Psalms

Psalm 63 – Longing for Assembly

Psalm 84 — The Blessedness of Assembly

Psalm 104: For God So Loves the World

Psalm 20

Psalm 34

#Fear

Psalm 34:11 “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”   

The Church has done a good job of sharing about Jesus, but not as well on teaching about the fear of the Lord.  A recent Barna survey found that 86% of youth had a negative perception of Christians.  The top two reasons given in the survey are: (1) Christians are judgmental and (2) Christians are hypocritical.  These two areas were major teaching points of

Jesus yet are two of the biggest stumbling blocks for people coming to Jesus.  

In the Psalm above, the writer (David) is encouraging you to allow him to teach you the fear of the Lord.  Let’s think about how Jesus would teach you the fear of the Lord?  I believe Jesus would do it by spending time with you.  Jesus began His ministry with hundreds, if not thousands of followers, but whittled them down to 77, then 12, and finally 3 which reflected the increased intensity of teaching, fellowship, and relationship with His disciples. 

Jesus knew that a changed life comes from a healthy fear of God, and a healthy fear of God comes out of the intensity of His relationship with His disciples.  The same is true for followers of Christ today.  Fear of God is reverence, respect, and faith that God is God and He “Is”, “Was”, and “Will Always” be God!  Your fear of God will come out of the intensity of your relationship with Him on a daily basis.  If Jesus were to say to me, “Come, my child, listen to Me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord,” I would envision myself sitting at His feet listening to His words and stories.  Reading His Word, talking to Him, receiving His Word into your life and allowing it to galvanize your life will cultivate intimacy with God.  

A life that is touched by God is a life that fears God.  A life that fears God is a life that is experiencing God’s love and grace while growing in appreciation of who He is.  As you read the following Scriptures, pray for God to open your heart to new levels of intimacy with Him.

Imitate Jesus - Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”   

Priority - Job 23:12 “I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.”  

Hunger for God - Psalm 42:1-2 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 

When can I go and meet with God?”  

Refreshed by God - Psalm 90:14 “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”  

Instructed by God - Isaiah 50:4-5 “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.  He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.  The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.”   

Life of Paul - Paul's Letter of 2 Corinthians

Life of Paul - Paul's Ministry to Christians at Corinth

Series on the Life of Paul

Possible Date: 57 A. D.

• Paul leaves Ephesus and continues his third missionary journey by visiting the churches in Macedonia (Acts 20:1 - 3). While visiting Philippi he writes the book of 2 Corinthians.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians

NOTE: 

#Paul

#Apostle Paul

#Corinth

The confrontation with Demetrius and the other craftsman is undoubtedly not the only reason Paul left Ephesus. Understandably, Paul must be anxious to hear from Titus regarding the Corinthian’s reaction to his previous letter, so it appears that Paul decides to go on to Troas, where he hopes to meet Titus. Perhaps disappointed at not finding Titus there, Paul goes on to Macedonia, where Titus joins him. There Paul writes his final letter to the Corinthians, probably about AD 56-57. 

THE SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

The letter of 2 Corinthians was written perhaps 6 months to a year after Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, possibly in A.D. 55 at the end of his long ministry in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). The Corinthian church required Paul’s continual care. In the letter, he explains why he has not visited them a third time, as he had hoped, and shares with them at great length the sense of fulfillment he has in both his ministry and in them personally. At the end of the letter (10-13), Paul's tone changes abruptly as he once again defends his apostleship and personal character. This letter is sent with Titus and others who are returning to Corinth to receive funds being given for the relief of the brethren in Judea who need financial assistance. 

Shortly after his founding mission in Corinth, he sent a letter instructing the church “not to keep company with sexually immoral people” (1 Corinthians 5:9). Later, a delegation from Corinth came to Ephesus asking for Paul’s guidance; they returned, possibly carrying the letter of 1 Corinthians with them (1 Corinthians 16:17–19). Timothy visited Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:17; 16:10, 11) and probably returned to Paul in Ephesus with news of opposition to Paul and continued division in the church.

