What is a biblical perspective on suffering and affliction? Why do bad things happen to “good” people? These are really challenging questions. It is commonplace for people to draw conclusions about God or even about themselves that lead away from hope when...
by admin | May 4, 2021 | Ruth
Naomi recognizes Boaz’s interest as likely greater than simple compassion and crafts a cunning plan to ensure that Ruth finds the security of a household and a husband. Ruth, in deference to her mother-in-law, follows the plan. But because of the purity of Ruth’s...
by admin | Apr 21, 2021 | Ruth
Life is full of tragedy. It is inescapable because we live in a cursed, broken world. And when we, or people we love, experience tragic circumstances, it causes us to question, doubt, or even blame God. We know that emotions are not to be trusted, but our faith gets...
by admin | Apr 14, 2021 | (Re)discover Jesus
