Celebrating Weakness

CelebratingCelebrating

WeakneWeaknessss2 Corinthians 4 2 Corinthians 4 1,2, 7-1,2, 7-

1212

CelebratingCelebrating Weakness Weakness 2 2 Cor.4 Cor.4

to individuals he knows, to encourage them (e.g. Timothy)

to a church he doesn’t know, to explain carefully the Good News (Rome)

general letters to encourage churches (e.g. “Ephesians”, also circulated to others)

to particular churches he knows, dealing with their specific situations (e.g. Galatians)

Paul writes with different purposes:

33 35 38 46 48 50 55 67/68

33 Jesus dies

35 Paul’s conversion

46-48 Paul’s 1st ‘missionary journey’

49-52 Paul’s 2nd ‘missionary journey’, inc. visit to Corinth

55 1 & 2 Cor. Written

Paul’s trial & death 67/68

Timeline: Paul and Timeline: Paul and CorinthCorinth


Paul’s third “missionary journey” 53 – 57 AD

from Macedoniafrom Macedonia

… … to Corinthto Corinth


… to a church he loves and planted,

which has been infiltrated by false teachers …

… who have taught that Paul shouldn’t be trusted;

he seeks to defend both his conduct and his apostolic ministry

In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes …

2 Corinthians 4 1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

7 … but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing

power is from God and not from us. 8

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

Report of the Report of the Appointment Appointment CommitteeCommittee


“The moment we say no to the world and yes to God, all our problems are solved, all our questions answered, all our troubles over. Nothing can disturb the tranquillity of the soul at peace with God. Nothing can interfere with the blessed assurance that all is well …

… Is that what you believe? If it is, I have some incredibly good news for you. You are wrong.”


Visible weakness Visible weakness “treasure in jars of clay” Paul is aware of the apparent

credentials of those claiming apostolic status …

… “letters of recommendation” (3 1)

… “trained speakers” (11 6)

… “super-apostles” (11 5)

… but describes his own ministry as “treasures in jars of clay”


Visible weakness Visible weakness “treasure in jars of clay”

Our lives Our lives lived for Jesuslived for Jesus need not appear need not appear

sophisticatedsophisticated, , untroubleduntroubled and and unfailingly successfulunfailingly successful!

… and to pretend to be what we are not is to be a hypocrite, like the

Pharisees!


Painful weakness Painful weakness ”hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck

down” Paul’s experience of weakness is not

theoretical, but practical

… being a believer does not remove him from possible harm – rather, it makes it more likely! (see his list in chapter 11!)


Painful weakness Painful weakness ”hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck

down”

The Northumbria The Northumbria Community:Community:

“… called to an intentional vulnerability”


Painful weakness Painful weakness ”hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted,

struck down” Our lives Our lives lived for Jesuslived for Jesus

will almost certainly will almost certainly involve involve suffering suffering – –

which those which those around usaround us will will seesee all too all too

clearlyclearly!!


Deliberate weakness Deliberate weakness “to show that this all-surpassing power is from God” Paul sees a divine purpose in God’s

power presented in vulnerable human packaging

“not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God” (3 5)


Deliberate weakness Deliberate weakness “to show that this all-surpassing power is from God”

It is a far It is a far better thingbetter thing for for others to see the others to see the powerpower and and gracegrace of God of God in usin us, than for , than for

them to think that we them to think that we “have it all together” “have it all together”

and are and are powerfulpowerful!!


Limited weakness Limited weakness ”not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, not destroyed” Paul is emphatic that God remains in

control, and the suffering that we meet is limited

“ … he will not let you be tested beyond that which you can bear” (1 Corinthians 10 13 )


Limited weakness Limited weakness ”not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, not destroyed”

Because of God’s Because of God’s gracegrace, , our our weaknessweakness will not lead will not lead to our to our

destructiondestruction


Christ’s weakness Christ’s weakness “we carry around in our body the death of Jesus” Paul speaks of our experience as

continuous with Jesus’ suffering

“the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives” (1 5)

we follow Jesus, who chose the path of vulnerability in place of the appearance of power ( c.f. Isaiah 53 2,3)


Christ’s weakness Christ’s weakness “we carry around in our body the death of Jesus”

Like Jesus, we are Like Jesus, we are contentcontent to appear weak in the to appear weak in the

world’s eyesworld’s eyes and yet be and yet be inhabitedinhabited by the by the naturenature

and and powerpower of God of God


Much more than weakness Much more than weakness ”the life of Jesus … revealed in our body” When it is clear that we ourselves

are weak (and not just those fortunate to be born with ability and strength), God’s life is clearly seen in us

… and others are drawn to Him (and not us!)


Much more than weakness Much more than weakness ”the life of Jesus … revealed in our body”If I must If I must boastboast, I will boast of the , I will boast of the things that show my things that show my weaknessweakness … I will boast all the more gladly … I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s powerChrist’s power may rest on me may rest on me

2 Corinthians 11 30, 12 9


Much more than weaknessMuch more than weakness

Visible Visible weaknessweakness

Deliberate Deliberate weaknessweakness

Painful Painful weaknessweakness

Limited Limited weaknessweaknessChrist’s Christ’s weaknessweakness

CelebratingCelebrating Weakness Weakness 2 2 Cor.4 Cor.4 Do you sometimes feel that you must always appear “together” with your friends who don’t yet know Jesus? Why?

How easy do you think you would find it to follow a “wounded leader”? What attracts you to such a person? What troubles you?How do you feel about a life of “intentional vulnerability”?

Share your own experiences of seeing “treasure” in vulnerable Christians

Celebrating Weakness

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