- The Value of Intercessory Prayer – 2 Corinthians 1:10-11 (1/23/2018) - When I can help another believer in their service to God, I should do so. And one way I can always help is through intercessory prayer.
- The Work of God in Our Salvation – 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (12/30/2022) - My salvation is fully the work of God. He calls me to come along side him in the transformation. But it is his work from start to finish.
- Outwitting Satan – 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (1/24/2018) - Forgiveness is commanded by Christ. And the lack of forgiveness can become a tool in Satan's hands to hinder our effectiveness.
- Captives in Christ’s Triumphal Procession – 2 Corinthians 2:14 (1/2/2023) - To be a captive in Christ's triumphal parade takes the focus off of self and onto Christ where it belongs. He is everything. I am nothing.
- Our Competence Comes from God – 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (5/30/2022) - Any competence I have in serving God comes from him. He has called each of us into his service and equipped us for that service.
- A Comparison of Two Covenants – 2 Corinthians 3:10 (4/17/2024) - The glory of the new covenant, established at the cross, far surpasses the glory of the old covenant established at Mt. Sinai.
- Transformed Into His Image – 2 Corinthians 3:18 (1/25/2018) - We were created in the image of God, an image now tarnished. But when we spend time with Christ we will be transformed back into his image.
- Because of God’s Mercy – 2 Corinthians 4:1 (8/2/2024) - Regardless of the work God has given us, we have it because of his mercy. So serve with a joyful and thankful heart.
- Treasure in a Clay Jar – 2 Corinthians 4:5-11 (4/29/2021) - 2 Corinthians 4:5-11 provides the basis for the title of this blog. I am a simple clay jar, nothing special or extra-ordinary about me. Yet God has put within that clay jar a treasure. That treasure is "the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ".
- Living Like A Clay Jar – 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 (3/25/2019) - A clay jar is plain and fragile. But, like a clay jar filled with the treasure of God, we can be used by God to accomplish great things.
- Not Discouraged by Rejection – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (5/13/2019) - Not everyone we encounter will embrace our faith in Christ. Many will reject us. Don't be discouraged by rejection. Entrust yourself to God.
- Confidence in Our Great Hope – 2 Corinthians 4:13-14 (1/3/2023) - As followers of Jesus, we believe that the one who raised Jesus to life will also raise us. And we put our confidence in that great hope.
- Do Not Become Discouraged – 2 Corinthians 4:16 (5/27/2023) - When life is hard, or when it seems like nothing you do matters, don't become discouraged. Continue to faithfully serve the Lord.
- From Earthly Tent to Eternal House – 2 Corinthians 5:1 (6/1/2022) - This is such a wonderful hope. To move from the earthly tent we live in now, and into the eternal house that God has prepared for us.
- Fashioned for a Purpose – 2 Corinthians 5:5 (5/28/2023) - This life that we experience now is not the end. God is fashioning us for a purpose. A purpose that will only be revealed in the coming life.
- Looking Forward to Our Heavenly Home – 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (1/27/2018) - I live now in the tent of this body. But I look forward to being at home with the Lord in the heavenly home he has prepared for me.
- Make It Your Goal to Please God – 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (12/31/2022) - We generally have some goals in life, what we want to accomplish. As believers, we should make it our goal to please God in all we do.
- Christ’s Love Compels Us – 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (4/19/2024) - There is no question about Christ’s love for me. But does my love for Christ compel me to live for him now? It should!
- A New Creation Has Come – 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (12/28/2020) - The challenge in this passage is to view people from God's perspective, as people that he loves. Especially those who are a new creation.
- A Sacrifice of Atonement – 2 Corinthians 5:21 (9/10/2024) - God offered Jesus as a spotless sacrifice to atone for our sins. Nothing we can do will add to what God has done for us.
- Unequally Yoked Together – 2 Corinthians 6:14 (1/29/2018) - Paul encourages us here not to enter into close relationships with unbelievers. Becoming unequally yoked with them can lead to compromise.
- The Temple of the Living God – 2 Corinthians 6:16-17 (12/17/2023) - It is important that we recognize who and what we are as God's church. We are the temple of the living God. And we are expected to be holy.
- Perfecting Holiness – 2 Corinthians 7:1 (1/30/2018) - God is my Father, and I am his child. Because of that, Paul urges me to actively work toward perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
- Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance – 2 Corinthians 7:10 (1/5/2023) - Worldly sorrow is only skin deep. But godly sorrow involves repentance and a determination not to repeat the action.
- A Wealth of Generosity – 2 Corinthians 8:2 (1/31/2018) - How generous are we with our resources? Are we like the Macedonian churches, exhibiting a wealth of generosity? Or do we fall short?
- The Privilege of Giving – 2 Corinthians 8:3-4 (5/31/2023) - What is your motive for giving to the Lord's work? Is it out of a sense of obligation? Or do you consider it a privilege to be able to give?
- Two Examples of Generosity – 2 Corinthians 8:9 (4/22/2024) - The Macedonian churches set an example of generosity. But even more the generosity of Jesus, who had everything, but gave himself for me.
- God Loves a Cheerful Giver – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (2/1/2018) - Give generously and cheerfully. Give what you are willing to give, not some arbitrary amount. And don't limit your giving just to your church.
- Sow Generously to Reap Abundantly- 2 Corinthians 9:6 (11/21/2023) - Be willing to give generously to those in need. The more generously you give, the greater your harvest will be, especially for eternity.
- Grace Overflowing to Good Works – 2 Corinthians 9:8 (1/1/2025) - No matter how much God leads us to give, there will always enough. God’s grace overflows for every good work.
- God’s Indescribable Gift of Grace – 2 Corinthians 9:15 (2/10/2020) - It is impossible to fully describe God's gift of grace. It is indescribable, reaching into every part of our lives. From beginning to end.
- Weapons that Demolish Strongholds – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (2/2/2018) - Take up the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. Learn to use it effectively so you can the demolish the strongholds that people erect.
- Taking Captive Every Thought – 2 Corinthians 10:5b (5/18/2020) - Part of the spiritual warfare that believers are engaged in involves taking every thought captive. Be in control of your every thought.
- Be Careful About Boasting – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (4/24/2024) - What other people think of us does not matter. What does matter is what Christ thinks of our service. Make sure all acclaim goes to him.
- Masquerading as Servants of Righteousness – 2 Cor. 11:13-15 (2/3/2018) - As there was in Paul's day, we still have those who masquerade as servants of righteousness but are actually of Satan. Avoid them!
- The Measure of a Servant of Christ – 2 Corinthians 11:23 (6/8/2022) - There are many ways that we might measure the faithfulness of a servant of Christ. Paul choose to measure by how much he had suffered.
- Be Fully Invested in the Life of the Church – 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 (11/25/2023) - Don't be a passive member who contributes little to the health of the church. Be fully invested physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
- Strength in Weakness – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (2/5/2018) - God's strength is most clearly demonstrated in our lives when we are weak. When we have learned to trust in him for what we need.
- Performing A Self-Examination – 2 Corinthians 13:5 (2/6/2018) - When is the last time you performed a spiritual self-examination? Test yourself. Is your life different because you are a Christian?
- Encourage One Another – 2 Corinthians 13:11 (6/1/2020) - Serving the Lord, and life in general, can be hard and discouraging. So Paul's admonition to encourage one another is important.
The Second Letter to the Corinthians
Devotional readings from Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth.
