“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB Sometimes as Christ followers who are leaders, we forget who we really are, that we have been reborn, recreated, made new by the Spirit. We will often get caught up in who we were. The events and experiences that shaped us seem to hold control over us. What does it mean to be a new creation? Well, the Word of God tells us that we have a new master, a new mission and new […]

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?— unless indeed you fail to meet the test! Is it possible that people could wrongly assume that they are believers in Jesus Christ? To go through life thinking that they are right with God, only find out one day that they are not? Indeed, it is possible. Jesus warned of this (Matthew 7:21). Paul confirms it. He challenges us to “examine” and “test ourselves.” My greatest concern as a pastor is […]

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. What a beautiful expression of the Gospel! Jesus, in the ultimate act of humility, gave up everything- equality with the Father, the comforts of heaven and His position as Sovereign over the world (Phil. 2)- so that we could experience the riches of being a part of His family. This is certainly the definition of grace, for we do not deserve that kind of consideration. In […]

 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 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.” In opening his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul gives a wonderful promise to the people there (and to us)- our generous God will provide all of the comfort we need, when we need it, out of His endless mercy! We all face […]