Written on Human Hearts

In one paragraph

This message came from 2 Corinthians 3, the next installment in First B's series through that letter. The pastor worked through Paul's argument that the new covenant, written by the Spirit on human hearts, surpasses the old covenant written on tablets of stone, and he pressed the congregation to ask honestly where the law of God is actually written in their own lives. Paul opens the chapter with a...

Read together

1. Proverbs 18:10 quoted at the opening to introduce singing the name of the Lord
2. 2 Corinthians 3 the main text of the sermon, covering commendation, confidence, and comparison of glory
3. 1 Corinthians 2 Paul admits he did not come with flowery speech but with the simple message of the gospel
4. 1 Corinthians 1-3 referenced regarding factions of Paul, Apollos, and Peter to show the gospel is not a brand
5. Jeremiah 31:31-34 quoted in full as the new covenant God promised, writing his law on human hearts and forgiving sin
6. Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death, used to show the law condemns all who fall short
7. Luke 5:12-14 Jesus heals a man full of leprosy, illustrating the new covenant's power versus the law's condemnation
8. Hebrews 10:19-24 read as the benediction, describing confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus

Talk about it

1. Paul says the Corinthians themselves are his letter of recommendation, written on his heart. Who in your life has served as that kind of living proof of the gospel, and what did that look like?
2. Pastor Mark contrasted the law being written on tablets of stone with God writing his law on human hearts. What difference has that internal work actually made in how you live, compared to trying to follow rules from the outside?
3. The sermon pointed out that there is no mercy in the Ten Commandments themselves, that the law can tell us where we fail but cannot help us. Have you ever felt beaten up by the law, either in a church setting or in your own head? What did that feel like?
4. The Sinclair Ferguson quote described Sunday going from the worst day of the week to the best day once God wrote the name of Jesus on his heart. How has your own experience of worship or church changed as your relationship with Christ has grown?
5. Pastor Mark closed with the question: where is the law of God written in your life, externally on tablets of stone or internally on a soft heart? Where do you honestly find yourself most of the time, and what does it look like when you turn to Christ instead of trying harder on your own?