DUSTY DADS

As we look forward to Father's Day, this week we're in 2 Cor 4:7-18. The text before us has some amazingly powerful (and popular) words of hope for us all. At the same time, we do hope that our fathers will be encouraged by the truths in these 12 verses, so let's study together:

2 COR 4:7-9

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

• "THIS TREASURE" - Paul begins this section with a reference to the "treasure" he unpacked in verses 1-6. Look backwards a second, what treasure is he referring to?

• "JARS OF CLAY" - This contrast is profound, and it referred to a practice of the day to hide valuables in common containers ... as one translation calls it, "earthen vessels" - dusty containers. What OT references does this bring to mind for you? What about your current existence feels "dusty" of late?

• "TO SHOW THAT ..." - As much as we want to avoid it, our bodies are unimpressed and will fade - "dust to dust" as we've heard. But why? Why not make us immediately impressive once saved?  Good question, so what is the reason Paul gives in verse 7?

• THIS, BUT NOT THAT - To accent the struggle, Paul describes our "dustiness" with a series of contrasts ... read the first of these (the first is "afflicted"). What else does Paul equate with our being "jars of clay"? Now read the list again with the accent on the second word (the "but not's" - the first is "crushed"). How does the "surpassing power" of God's gospel allow us to "bend but not break" under the trials of life?

2 COR 4:10-15

10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

• "ALWAYS CARRYING" - If you saw Paul's train of thought in v 8-9 as "dark", you're gonna struggle with v 10 and on! But it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, Paul's simply being honest. In this life (especially life in ministry that doesn't shy away from trials), we experience all afflictions, even the "death" of verse 10. But Paul gives hope in v 10b ... what is that hope?

• "LIFE" VS "DEATH" - Now read v 11-14 in one shot. See the hope Paul gives in the life vs death contrast? It functions in his body (v 11), in his spirit (v 12) and in his words (v 13). What is it that Paul references in verse 14 that gives such hope to Paul to let him write and think this way?

• "ALL FOR YOUR SAKE" - Such thinking from Paul isn't merely "academic" - as if he were giving them answers for a test or retorts to an apologetic. For Paul, ministering among them in this manner should bring two effects in the Corinthian church. What are they, according to the end of verse 15? 

2 COR 4:16-18

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

• "SO ... " - This is one of the words we use to translate Paul's "so what" concept. Here - the word "so" reminds us that everything in verses 7-15 drives us toward a result. What is the result in verse 16?

• "OUTER" vs "INNER" - Paul just can't get enough of the contrasts, can he? Make a chart with 2 columns: on the left, title is "outer self" ... on the right, title it "inner self". Now looking a the next two verses, what words would you put on the left and what words would you put on the right?  (Bonus, look backwards at previous verses ... how does this chart relate to those previous contrasts?)

• WHAT ABOUT YOU?  Paul takes this chart and tracks his life up against it. Imprisonment? (light) Mockery by the Corinthian elite? (momentary) Approval by God for a sincere ministry with unseen results? (eternal). How might this kind of metric help you to manage the trials you are undergoing this week?

Grateful for our Heavenly Father,

Pastor Darren