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Since entering the ministry in 1978, Max Lucado has served churches in Miami, Florida; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and San Antonio, Texas. He currently serves as Teaching Minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. He is America's bestselling inspirational author with more than 140 million products in print. Visit his website at MaxLucado.com Facebook.com/MaxLucado Instagram.com/MaxLucado Twitter.com/MaxLucado

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BOOK OF 2 CORINTHIANS

Nelson Impact

Contents

How to Study the Bible........................................ivIntroduction to the Book of 2 Corinthians.....................viiLesson 1 Suffering............................................1Lesson 2 Plans................................................11Lesson 3 God's New Agreement..................................21Lesson 4 Soli Deo Gloria!.....................................31Lesson 5 Eternal Perspective..................................41Lesson 6 Living as a Servant..................................51Lesson 7 Follow the Leader....................................61Lesson 8 Money Matters........................................71Lesson 9 Ground Zero..........................................81Lesson 10 Perseverance........................................91Lesson 11 Sustaining Grace....................................101Lesson 12 Maturity............................................111

Chapter One

SUFFERING

REFLECTION

Life is full of ups and downs. We can be cruising along, everything working perfectly. Then, suddenly, unexpectedly, the wheels can go flying off, and we find ourselves in the proverbial ditch, wondering, "What just happened?" Which end of the spectrum best describes your life just now?

SITUATION

Less than a year after writing 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote this epistle. Unforeseen circumstances had forced Paul to delay a planned visit to Corinth. This change in plans gave certain false teachers in Corinth ammunition to accuse him of being unreliable and not a true apostle-charges that deeply grieved Paul and caused many to question his motives. Paul found comfort in God.

OBSERVATION

Read 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 from the NCV or the NKJV.

NCV

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted. Also from Timothy our brother in Christ.

To the church of God in Corinth, and to all of God's people everywhere in Southern Greece:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. 4 He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. 5 We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ. 6 If we have troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation, and if we have comfort, you also have comfort. This helps you to accept patiently the same sufferings we have. 7 Our hope for you is strong, knowing that you share in our sufferings and also in the comfort we receive.

8 Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there that were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living. 9 Truly, in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead. 10 God saved us from these great dangers of death, and he will continue to save us. We have put our hope in him, and he will save us again. 11 And you can help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us-that God blessed us because of their many prayers.

NKJV

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

EXPLORATION

1. How do Paul's letters differ from the letters and e-mails you write?

2. How does Paul describe God?

3. How would you explain the difference between hope and comfort?

4. Paul gives us a window into his emotional state during the worst of his recent trials. What words and phrases does he use?

5. According to Paul, what are some of the positive things that can result when we look to God during life's trials?

INSPIRATION

"That evening Jesus' followers went down to Lake Galilee. It was dark now, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The followers got into a boat and started across the lake to Capernaum. By now a strong wind was blowing, and the waves on the lake were getting bigger" (John 6:16-18 NCV) ...

They did exactly what Jesus said, and look what it got them! A night on a storm-tossed sea with their Master somewhere on the shore.

It's one thing to suffer for doing wrong. Something else entirely to suffer for doing right. But it happens. And when the storm bursts, it washes away the naive assumption that if I do right, I will never suffer.

Just ask the faithful couple whose crib is empty and whose womb is barren.

Just ask the businessman whose honest work was rewarded with runaway inflation.

Just ask the student who took a stand for the truth and got mocked ... the husband who took a chance and forgave his wife, only to be betrayed again.

And so the winds blow.

And so the boat bounces.

And so the disciples wonder, "Why the storm, and where is Jesus?" ...

Mark tells us that during the storm Jesus "saw his followers struggling" (Mark 6:48). Through the night he saw them. Through the storm he saw them. And like a loving father he waited. He waited until the right time, until the right moment. He waited until he knew it was time to come, and then he came.

What made it the right time? I don't know. Why was the ninth hour better than the fourth or fifth? I can't answer that. Why does God wait until the money is gone? Why does he wait until the sickness has lingered? Why does he choose to wait until the other side of the grave to answer the prayers for healing?

I don't know. I only know his timing is always right. I can only say he will do what is best. "God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him night and day, and he will not be slow to answer them"...