Category: Pastor_Dave

What Ministry Is All About, Part 13

In our message, TAKING THOUGHTS CAPTIVE TO CHRIST (2 Cor. 10:1-11), we entered into the third and final section of the book of Second Corinthians. While chapters 1 through 7 primarily dealt with the ministry of reconciliation (i.e. the gospel of our salvation) and chapters 8 and 9 focused on the grace of giving, chapters 10 to 13 emphasize the defense of the Bible. Christians are called to “contend earnestly for the faith” with both lost people and also in our own lives by guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Jude 1:3-4; Phil.… Continue reading

What Ministry Is All About, Part 12

In our message, GOD’S INDESCRIBABLE GIFT (2 Cor. 8:16-9:1), we resumed our study in the book of Second Corinthians- now focusing on the grace of giving. Two weeks ago, God gave us two examples there on how to give: the Macedonian churches north of Corinth (2 Cor. 8:1-7) and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (2 Cor. 8:8-9). God wants this “grace” of giving to “abound in” our lives (2 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry is All About, Part 10

In last Sunday’s message, GOOD PAIN vs. FAKE TEARS (2 Cor. 7:2-16), Paul completed an emphasis on the Gospel that was started in chapter 2. There is no greater message in the Bible than the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:3-4; John 3:16, etc.), as it alone is the way a person is saved and goes to heaven (Gen. 3:15; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Cor. 5:21, etc.). The Gospel is always triumphant and victorious for those who have placed their faith in Jesus (2 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry is All About, Part 9

In our message, CLEANSING OURSELVES (2 Cor. 6:11-7:1), Paul continues his discussion of the Gospel, but now focuses on the PLEA- not to the lost- but to Christians (1 Cor. 4:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:6-9; 6:1-2, etc.).

The statement, “Oh Corinthians!” is one of only three times where Paul addresses his audience directly and personally in the middle of a letter (2 Cor. 6:11a -see also Gal. 3:1 and Phil.… Continue reading

What Ministry is all About, Part 8

In our message, THE DOUBLE PLEA (2 Cor. 5:18-6:10), the ministry of the New Covenant is defined in one of the clearest passages in the Bible. Because Christians have been born of God with “all things” becoming new in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:7, etc.), the Lord has also “given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18). We are to declare the message of the Gospel- that God “in Christ [is] reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them” (2 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry is All About, Part 7

In our message, THE NEW CREATION (2 Cor. 5:12-17), Paul continued to give thanks to God for making Christians ministers of the New Covenant, and now explained what it means to become a creation of God. Jesus said in John 3:7, “You MUST be born again” to “enter” and even “see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, 5, 6-8, etc., caps my emphasis). When a person trusts God’s way of salvation (1 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry Is All About, Part 6

In our message, HAVING THE RIGHT AIM (2 Cor. 5:1-11), Paul continued to give thanks to God for making us ministers of the New Covenant, explaining why we should not “lose heart” or give up (2 Cor. 4:1, 16; 1 Cor. 15:58, etc.). It is because of His mercy and grace- (i.e. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God, having been forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ of all our sin- past, present, and future), we should never throw in the towel (2 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry is All About, Part 5

In our message, ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY (2 Cor. 4:1-18), Paul continued to give thanks to God for Him making us ministers of the Gospel. Because “we have received mercy” having all of our sin forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ (past, present, and future) being saved by grace through faith, “we do not lose heart” (2 Cor. 4:1; 5:21; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Rom. 5:1-2, etc.). To “lose heart” means to ‘to become weary,’ ‘to become tired,’ ‘to despair,’ and even ‘to give up.’… Continue reading

What Ministry Is All About, Part 4

In our message, GOD’S LIVING LETTERS (2 Cor. 3:1-18), we continued to look at Paul defending himself before the “false apostles” who attacked the truth of the Bible (2 Cor. 11:12-15; Gen. 3:1, etc.). These men not only used Paul’s changed plans on visiting Corinth to attack him, but they also brought “letters of commendation” to “commend” themselves as they argued Paul possessed no such documentation and should be ignored (2 Cor.… Continue reading

In our message, BEING SHREWD ABOUT DECEPTION (2 Cor. 2:1-17), we continued our new study in the book of Second Corinthians which is about ministry and the suffering it can entail as one stands for the Bible (Gen. 3:1, etc.).

Paul continues to explain why he postponed his intended visit (2 Cor. 1:16; 2:1-4, etc.). It was because he had “made up [his] own mind” not to come to them again in sorrow (2 Cor. 2:1 NET).… Continue reading