OVERVIEW:
The KEY to Ministry (Chapter 1); the SPIRIT of Ministry (chapter 2); the PROOF of Ministry (chapter 3); the DEFINITION of Ministry (chapter 4); the PERSPECTIVE of Ministry (chapter 5); the FELLOWSHIP of Ministry (chapter 6); the COMFORT of Ministry (chapter 7).
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
Paul had been used of God to plant the church in Corinth during his second missionary journey. (Acts 18:1-17) The believers there had grabbed his heart. He says in 2:4, “For out of much affliction and anguish of HEART I wrote unto you with many tears…” In 6:11, he says to them, “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our HEART is enlarged.” But, because of his deep love for them, there was also the potential for deep hurt. The reality is, through many of their unjust accusations, snide insinuations, and contemptuous allegations, Paul felt betrayed by them which had impacted him immensely.
We tend to think that “the great Apostle Paul” was somehow above discouragement, but the fact is, Paul was as human as any of us. He even confesses to the Corinthians in 1:8, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were PRESSED OUT OF MEASURE, above strength, insomuch that we DESPAIRED EVEN OF LIFE.” I think that means, his sorrow was so great that he was afraid it was going to kill him, and yet at the same time, his sorrow was so great that he was afraid it wasn’t going to kill him! To put it plainly, Paul was not only discouraged, he was depressed.
Of all of Paul’s letters to the churches in the New Testament, 2nd Corinthians is by far the most personal. In this letter, Paul opens his chest and reveals who he really is. At times he exudes incredible spiritual power and strength, and yet at other times, he exhibits his human frailty and weakness. There are occasions in the book when he is expressing great sympathy and tenderness, and other times when his approach is with great sternness, and even sarcasm! Because of the nature and nuances of the content of this letter, it becomes for us, a HANDBOOK for MINISTRY. Whereas 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, as we will see, is a “How-To Manual” for Christian LIVING, 2nd Corinthians is a “How-To Manual” for Christian MINISTRY. It is perhaps the greatest and most practical book in the Bible to teach us how to invest our lives in ministering to people. A great example are his words to the Corinthians in 12:15: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” May God give us that kind of selfless heart in ministering to others!
As we make our way through this “Handbook For Ministry”, notice how this theme unfolds in the various chapters:
- Chapter 1 – The KEY to Ministry: SUFFERING
- Chapter 2 – The SPIRIT of Ministry: FORGIVENESS
- Chapter 3 – The PROOF of Ministry: TRANSFORMATION
- Chapter 4 – The DEFINITION of Ministry: GLORY
- Chapter 5 – The PERSPECTIVE of Ministry: JUDGMENT SEAT
- Chapter 6 – The FELLOWSHIP of Ministry: SEPARATION
- Chapter 7 – The COMFORT of Ministry: JOY
- Chapters 8-9 – The HEART of Ministry: GIVING
- Chapter 10 – The MIND of Ministry: OBEDIENCE
- Chapter 11 – The ENEMY of Ministry: SATAN’S MINISTERS
- Chapter 12 – The HUMILITY of Ministry: GRACE
- Chapter 13 – The POWER of Ministry: WEAKNESS