THE PULPIT WITHOUT A CHURCH

In our day, there are no shortage of online preachers. And whether or not that's your "thing" - it didn't start with "this generation" - TV preachers came before that, Tent meeting revivalists before that ... all the way back to Paul's day. That's where Paul's opening question in chapter 3:1 comes from. And because there are so many preaching without the benefit of a Christian community that knows them, it's vital that we hear how Paul addressed it. So let's open 2 Cor 3 and study ...

2 COR 3:1-3

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

• "TO COMMEND OURSELVES ... " - With these words, Paul begins a new line of defense against the attacks he'd been hearing. (Remember, he just talked about their positive response and reconciling with those who caused trouble ... but the damage still remained.) Can you relate to times when your credibility had been challenged by someone's attacks against you?

• "... AGAIN" - Much of what Paul already wrote is agonizing, but the word 'again' must have stung. Remember Paul has dealt with divisions and challenges already. Read 1 Cor 1:11-13 - this is how Paul practically began his letter! Or read 1 Cor 9:1 - see how Paul is still defending his authority? Where do you see a similar spirit of "celebration" in our culture today as Christian leaders are under attack? How is this level of scrutiny good (on one hand) and bad (on another)?

• "LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION" - Every culture has its way of determining who is and who isn't worth listening to. To some it might be success in business, to others what degrees you've earned. Part of 1st Century religious and academic culture was letters of recommendation. It's not altogether wrong ... Paul and others did it (see Acts 18:27 or 1 Cor 16:3 ... or even when Paul does it at the end of Romans in 16:1-2.) Despite it popularity, why does Paul seem to downplay its importance (see v 2 above)?

• "YOU ARE A LETTER" - In verse 3, Paul doubles down on this analogy, but now he sets up a set of contrasts. Read slowly, how many contrasts can you count? What do you think Paul's point is in this?

2 COR 3:4-6

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

• "THE CONFIDENCE WE HAVE" - Paul is confident in this letter God is writing in and on the church in Corinth. What do you see in Paul's tone so far that prevents us from reading this as an arrogant boasting of some sort?

• "NOT THAT WE ARE SUFFICIENT" - You might be thinking, "That sounds familiar." If so, good! You're thinking back to chapter 2 and what Paul asked in verse 16, "Who is sufficient ...?" Here's Paul's answer ... but what is the next prepositional phrase (2 words) that prevents Paul from going all "passive-pity-party" and not attempting anything? 

• THEN IN WHOM?  So, Paul is bold (see v 12 to come) ... and he's clearly active. So ... read verses 5-6 a few times. What does Paul say is the source of his being "sufficient" to attempt big things for God? What specific words does Paul use to defend and clarify his competence? How does the balance he strikes help you live in between the apathy of doing nothing for God and the arrogance of serving God without depending on God?

• "LETTER vs SPIRIT" Since we noticed Paul's use of contrasts in the first paragraph, it's not surprising that he revisits it here. Clearly, this will need more study and context (which is good since that's what next week is about staring in verse 7). However, from what you have in front of you so far, what might Paul mean by "letter" and "Spirit" - especially in light of his use of a "new covenant" - a clearly packed word from the OT?

Looking forward to Sunday with you,

Pastor Darren