Fraught. Complicated. Tenuous. On-again-off-again. Volatile. While these words might describe many teenage romances, they also aptly characterize the Apostle Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church. Scripture reports that Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, evangelizing and discipling (Acts 18:1-17), made one “painful visit” during which he dealt with ongoing sin issues (2 Cor. 2:1), and … Continue reading Is Your Heart Closed Off?
Category: 2 Corinthians
You’re Responsible for Growing in Holiness
The clock may say zero, but the game goes on. If you’re a soccer fan, you know that a game isn’t over until the referees blow their whistles. Unlike basketball in which the play-clock stops when the ball goes out of bounds or for substitutions and other stoppages of play, in soccer, the play-clock never … Continue reading You’re Responsible for Growing in Holiness
Images of Hope
What do incense, letters of recommendation, and a blazing light have in common? If you answered (and I’m sure you did!) that they’re all metaphors that Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 2 and 3 to help describe the Gospel, you win! Though Paul had spent much time in Corinth and written the church there multiple … Continue reading Images of Hope
“You Are Enough”…And Other Lies the Gospel Refutes
“Just do it.” “If you dream it, you can achieve it.” “Believe in yourself, and the world will believe in you too.” “Embrace yourself.” “You are enough.” Slogans like these came into vogue during the 1990s self-esteem movement, but they have proven to have significant staying power. They reinforce the most prominent idol of our … Continue reading “You Are Enough”…And Other Lies the Gospel Refutes
Don’t Give Up on That Hard Relationship
Hard relationships. Something none of us want, but all of us have. Maybe it’s a difficult parent/child relationship. You’re not sure where things went wrong with your mom or dad, but you can hardly remember a time when the relationship wasn’t strained. Maybe your own kid fights you on everything and always seems to be … Continue reading Don’t Give Up on That Hard Relationship
True Strength Starts with Weakness
As the memories of Christmas recede into the background and the fresh start of a new year is upon us, many people will undoubtedly make resolutions tied to the stewardship of their bodies. Getting a gym membership and working out five times a week. Starting that diet and dropping the weight gained over the holidays. … Continue reading True Strength Starts with Weakness
In 2025—Let’s Abide.
We had just landed after a twelve-hour flight. Having just wrapped up a month in China, my jet-lagged friends and I were finally back on American soil. Because we were about to scatter across the country to our homes, we each had different travel arrangements. Some had connecting flights immediately; others would take their time … Continue reading In 2025—Let’s Abide.
The Cost of Thanksgiving
Sixty bucks. According to statista.com, that was roughly the grocery bill for your Thanksgiving dinner last year, at least if you had ten people around your table.1 While sixty dollars may seem like quite a bit to spend on a single meal, you’d have a pretty tough time eating at any restaurant—even the Golden Arches—for … Continue reading The Cost of Thanksgiving
The Beautiful Truth About Genuine Comfort
Whipped to the full extent of the law. Beaten with a rod. Stoned. Shipwrecked. In constant danger. Hungry. Thirsty. Deprived of sleep. The Apostle Paul knew about suffering. And his afflictions didn’t even end with this list. Eventually he would be beheaded at the hands of Roman Emperor Nero. Nearly every city he visited ran … Continue reading The Beautiful Truth About Genuine Comfort
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