Paul and the Corinthians: Discipline, Authority, and Boasting

2. 19

3. April 21

5. June 2-5; 9-12; 12-15; 16-19; 19-21

11. PAUL AND THE CORINTHIANS

13. Paul and the Corinthians Part X I. Discipline (vv. 1-6) II. Authority (vv. 7-11) III. Boasting (vv. 12-18)

14. “The meekness and gentleness of Christ” - 2 Corinthians 10:1

15. Timid BOLD

16. 2 Corinthians 10:2 “I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.”

17. 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 “When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”

18. 1 Corinthians 5:6 “Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?”

19. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked man from among you.’”

20. Jesus Requires His Church to Practice Discipline and Repentance Revelation 2:16 “Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

21. Jesus Requires His Church to Practice Discipline and Repentance Revelation 2:21-22 “I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.”

23. Not the Weapons of the World • Paul uses the power of God’s Word. • He prays, bringing frequent victories. • He gives time for repentance, for God to work. • He hands people over to Satan for destruction; Some die. • Others do not die, but loose their marriages, children, even their sanity. • God purges such ones out of the church, for He will have a pure church.

24. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

25. Paul and the Corinthians Part X I. Discipline (vv. 1-6) II. Authority (vv. 7-11) III. Boasting (vv. 12-18)

26. “You are looking only on the surface of things” -2 Corinthians 10:7

27. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” -2 Corinthians 1:1

28. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.”

29. Authority

30. Paul’s Critics are Saying: • I belong to Jesus. I don’t need anyone to tell me what to do. (10:7) • Who gave this guy authority anyway? Not me. (10:8) • He’s probably just trying to scare us. He can’t do anything. (10:9) • Besides, he’s just a regular person. There’s nothing impressive about him. (10:10)

32. 2 Corinthians 10:10 “For some say, ‘His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.’”

33. Spiritual Rebellion • You will repent and have the rebellion cleansed from your life • Or you will resent authority until God allows you to be handed over to Satan

34. Boasting • They boast that they don’t need Paul or any spiritual authority. • They boast of their experiences, even their sin. • They boast of their friends, connections, and influence. • They boast that they know certain popular leaders and teachers. • They negatively compare Paul with those popular, dynamic leaders.

35. “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.” 1. Because comparing ourselves to one another is simply unwise. 2 Corinthians 10:12 “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”

36. “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.” 2. Because pastoral authority is not based on a competition. 2 Corinthians 10:13 “We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.”

38. Another Man’s Territory • If people think they want to be independent, proudly doing things their own way, they can go and start their own ministry, not come and disrupt what someone else is already doing for God.

39. Another Man’s Territory 2. Satan doesn’t create. He distorts and destroys. God’s people sacrificially start new churches and ministries, but Satan sends people to push for different purposes, to weaken the gospel.

40. Another Man’s Territory 3. Do not be impressed by those who arrive with new plans and new doctrines, trying to overthrow the gospel work that has begun. Let them start their own activities rather than co-opting the work done in another man’s territory.

41. “But let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” -2 Corinthians 10:17

42. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

43. PAUL AND THE CORINTHIANS