Kind, Gentle, Bold: Embracing Love and Christian Principles
Reflect on the profound messages of love, kindness, and spiritual wisdom found in 2 Corinthians, focusing on the gentle yet bold approach advocated by Paul. Explore the contrast between true Christian authority, rooted in building up others, and the pitfalls of pride and false wisdom. Discover the transformative power of love, patience, and humility as exemplified in the Scriptures.
Uploaded on Mar 05, 2025 | 0 Views
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
A Love That is Kind, Gentle and Bold 2 Corinthians 10
Paul was Gentle, Kind, and BOLD 10 Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. 2 Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives. 2 Corinthians 10:1-2 NLT
Love is 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 NLT
Humanistic reasoning and false arguments are obstacles to knowing God 3 We are human, but we don t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 6 And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NLT
The Way of the World There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Proverbs 14:12 NLT
True Christian authority builds up and doesnt tear down 7 Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do. 8 I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority. 2 Corinthians 10:7-8 NLT
The Super Apostles Approach vs. Pauls Approach 13 If you are wise and understand God s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
Pauls writing is strong in hope that it will temper his personal interactions 9 I m not trying to frighten you by my letters. 10 For some say, Paul s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless! 11 Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away. 2 Corinthians 10:9-11 NLT
The Letter was the First Warning 9 Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. 10 If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. 11 For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them. Titus 3:9-11 NLT
Paul does not compare himself with others, in fact he infers that it is a waste to do so 12 Oh, don t worry; we wouldn t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! 2 Corinthians 10:12 NLT
We are all in the same boat 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God s glorious standard. Romans 3:23 NLT Comparing our spiritual abilities is a bit like people stranded in a life- boat comparing their bank accounts.
Its okay to boast about what God has done 13 We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you. 14 We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:13-14 NLT
Paul hoped that the boundaries of his work (in Christ) would be extended through the work of others (In Christ) 15 Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended. 16 Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else s territory. 17 As the Scriptures say, If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord. 2 Corinthians 10:15-17 NLT
Self-Commendation isnt worth much, it is God s commendation that matters 18 When people commend themselves, it doesn t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. 2 Corinthians 10:18 NLT 9 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT
