Weapons Not of the Flesh

In one paragraph

This was a combined text-and-testimony message. Pastor Ray worked through 2 Corinthians 10 and 11, where Paul defends his ministry against false teachers in Corinth, and then spent the second half of the sermon describing what he witnessed on a recent trip to Nepal and why it concerned him deeply. Paul opens 2 Corinthians 10 with a tone that is a sharp break from the warmth of the first nine...

Read together

1. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 read aloud during the Advent candle lighting as the candle of peace
2. 2 Corinthians 10:1 Paul entreats by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, humble in person but bold in letters
3. 2 Corinthians 10:2 Paul begs not to have to show boldness against those who suspect him of walking according to the flesh
4. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 walking in the flesh but not waging war according to the flesh, weapons have divine power to destroy strongholds
5. 2 Corinthians 10:5 destroying arguments and every lofty opinion, taking every thought captive to obey Christ
6. 2 Corinthians 10:6 being ready to punish every disobedience when obedience is complete
7. 2 Corinthians 10:7 if anyone is confident he is Christ's, so also are we
8. 2 Corinthians 10:8 boasting of authority given for building up not destroying, Paul will not be ashamed
9. 2 Corinthians 10:9-10 his letters are weighty and strong but his bodily presence is weak and his speech of no account
10. 2 Corinthians 10:11 what he says by letter when absent he does when present
11. 2 Corinthians 10:12 not daring to classify or compare with those commending themselves, measuring by one another is without understanding
12. 2 Corinthians 11:1 Paul wishes they would bear with him in a little foolishness
13. 2 Corinthians 11:2 Paul feels divine jealousy, having betrothed them to Christ as a pure virgin
14. 2 Corinthians 11:3 afraid their thoughts will be led astray from sincere devotion to Christ as the serpent deceived Eve
15. 2 Corinthians 11:4 if someone proclaims another Jesus or different gospel, they put up with it readily enough
16. 2 Corinthians 11:5 Paul considers himself not inferior to the super apostles
17. 2 Corinthians 11:6 unskilled in speaking but not in knowledge
18. 2 Corinthians 11:7 did he commit a sin by humbling himself and preaching the gospel free of charge
19. 2 Corinthians 11:8-9 robbed other churches accepting support from them, brothers from Macedonia supplied his need
20. 2 Corinthians 11:16 let no one think him foolish but accept him as a fool so he may boast a little
21. 2 Corinthians 11:17 what he says with boastful confidence he says not as the Lord would
22. 2 Corinthians 11:18-19 since many boast according to the flesh he will too, they gladly bear with fools being wise themselves
23. 2 Corinthians 11:20 they bear it if someone makes a slave of them, devours them, puts on airs or strikes them in the face
24. 2 Corinthians 11:21-22 are they Hebrews, Israelites, offspring of Abraham, so is he
25. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 far greater labors, more imprisonments, countless beatings, near death, forty lashes, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, adrift at sea, dangers of every kind
26. 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 daily pressure and anxiety for all the churches, who is weak and he is not weak
27. 2 Corinthians 11:30 if he must boast he will boast of things that show his weakness
28. 2 Corinthians 11:31 the God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows he is not lying
29. Galatians 1:8-9 even if an angel from heaven preaches a contrary gospel let him be accursed, repeated twice
30. Matthew 28:19-20 the great commission cited twice, go make disciples baptizing and teaching them to obey everything Christ commanded
31. Romans 11:33 closing benediction, depth of riches and wisdom of the knowledge of God, unsearchable judgments
32. Romans 11:36 closing benediction, from him and through him and to him are all things, to him be glory forever
33. Romans 15:13 closing benediction, may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing so you abound in hope

Talk about it

1. Paul says the weapons of our warfare have divine power to tear down strongholds. What does that look like in your own experience, and how have you seen the gospel actually break something down over time?
2. Pastor Ray reads Paul's warning that errant teaching can take hold gradually because people 'put up with it readily enough.' Where do you think that line is between being charitable toward different approaches and tolerating something genuinely harmful?
3. Paul lists his sufferings to defend the legitimacy of his ministry. What do you think that list is meant to say about what authentic ministry actually costs, and how does that sit with you personally?
4. Pastor Ray described a situation where he felt the gospel was being misrepresented and decided he had to leave rather than keep participating. How do you think about the responsibility to speak up or walk away when something is being done in the name of Jesus that you believe is wrong?
5. The sermon ended with two contrasting pictures of mission: the large-scale crusade in Nepal and Rachel Babcock discipling two believers in a slum, sharing Bible stories with orphans, and training local church members. What does that contrast say to you about what faithful mission work actually looks like?