1. What’s going on here?

2 Corinthians 1: Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. #1 I have been TRUTHFUL to you in all things

2 Corinthians 1: Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? #2 I did plan to visit you, NO DOUBT!

2 Corinthians 1: But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. #3 God NEVER lies! Gospel is True!!

2 Corinthians 1: I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. #4 It was for YOUR benefit that I didn’t come!

1. What’s going on here? 2. How did they get into this mess?

The Journey of Paul and the Corinthians

1. First Visit (approx AD) (Acts 18:1-28) 2. “Previous Letter” from Paul (1 Corinthians 5:9-11) 3. Report to Paul from Chloe’s people (1 Corinthians 1:11) 4. Letter to Paul (1 Corinthians 7:1)

The Journey of Paul and the Corinthians 5. Timothy is dispatched to Corinth to deal with some of the problems (1 Corinthians 4:17; 16:10-11) 6. 1 Corinthians Letter (Spring of 55 AD) 7. Second visit, the “painful visit” (2 Corinthians 1:23; 2:1; 12:14; 13:1)

The Journey of Paul and the Corinthians 8. “Tearful letter” or “severe letter” from Paul (2 Corinthians 2:3-4, 7:8-12) 9. Proposed visits don’t come to pass (1 Corinthians 16:1-8, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2:1) 10. Paul to Troas & Macedonia. Titus gives good report (2 Corinthians 7:5-7)

The Journey of Paul and the Corinthians 11. “Super-Apostles” challenge Paul’s authority (2 Corinthians 11:5; 12:11) Corinthians Letter (approx, 56 AD) 13. Third Visit to Corinth (57 AD) (Acts 19:21-22, Romans 15:26, Acts 20:1-5)

1. First Visit (approx AD) 2. “Previous Letter” from Paul 3. Report to Paul from Chloe’s people 4. Letter to Paul 5. Timothy is dispatched to Corinth to deal with some of the problems 6. 1 Corinthians Letter* 7. Second visit, the “painful visit” 8. “Tearful letter” or “severe letter” from Paul 9. Proposed visits don’t come to pass 10. Paul to Troas & Macedonia. Titus gives good report 11. “Super-Apostles” challenge Paul’s authority Corinthians Letter* 13.Third Visit to Corinth (57 AD) 14. Paul’s Martyrdom (64 or 65AD) The Journey of Paul and the Corinthians

2 Corinthians 2:1-4 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

2 Corinthians 2:1-4 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

The Journey of Paul and the Corinthians 5. Timothy is dispatched to Corinth to deal with some of the problems (1 Corinthians 4:17; 16:10-11) 6. 1 Corinthians Letter (Spring of 55 AD) 7. Second visit, the “painful visit” (2 Corinthians 1:23; 2:1; 12:14; 13:1)

2 Corinthians 2:1-4 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

2 Corinthians 2:1-4 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

2 Corinthians 2:1-4 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

The Journey of Paul and the Corinthians 8. “Tearful letter” or “severe letter” from Paul (2 Corinthians 2:3-4, 7:8-12) 9. Proposed visits don’t come to pass (1 Corinthians 16:1-8, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2:1) 10. Paul to Troas & Macedonia. Titus gives good report (2 Corinthians 7:5-7)

2 Corinthians 2:1-4 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

How Does Paul respond to the mess? Four observations: 1)Paul had “made up his mind” to not make another visit. This was because he didn’t want another scene, he wanted repentance 2)Paul’s love for this church was deep. He can’t stand to add to their sadness by coming to them. His solution is to write a letter of rebuke. 3)He rebukes (grieves) them, but only as a means to conduct them to pure joy 4)Paul doesn’t hide the fact that he is hurting along with them – he is on this journey with them

2 Corinthians 7:8-9 8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.

In spite of receiving a serious and humiliating rebuff from the Corinthians, Paul refused to forget the church. He confronted them in a letter. Sometimes confrontation is the clearest proof of love. It is easier to gloss over the problems with others, to cover them up, to pretend that they do not exist, or to write problem people off and terminate the relationship. Paul refused to do any of these things and tenaciously tried to restore the bond by confronting the problems directly. One needs wisdom, however, to know what is worth a showdown and when airing the differences will yield the most fruitful resolution. Confronting others to solve problems rather than simply forcing our opinions on them requires real love because it costs enormous emotional energy. It certainly caused Paul mental anguish as he worried that the letter might exacerbate the problem rather than assuage it. Garland, D. E. (2001). Vol. 29 : 2 Corinthians (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (112–116). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

How do we respond to messy situations at Hope Community Church?

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Hebrews 10:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Do I desire that the people around me live out the gospel?

Matthew 18: “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Am I willing to be a gospel- centered person when it comes to conflict?

Matthew 7:1-6 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

QUESTION: What did I bring to the table in this conflict? What do I need to take responsibility for?

If I am never being rebuked, why is that?

Proverbs 9:8 8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.

Applications 1.Do I desire that the people around me live out the gospel? 2.Am I willing to be a gospel-centered person when it comes to conflict? 3.If I am never being rebuked, why is that? What is the Holy Spirit right now asking me to do in my conflict situations?