2 Corinthians:  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

WK 3 – “Restore the Sinner”

2 Corinthians 2

January 19, 2025

John Arobio

Message Notes

Did you bring you Bible? Remember it is the third week in our BYO Bible effort. Remember the paper bible will not interrupt you with notices or calls. If you do not have one, we have Bibles that we can send you home with.

Paul went on three missionary journeys. Corinth a port city where Paul started a church. He wrote four letters back to them. 2 Corinthians was the fourth letter.

Paul Does Not Want to Come in Sorrow

2 Corinthians 2:1 NIV

But I decided this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.

He knew depression and he did not want to return to them while depressed and sorrowful. Although it is said that misery loves company, Paul knew that if he came back that way.

Restoring a Sinning Saint

2 Corinthians 2:6-8 NIV

⁶ Sufficient for such a person is this punishment, which was imposed by the majority, ⁷ so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

But once he repents and asks for forgiveness,

what does Paul say we are to do?

WE ARE TO FORGIVE THEM

and

RESTORE THEM TO THE FELLOWSHIP!

Once the punishment has been given and has done what it is supposed to do then we are to restore him in a loving manner.

Too many churches today have three problems:

1. They turn a blind eye to _________________ in the members of the church.
2. They are not willing to _______________and restore people. Too many Christians are unforgiving and very judgmental.
3. Far too many Christians today are not willing to admit their _________ and to ask for forgiveness.

The Triumphant Ministry

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 NIV

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place. ¹⁵ For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:

Paul is painting a very dramatic picture of preaching the gospel in these verses. He is saying that preaching the gospel is like leading a ______________entry after a great battle.

So, Paul is saying literally Thanks be unto God who caused us to be triumphal in Christ. We are the captives in front of the great procession who had been captured by God through Christ and now are saved and are being released as citizens of heaven. We have been saved through ________________. You cannot lose when you are with Christ because he will always win. He has won the great battle over sin and death. Christ is the great general who is riding in on the white horse.

The Bottom Line:

Restore the repentant sinner and joyously spread the word of God.

• Dan Hall is the transition team lead.  Please contact him with any questions.
• Transition Team Needs
  • Areas that still need to be covered. If interested, contact Dan Hall:
  • Tech—Audio/Video and worship lyric technician.
  • IT/Hardware—manage the various connections of the service IT components/internet/wifi, etc.
  • Worship team/leader—play an instrument? Able to carry a tune?  Ready to use that gift for God?
  • Donut & Coffee Ministry—bring in donuts and make that oh so important drink for many of us, coffee!

• A Search Team will be put together to start the process of finding a new pastor.
  • The typical time to replace a Pastor is 12-18 months. Please wait on the Lord with us!
  • The team will update the church regularly

• Prayer is a critical part of this process! Please pray continually for the board’s guidance in seeking God’s will.

Giving Statements- For giving in 2024 will be available by the end of January.

Refresh Woman’s Bible Study- New Series on “Personal Growth” continues this week.  Ladies are you ready to enter the “Holy Spirit Zone”?  Tuesday at 2:00 PM at the church.

Also Wednesday night group 7:00 PM Week 2 of “New Believers Guide”

BYO Bible!- January A reminder to bring your Bible to church with you each week going forward as we dig into God’s Word together!  We have free copies that would love to leave the back of the seat pockets!

Zelle- The board is working on setting up Zelle to use for a digital option for giving.  Will have it up and running in January!

1. What are some things you know about the apostle Paul? Why do you think some people in the church in Corinth would not consider him a true apostle?  What are some notable things about the city and the church in Corinth?

2. How many missionary journey’s did the apostle Paul go on? How many of the books in the New Testament did he write? Bonus question:  How many books are there in the New Testament?

3. Read 2 Corinthians 2:1-4, why do you think Paul would have “much affliction and anguish of heart” when he wrote to the church? Can a healthy church be full of sorrow?  Why or why not?

4. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, how do we “pray without ceasing”? How is it possible to give thanks in even terrible circumstances in our life?

5. Read 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, what punishment was imposed by the majority in verse 6? In verse 7 Paul tells the church to forgive and comfort the man.  Is forgiveness required in all cases?  Why or why not?  Please cite biblical references to support your answer.

6. What advantage would Satan take of us in verse 7?

7. What are some problems the church had in Corinth that the Church still has today?

8. Read 2 Corinthians 2:12-17, where is Macedonia? What churches were in that region?  How do we always have “triumph in Christ”?  Using a Bible app, what is the Greek word for Christ?  What does it mean?

Please pray for volunteers to step up and fill some of the open roles in the church.  If you are uncertain of what role you might be able to play reach out to Justin or Paulette to help you get started.

Romans 6:23

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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