Always Carrying the Dying of Jesus

In one paragraph

This message came from 2 Corinthians 4, with Pastor leading the congregation through a passage about why the church does not lose heart even under sustained pressure. He built on several weeks of groundwork in 2 Corinthians and brought the service to a close with communion. the preacher opened with a quick recap of the letter so far. Paul's consistent starting point is grace and peace. He blesses...

Read together

1. Psalm 147:1 Opening verse quoted before the singing: 'how good to sing praises to our God, how delightful and how fitting'
2. 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 Quoted to show the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but the power of God to those who are being saved
3. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Recap of earlier sermons: '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 of our affliction'
4. 2 Corinthians 1:20 Recap: 'for all the promises of God find their yes in Jesus'
5. 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 Recap of earlier passage on unity through forgiveness so the body of Christ would not be outwitted by Satan
6. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Recap: 'thanks be to God who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession'
7. 2 Corinthians 3 Recap of old covenant versus new covenant, Moses ministry of transient glory versus Paul's ministry of surpassing glory
8. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 When one turns to the Lord the veil is removed; where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom; we are being transformed from one degree of glory to another
9. 2 Corinthians 4:1 Main text: 'therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart'
10. 2 Corinthians 4:2 Main text: 'we have renounced disgraceful underhanded ways, we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, by the open statement of the truth'
11. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 Main text: 'even if our gospel is veiled it is veiled to those who are perishing; the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers'
12. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 Main text: 'what we proclaim is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as lord'; 'God who said let light shine out of the darkness has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ'
13. 2 Corinthians 4:7 Main text: 'we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us'
14. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 Main text: 'afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, always carrying in the body the dying of Jesus'
15. John 17 Recap: Jesus prayed for the unity of believers; used alongside the passage on forgiveness and unity
16. Genesis 1 Referenced when Paul says 'God who said let light shine out of the darkness,' pointing back to creation
17. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Quoted during communion: the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread, broke it, said this is my body broken for you; the cup is the new covenant in his blood; as often as you eat and drink you proclaim the Lord's death

Talk about it

1. Pastor talked about receiving this ministry the same way we receive mercy, undeservedly and without earning it. How does seeing your role in the church that way change how you think about serving or showing up?
2. Paul says we refuse to practice cunning or tamper with God's word, and the Chip Atkinson story showed what that looks like in an ordinary work situation. Where in your own life do you feel pressure to be crafty rather than just tell the truth?
3. The sermon pointed out that the God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel. Think of someone you have been praying for who just cannot seem to see it. How does understanding that blindness as real change the way you pray for them or talk to them?
4. The preacher walked through those present-tense participles, being hard pressed, being perplexed, being persecuted, being struck down, and asked the congregation to witness to them. Which one of those lands closest to where you actually are right now, and what does it mean to you that the verse does not stop there?
5. The main point about the body carrying around the dying of Jesus was that it is our body, the church together, not just Paul individually. What does it look like practically for this congregation to carry that around in a way that makes the life of Jesus visible to people outside these walls?