2 Corinthians Week 11

Day 1 

READ 

2 Corinthians 7:10 

10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 

Paul continued to write about what kind of sorrow honors God. It is the kind that leads from sin to God and results in salvation. Sometimes sorrow brings shame, but not this kind of sorrow. Godly sorrow brings spiritual life; worldly sorrow brings spiritual death. It is determined by the individual which kind of sorrow is chosen. 

REFLECT 

Think about the kind of sorrow you have had in the past. What did it produce in your life? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the difference that unbelievers experience and what believers in Jesus experience. Even the psalmist spoke of this in Psalm 32:10-11. Read Matthew 11:20-22 to see what Jesus said of those who saw His miracles but refused to repent and turn to God. It is not enough just to change one’s mind (repent), the person also needs to turn to God. Judas had remorse that he betrayed an innocent man but he never turned to God (see Matthew 27:3-4).  

Day 2 

READ 

2 Corinthians 7:11-12 

11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. 12 My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us. 

Paul described what kind of sorrow the Corinthians had. They had “done everything necessary to make things right.” Paul had written to them to show them how their sorrow had enabled them to see how they had been loyal to him and his team members. His goal was not to write about the wrong and who did it, he wrote about relationships. 

REFLECT 

If you have ever written a letter of correction, what was your goal?  

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the greatest need which is to be loyal to God. Read James 1:5-8 to see what occurs when one has a divided loyalty.  

Day 3 

READ 

2 Corinthians 7:13-14 

13 We have been greatly encouraged by this. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease. 14 I had told him how proud I was of you—and you didn’t disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true! 

Paul was pleased about the way the Corinthians had received Titus. Even though Paul had told Titus how proud he was of the Corinthians, apparently Titus was not completely at ease about meeting them. He was put at ease when the believers welcomed him.  

REFLECT 

Have you been in a situation where you were concerned how people would receive you and then were at ease when they welcomed you? 

RESPOND 

It is good to remember that regardless of how others treat you, as a believer in Jesus you are accepted in the beloved. Read Ephesians 1:3-8 to see all that God has done for the believer.  

Day 4 

READ 

2 Corinthians 7:15-16 

15 Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way all of you obeyed him and welcomed him with such fear and deep respect. 16 I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you. 

Paul was concerned about the Corinthian believers. His mind was completely at rest after he learned how they had welcomed Titus. Paul’s assurance about the Corinthian Christians had been renewed by seeing how they treated his friend.  

REFLECT 

Has your confidence in people sometimes been helped by the way you see how they treat your friends? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about how Titus had been a friend of Paul since soon after Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. Read Galatians 2:1-3 to see that even though Titus was a Gentile, the Jerusalem leaders did not require him to be circumcised in addition to believing in Jesus for salvation. That was the raging debate by the Judaizers at that time. Some today teach that in addition to believing in Jesus’ finished work on the cross, one still needs to do meritorious works to add to what He has done. This amounts to a works salvation, not one of grace through faith in Jesus (see Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Day 5 

READ 

2 Corinthians 8:1-2 

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 

The next two chapters in 2 Corinthians will have much to say about giving. A topic that some people do not like to hear presented in church. Paul began by telling about the “very poor” in Macedonia who were filled with such joy that they gave “in rich generosity.” Regrettably, such cannot be said today about some who are much better off financially.  

REFLECT 

Does your joy about the salvation you have by believing in Jesus influence your giving?  

RESPOND  

Some people talk about a “tithe,” which means 10 percent. The only time the New Testament mentions that term is when referring to the Old Testament practice. Discuss this topic with a Christian friend and see what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 about giving proportionately. He did not mention a tithe.