2 Corinthians: Suffering and Comfort in Christ

Sermon Outline for January 8, 2023
2 CORINTHIANS: Suffering and Comfort in Christ

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Introduction: What is our story?
Exodus 20:1-3, “And God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt,
out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.
Background to 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 7:8-10, Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I
see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9

yet now I am happy, not because you were made
sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so
were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no
regret.
Second Corinthians 1:1-11
In Paul’s understanding, God:
• is the father of compassion and comfort
• has the power and willingness to raise the dead
In Paul’s understanding, why does God allow Christians to suffer?
• For other’s endurance in the faith
• So we would depend on God, “who raises the dead”
• So that many would give thanks through answered prayers
Job 1:20-21,

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in

worship 21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”
Philippians 3:10, I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
What should we do?
• Soak in the story of Christ
• Encourage, strengthen, and comfort other Christians by reminding each other of this story
• Use your current situation to demonstrate the power of this story to others
Sending Word: Philippians 1:27-30