Delivering the Right Message

2Corinthians 5: 14 – 6:13

When is a time that you mistakenly sent an email or text message to the wrong person?

Based on this passage describe to me the basic message of the good news as portrayed by Paul as if I were a non-Christian to whom you were witnessing.

What makes the gospel truly good news for anyone who hears it?

In what ways is the reality of the gospel absolutely revolutionary in the life that anyone who accepts it?

Why does Paul choose to use the term “reconciliation” to describe what goes on between a new disciple and God at the moment of conversion?

Why is the reception of the gospel considered something that is so urgent?

Why is Paul repeating this message to a bunch of folks who are already supposed to be followers of Jesus?

How do you go about recognizing the power of the gospel in areas of your life yet unaffected?

How is it an honor for a person to be assigned to sharing the gospel with others?

Why does God entrust the spread of the gospel of Jesus to such bumbling fools like us?

To whom is God asking you to serve as his representative this week?

Who is going to pray for you and hold you accountable to actually share the gospel message with them?

Reason to hope in a broken world

2Corinthians Chapter 4: 1 – 17

When is a time that you faced a deep personal or professional discouragement?
What makes discouragement so difficult to deal with in life?

Based on verses 1 – 6 how would you describe in detail Paul’s methods of ministry?
Based on the context of this passage (i.e. chapter 3) why does Paul minister in that way?
How do you need to improve the ways you serve those in your life?

Compare and contrast the veil Paul is discussing in chapter 4 with what he described in chapter 3. Why does Paul take the time to discuss this veiling?
When have been some times in your life their has been a veil over your heart?
How did God go about enlightening you? When you recognize a veil in your life what should you do? How can you go about helping someone who is veiled from seeing the truth?

How does Paul describe God, Jesus, and the message of the gospel in this passage?
In what different ways are Paul and other Christian ministers similar to “jars of clay”?
Why does God entrust the distribution of his message to the world to people like us?
How should these verses change your perspective on what it means to be a minister?

How would you describe the physical realities of Paul’s ministry setting and situation?
What purpose does Paul recognize in the suffering that he is facing?
Why does Paul remain hopeful even in such challenging circumstances?
How does your daily service of others parallel Paul’s experience?
What can we do to allow more hope to be built into our lives?
How does a person go about gaining a more eternal perspective?

Learning lessons from changed plans

2Corinthians 1: 15 – 2:4

When is a time that an employer, friend, or even yourself radically changed plans at the last minute? How did that make you feel?

Bases on this text, describe the kind of relationship that Paul has with the church in Corinth.
What are the feelings that he has for this church? Why does he care so deeply for them?
What is the current state of their relationship at the point he is writing this letter?
What is causing this relational tension from Paul’s side? From Corinth’s perspective?

How does Paul go about defending his change of travel plans?
Why does Paul spend so much time focusing on God’s faithfulness in his explanation?
What does Paul tell them about our relationship with God implied by God’s faithfulness?

What are some of the promises that God has fulfilled through the life of Jesus?
What are some ways that you need to do a better job standing firm in your faith?
What mission has God anointed you with his Spirit to accomplish?
How are you going about that? How are you going to start or improve your efforts?
Why is it vitally important to us that God has placed his “seal of ownership” on us?
What amazing kind promise is God making to us that our receiving of the Spirit is a down payment?

This is the first try at an online video podcast called Kerygma.  We wish to present different messages in the Word through video and creative projections.  We would love to hear what you think.  -ptonyro-