Such unchristian practices in Corinth required correction. Paul made a “sorrowful” visit (2 Corinthians 1:23–2:1), which did not resolve these problems. He then sent a “severe” letter delivered to the Corinthians by Titus (2 Corinthians 2:3–5). When finally Paul was reconciled to the church, he wrote to them both to celebrate their restored relationship and to have them prepare for yet another visit (2 Corinthians 1:13–16).

Scholars disagree over whether 2 Corinthians is a single letter, or was compiled from several shorter letters. Some think there were four letters: Paul’s “earlier” letter (1 Corinthians 5:9); 1 Corinthians; the “severe” letter (2 Corinthians 2:3); and 2 Corinthians. In this case, 1 Corinthians would have been the second letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian church; and 2 Corinthians, at least the fourth. Thus, one option is to accept that 2 Corinthians was originally written as it now appears in the New Testament, and suppose that the “earlier” letter against sexual immorality and the “severe” letter have been lost.

An alternative is to suppose that the “earlier” letter, warning against sexual immorality, is part of 2 Corinthians (see “Paul’s Authority and Epistle” at 1 Corinthians 5:1). Similarly, the four final chapters (2 Corinthians 10–13) are considered to be the so-called “severe” letter, the letter written “out of much affliction and anguish” (2 Corinthians 2:4). Those favoring this option point to a marked contrast: the positive relationship between Paul and the Corinthians evidenced in the early chapters of 2 Corinthians versus Paul’s harsh attacks on some in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 10–13.

2 Corinthians 1:1–2:11

During this period of time, several things may have happened...

• Paul made a short visit to Corinth, his second - cf. 2 Corinthians 12:14; 13:1
• 1) His first visit was during the second journey - Acts 18:1
• 2) His third visit was later on the third journey - Acts 20:1-3
• 3) The book of Acts is silent about his second visit, but most place it sometime during his extended stay at Ephesus
• Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians (now lost), alluded to in 1 Corinthians 5:9

• Second Corinthians

• IN MACEDONIA...
• Paul finds Titus, who brings comforting news from Corinth - 2 Corinthians 7:5-7,13-16
• Paul preaches throughout Macedonia- Acts 20:1-2
• He had preached in Macedonia on his second journey - Acts 16:11-17:15
• Establishing churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea
• On this trip he appears to have ventured to Illyricum - cf. Romans 15:19
• The brethren give generously for the relief of the church in Jerusalem - 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
• Timothy rejoins Paul. Then Timothy joins Paul in writing Second Corinthians (fall of 57 A.D.) - 2 Corinthians 1:1
• Purpose: To vindicate Paul’s apostleship and manner of life
• Theme: Open your heart to us, we have wronged no one
• Brief Outline:
• Paul explains his ministry of reconciliation - 2 Corinthians 1:1-7:16
• The collection for the saints in Jerusalem - 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15
• Paul defends his apostolic authority - 2 Corinthians 10:1-13:14
• Titus and “two brethren” are sent to Corinth - 2 Corinthians 8:16-24
• Likely taking Second Corinthians
• To assist the Corinthians concerning the collection - 2 Corinthians 8:6-8; 9:1-5

• IN ACHAIA (GREECE)...
• Paul spent three months - Acts 20:2-3
• It included his third visit to Corinth - 2 Corinthians 12:14
• A visit he hoped would not be sorrowful - 2 Corinthians 2:1
• A visit he hoped would not be embarrassing for them - 2 Corinthians 9:3-4
• A visit he hoped would not require stern judgment - 2 Corinthians 12:20-21; 13:1-3
• NOTES:
• Paul sends Titus and “a brother” to Corinth - cf. 2 Co 12:17-18
• To bring Paul word as to how the Corinthians received the first letter?
• To encourage the Corinthians concerning the collection? - 2 Co 8:6a
• Whose delayed return would later give Paul concern - 2 Co 2:12-13
• But who would eventually bring Paul good news - 2 Co 7:5-7,13-16

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Other Resources:

First Visit to Corinth

Second Visit to Corinth