Final Exam Time

2 Corinthians 13: 1 – 10

What was the most difficult question you have ever faced on an exam?

Based on previous context, what is Paul’s reasoning for making a third visit to Corinth?
Upon what grounds does Paul consider that he has actual authority in that church?
Why is Paul planning to be harsh with them on his next visit?
How do we know when it is appropriate to be harsh in how we minister to others?
Why is real authority so difficult for us to accept in our culture?
How can we become more open to godly authorities in our lives?

Spend 10 minutes meditating quietly on verse 4a.
Why is Paul bringing up the example of Jesus’ ministry again with them?
What are some ways that you have noticed your weakness in your life this week?
What are some ways that you have seen the life-giving power of God in your life?
What similar responses should we have in our lives both to power and weakness?
What do you need to change in your worldview to gain a “cross” perspective on life?

How does a person go about testing themselves to see if they really are a follower of Jesus?
Why does Paul tell them that they need to go through this painful personal inventory?
Why is Paul concerned that they may come up with a false impression of his walk?
What has convinced you in the past month of Jesus’ real presence in your life?
How can we ensure that we perform a fair evaluation on ourselves?
Why would it be particularly difficult to evaluate the sincerity of someone else’s walk?
How then can we discern if a leader should be followed or not?

Things that really are worth bragging about

2Corinthians 11: 21 - 12:10

What are some kinds of things that you hear people brag about in everyday conversation?
Why are those kinds of things viewed as pride-worthy?

Based on this passage, describe the relationship between the Apostle Paul and the church in Corinth. Why is he so intensely flipping out in this conversation? Who is Paul comparing himself to in this passage? Why in the world has he resorted to personal comparisons and ad hominem arguments?

Describe in detail Paul’s lifestyle while on mission for Jesus. Why is it often that difficult for those who are swept up into Jesus’ story? Why does Paul see his suffering, difficult times, and inabilities as something that he is comfortable bragging about?

What are some ways that you suffer in your life’s mission? How do we change our perspective to view those sufferings more positively rather than pessimistically?

Describe the spiritual vision that Paul discusses at the beginning of chapter 12. Do you think this happened to him or to someone else? Why or why not? If this happened to Paul why does he choose not to brag about this experience? Why then does he mention this event if not to boast about it?

How would such a mystical event be helpful to someone going through the kinds of suffering that Paul is experiencing? Why do you think Jesus allowed Paul (or whoever that was) to have that amazing revelation?

What are some ways that you have experienced Jesus in your everyday life this week? What can we do to place ourselves in a better position to receive that kind of existential grace? How can you use your experiences of Jesus’ presence to adjust your perspective on the suffering you face for being a disciple?

What do you think Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” might have been?
Why would God allow this “messenger of Satan” to afflict Paul even when he asked for help?
What did Paul learn about Jesus and his relationship with him from having this disability?

Why are Christians truly strong only when they recognize their weakness?
What are some weaknesses you have in your life tonight?
Have you thanked God lately for the weaknesses he has allowed in your life?

Winning Personal Spiritual Conflicts

2 Corinthians 10: 1 – 6

Have you ever had something that was particularly difficult to get clean? How did you do it?

Compare and contrast how Paul comes across in his letters with how he does in person.
Why is there such a difference between the impacts of the two?
What does Paul identify as the primary problems with those who are his opponents?
What are some “standards of the world” that impact our thinking today?

What kind of terminology does Paul use to describe the debate he is having?
Why does Paul choose to use such militant verbiage?
Compare and contrast the arsenal that Paul uses (Eph 6:10 - 20) with those the world uses.
Why are Paul’s tools more effective in deconstructing mental fortresses?
What is the primary purpose of spiritual battle according to this passage?
Based on the context of this passage, how would you define what strongholds actually are?
How would you describe the impact that spiritual strongholds have on people’s lives?
How can a line of thinking be led captive? What does it mean for a thought to obey Christ?
What are some negative spiritual strongholds that you may have embedded in your life?
What can you do to allow God to lay siege to and conquer those strongholds in your mind?

Feeling Sorry -vs- Being Sorry

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2Corinthians 7: 8 - 13

When you are really sorry about something you have done to a friend or loved one, how do you go about expressing that sorrow?

Why was Paul feeling a tinge of regret concerning the severe letter he had sent?
What changes in this situation that causes Paul to put away those regrets?
Describe the way the Corinthians’ have responded to Paul’s confrontation of them.
Why did they react so positively to this harsh rebuke?
What were Paul’s motives in reproving them so severely?
Who is someone that out of your love for them you need to challenge their behavior?
How can you go about doing that and still keep a positive relationship with them?

Compare and contrast the ideas of Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.
Why is worldly sorrow to be considered deadly and dangerous?
How would you define the concept of repentance to a non-Christian friend?
How could you use this concept to encourage a fellow disciple towards growth?
Why is it so easy to be sorrowful about something and so difficult to be truly repentant?
What is something that you need to repent of before God tonight?
How can we as your spiritual family assist you in your process of repentance and surrender?

Selecting an Appropriate Spiritual Trainer

2Corinthians 6: 14 – 7:1

Who was the absolutely worst instructor you ever have had in any training situation? What was it that terribly annoyed you about this person?

The yoking of oxen or donkeys was common in the ancient world in order to pull carts, plows, or accomplish other basic tasks that were too difficult for a single animal. What are some contemporary examples of such teamwork in the workplace?

Yoking was often used as an illustration for being joined together under the teaching of a rabbi or other spiritual leader (Matthew 11:29), or being driven by a strong ruler. What are some situations in today’s world that this kind of spiritual partnering occurs?

How does Paul describe the deep incongruity between believers and unbelievers in their spiritual perspectives?

Why does Paul use such vivid and harsh rhetorical questions to drive his point home?

Why does Paul quote so many passages from the Old Testament concerning God’s relationship with his people?

Describe the kind of relationship that God desires to have with those committed to him.

Why is it so problematic for a Christian to be involved in pagan or non-Christian spirituality?

What are some ways that non-Christian spirituality or idolatry creeps into our lives today?

Based on what Paul is saying in this passage, give a description of an ideal Christian life.

What are some things in your life that need to change in order to better match that ideal?

If we really are incapable of making these changes on our own as the Scripture insist what process do we need to go through in order to better comply with these standards?

How does a person go about being separate from the world yet engaged evangelistically?

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?