Monthly Archives: October 2011

Good morning!  Welcome to a new week of Re:Verse.  “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.”  (2 Corinthians 4:7)  It seems like a strange plan.  God takes a priceless painting and wraps it in old newspaper.  He [...]

“Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?”  (Isaiah 43:19)  “He will put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:3)  One mark of the New Testament is that it brings newness.  If you are reading 2 Corinthians 2,3 [...]

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing. . .the glory of Christ.”  (2 Corinthians 4:4)  What the enemy does not want us to see is the GLORY of Christ.  In spite of the evidence, many do not.  The disciples didn’t (in the gospels).  They watched the feeding of the [...]

Do you think it is strange how often missionaries talk about the Devil?  Maybe it isn’t.  Those who are passionate about rescuing others from darkness are frequently reminded (by painful personal experience) of the powerful opponents who work to prevent such salvation.  Opponents.  Plural.  The Puritans used to speak of “the world AND the flesh AND [...]

“For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  (2 Corinthians 4:6)  It is a miracle of the same order and magnitude as Creation!  God who on the [...]

“Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we?  You yourselves are our letter. . .known and read by all.”  (2 Corinthians 3:1-2)  After Paul left Corinth, people came in who made every effort to undermine his authority.  “Did he bring letters of recommendation when he [...]

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”  (2 Corinthians 4:4)  What is the gospel?  What good news do we declare to a sad and depressed world?  Is it a set of facts?  Is it what Tim Keller [...]

“Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.”  (2 Corinthians 4:1)  This week the Re Verse Study system has us reading 2 Corinthians 2, 3 and 4.  It is a continuation of previous lessons with an emphasis (at least for me on this first day) on [...]

In a few hours, it will be our privilege to gather around the Word of God.  My joy for the morning will be to teach 2 Corinthians 2:11, “We do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”  The greek language makes this sentence even [...]

“We are workers with you for your joy.”  (2 Corinthians 1:24)  I am glad that Paul never lost his kindness or optimism.  The conflict and tension of church-battles have the potential to make us hard.  Tragic.  Somehow, Paul has managed to keep perspective that the power and point of New Testament life is joy!  It doesn’t matter if [...]