2 Corinthians 1:3-7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
Paul’s afflictions, his experience of God’s nearness in seasons of hardship, generated a ministry of comfort to suffering people.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
Paul’s afflictions, his experience of God’s nearness in seasons of hardship, generated a ministry of comfort to suffering people.
The Spring of Comfort: “God comforts us in all our
affliction.” (1:3-4a)
• If you have experienced any degree of comfort in the face of trial or pain, you have experienced a direct encounter with God Himself.
• The relationship between God the Father and each of His children remains personal at His insistence.
The Streams of Comfort: “So that we may be able to comfort others.” (1:4-7)
• God apparently doesn’t want to reconcile the world while we sit idly by. He appeals through us!
• For all the things that have changed over the years, God has been faithful to keep this grace alive.
How do we lean into this as a church?
1. Cultivate a spirit of humility and of grace.
2. Steward the particular variety of pain you’ve
experienced.
3. Don’t assume that comfort can only come through
commonly held experiences.
4. Look for pain and be proactive.
5. [To the sufferer] We’re learning, so forgive us in advance for
being all thumbs.
• Every act of compassion, done in Christ’s name, is pointing to a deeper mercy that God offers to the world.
• The ultimate mercy from God is that, through faith
in Christ, we are no longer enemies of God, but His children, whom He will never leave or forsake.
Thanks Matt!!!
• If you have experienced any degree of comfort in the face of trial or pain, you have experienced a direct encounter with God Himself.
• The relationship between God the Father and each of His children remains personal at His insistence.
The Streams of Comfort: “So that we may be able to comfort others.” (1:4-7)
• God apparently doesn’t want to reconcile the world while we sit idly by. He appeals through us!
• For all the things that have changed over the years, God has been faithful to keep this grace alive.
How do we lean into this as a church?
1. Cultivate a spirit of humility and of grace.
2. Steward the particular variety of pain you’ve
experienced.
3. Don’t assume that comfort can only come through
commonly held experiences.
4. Look for pain and be proactive.
5. [To the sufferer] We’re learning, so forgive us in advance for
being all thumbs.
• Every act of compassion, done in Christ’s name, is pointing to a deeper mercy that God offers to the world.
• The ultimate mercy from God is that, through faith
in Christ, we are no longer enemies of God, but His children, whom He will never leave or forsake.
Thanks Matt!!!
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