Dear Beloved Church Family,

Starting January 4, we start a sermon series in Second Corinthians. It’s a deeply personal, theological, and pastoral letter written by the apostle Paul to a church in danger of being led astray by worldly values. In a culture obsessed with image, strength, and vainglory, Paul presents a gospel-shaped vision of life and leadership marked by weakness, suffering, reconciliation, and resurrection power. The letter confronts worldly values and calls the church to see true spiritual power through the lens of the cross.

Second Corinthians trains us to value faithfulness and obedience in an age that prizes the illusion of strength and freedom.

The letter takes about 45 minutes to read. Remember, what you gain from Gathered Worship is closely related to how much heart preparation you do in advance.

[ Sermon Schedule ]

Quick Info on Second Corinthians

• Author: The Apostle Paul
• Date: 55 or 56 A.D.
• Purpose: Paul defends his apostolic ministry in order to strengthen and restore the Corinthian church, to call them to grace-shaped generosity, and to expose the false claims of the so-called “super-apostles.”

Major Themes

• Strength / Weakness — God’s power is displayed not through self-sufficiency or rhetorical skill, but through suffering, dependence, and faithfulness
• Comfort / Affliction — God comforts his afflicted people so they may comfort others, revealing resurrection life in the midst of suffering
• Glory / Shame — True glory is found not in public honor or visible success, but in sharing the life of the crucified and risen Christ
• New Covenant / New Creation — We believers currently live in the inaugurated new realm, where the age to come has broken into the present through Christ and the Spirit

Key Concepts

• Reconciliation — Through Christ, God reconciles sinners to himself and restores broken relationships within the church through repentance, forgiveness, and renewed trust
• Apostleship and Ministry — True Christian ministry is authenticated not by outward impressiveness or credentials, but by faithfulness to the gospel, suffering love, and transformed lives

Suggested Outline

1. Christlike Ministry (1–7)
New Covenant ministry shaped by the cross and empowered by the Spirit
2. Christlike Generosity (8-9)
Gracious generosity reflects God’s gracious character
3. Christlike Strength (10–13)
Christlike strength is displayed through weakness, humility, and truth

Memory Verse

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)