Sermon/Study Guide: 2 Corinthians Author: Steve Hixon Table of Contents	PDF version (133K)	Home

Lesson #12 A SERVANT'S LIFE 2 Corinthians 6:1 - 10

Here Paul brings to a climax his portrait of the New Covenant servant. It is a lifestyle of faith, discipline, and humility - full of ironies and contrasts. It is hardly a “job description” the world would regard as successful or even desirable, but it is essentially a portrait of the One we follow.

I. The day of salvation 6:1-3
II. The disciple's job description 6:3-10

WHAT DOES IT SAY?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Read Isaiah 49:8 and Hebrews 3:13 for insight into this passage. On the left list the way the servant of God is treated by the world, and on the right his response, from this passage. (See Matt. 5:10-12) Treatment Response What is a “bad report" (verse 8)? Have you ever been the victim of one? According to l Peter 4:l4, how should we respond? What does Paul mean by "known" (see 1 Cor. 13:12) How did Paul "make many rich"? Read Isaiah 55:8-11. What is the point there?

s God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

“A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for one whom he has never seen; talks familiarly every day to someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of another; empties himself in order to be full; admits he is wrong so he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when he is weakest; richest when he is poorest; and happiest when he feels the worst. he does so he can live; forsakes in order to have; gives away so he can keep; sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passes knowledge. The man who has met God is not looking for anything; he has found it. He is not searching for light, for upon him the light has already shined. His certainty may seem bigoted, but his assurance is that of one who knows by experience. His religion is not hearsay. He is not a copy, not a facsimile. He is an original from the hand of the Holy Spirit.” A.W. Tozer

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA? In your own words, summarize the main point of this passage.

LIFE RESPONSE How is God asking you to put this into action in your life this week?

Read Paul’s description of an apostle in 1 Corinthians 4:9-13. What makes such a life worthwhile?

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