haar

Q2. (2 Corinthians 12:10) What was the life-changing lesson that Paul learned from God when God denied his prayer? How does our self-sufficiency limit God’s power through our lives? Can we become dependent upon God without having to experience some “thorn in the flesh” ourselves? Paul learnt that God's grace was sufficient for him in his affliction. His weakness was an opportunity to see God's power in action in his life. He therefore no longer feared challenges but looked forward to experiencing such afflictions because he would see God at work in any of such challenges. Although we depend on God, we could still eperience some "thorn" in our "flesh" because jesus clearly taught that we would have trials and tribulations in this wolrd. He however encouraged us to stand firm because there would be reward for overcoming.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 12:7) Why was this “thorn in the flesh” given to Paul? What purpose did God want to achieve through this in Paul’s character? How can something be both used by God and be caused by Satan’s destructive work? How does this verse relate to Romans 8:28 and Genesis 50:20? The 'thorn in the flesh ' of Paul was a kind of physical ailment that was allowed to torment him to devolope his character devoid of pride. Whatever God allows to happen to His children work for their good according to Rom 8:28. It is however worth noting that all the eveil being experienced now and in the past was as the result of the fall at the garden of Eden. That fall was caused by the Devil's scheming. We won't be wrong therefore to conclude that sickness and any other thing that causes paind are due to Satan's destructive activities.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) How do Paul’s sufferings help authenticate his claim to be an apostle? What do these sufferings tell us about Paul’s commitment? How does this account inspire you – or convict you? How will you be different from having pondered it? Paul authenticated his claim to be an apostle of the Lord by the hardship he went through without giving up. Only one committed to God could have gone through all the trials he went through and yet did not yield to the temptation to draw back. This should encourage us to be steadfast and remain commited to our calling and service despite the enormity of the challenges that we may go through.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 11:7-9) Why do you think Paul refused to require the Corinthians to support him? How did this help his ministry? How did it contribute to them taking him for granted? How can we honor Christian workers, clergy and lay, who give of their time sacrificially to minister for Christ? How will Christ honor them? Paul did not want to be a burden to the Corithians. Besides, he was contented in what he had through his labour. With this stand, he was able to be focused and work plan his missionary journeys to include other locations. We ought to support men of God who sacrifice their time for the gospel by supporting them in whatever areas we can in whatever areas of their needs.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 11:1-5) What does it feel like when a congregation loses its pure devotion to Jesus Christ, and instead takes on other motivations for its religious observance? In what ways is this like the church at Ephesus losing its “first love” (Revelation 2:4)? How can this purity of devotion be restored? The congregation that does that heads for destruction and if not redeemed as Paul did for the Corithian Church, the Church will be destroyed and the members may mis salvation. They started with/ in the love of the Lord and faith in Him but veered off the road to works and other godly activities that denied the power that is diivinely God's. Restoration will only be possible through repentance and seeking the Lord and the truth which will set them free.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) Why does Paul liken his dealing with his opponents in Corinth with reducing a city wall by siege and then taking its citizens captive? Is Paul talking about a victory by the use of incisive logic or is there a spiritual stronghold here, one that derives its power from Satan’s kingdom? Paul knew that the devil was responsible for causing the confusion in Corinth, and this is a spiritual warfare. He would therefore use the divine power of our Lord Jesus to demolish every devilish stronghold and take every spiritual agent captive by using prayers as the spiritual weapon.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 9:12-15) Why should our giving prompt thanksgiving? How is our giving a demonstration of God’s grace? Why is God’s gift of Jesus termed “surpassing”? Why is God’s gift of Jesus termed “indescribable”? When we give, the recipient gives God the praise and thanks and also thank us. They see the gift from us as coming from God first. God gave us life eternal life while we were lost in in our sins by the sacrificial death of His dear son Jesus christ on the cross. We have no other gift that can be compared to this in cost and value. Since He gave supremly, we should also learn to give like Him.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11) According to these verses, what is the purpose of God increasing your “store of seed”? How do greed and generosity differ from each other? What is God’s promise here to generous givers? The purpose of God increasing the store of our seed is to enable us saw more ie invest on giving to the needy people. This way, God will blesses us more. Greed is hoarding our possession so that we will have more than what we need, generosity is freewill giving of your substance without holding back. God has promissed those who are generous that He will bless them more more so that they would have enough to continue to give to the needy.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 9:7) Why do you think pastors or other church leaders use guilt to try to compel people to give more? Can greed be behind their pressure? Why is pressure incompatible with worship? What does cheerfulness while giving say about the condition of a person’s heart? some Pastors use guilt to compel the congregation to give beacase of their belief that doing so will result in much more offerings. Greed may be behid this pressure but it could also be lack of faith in God- failing to remember that the church needs can be met without embarking in guilt motivation. Any one who gives cheerfully shows that his heart is in tune with that of the Lord and he/ she gives out of love and conviction that he/ she ought to give- self motivation.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 9:6) Does the Scripture teach that material blessing results from giving generously to God’s work? Why are we so careful to reinterpret this as referring mainly to spiritual blessing? If you compared your own actual giving to God’s work to a tithe (10%) of your income, would it look generous? Yes, Scripture teaches that giving generously can result in material blessings. I have learnt to give ALL my tithes to God so that I will not rob Him. I have also learnt over the years to give an increased offering to God every year. In addition,I give also for God's work through agencies and other churches and the needy from my net 90% after paying the 10% tithes. Indeed, without feeling proud about it, I can say without doubt that I have also seen the hand of God in terms of blessings and increase in my possessions.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 8:21-22) What is the balance between living our lives wholly before God without being men-pleasers, and doing what is right in the sight of men? We need to serve God and do what is pleasing to him who sees the heart. We however also need to be seen do justice in matters pertaining justice or be seen to be transnparent in the matters of money so that we won't give room for any rancour in the church.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 8:9) What riches did Christ have according to this verse? How did he become poor? In what way were we poor? In what way have we become rich? Christ was spiritually rich, a son of God and God himself, left all these previledges to be born into a poor family and lived a poor life as a carpenter's son so that I may be spiritually rich. We were poor spirituall destined to condemnation to hell as a destination but He gave His life that we may have life eternal.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 8:4, 7-9, 19) What does grace have to do with giving? What does giving look like when it isn’t accompanied by grace? What does it look like when grace prompts your giving? Grace in this case is supplied by God to us to share our possessions with others. Naturally we wont want to do so because of our selfish and possessive tendency. Without grace therefore, giving is hard and relactant.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) Why is it so difficult to give when we are stressed by circumstances and bills and pressures? What can we learn from the example of the Macedonians and the poor widow? How will this lesson affect your own giving? It is is difficult to give particular in difficult situations because we are afraid that if we give, we will have nothing left. It is beacuse of our selfish nature and also the lack of faith in the God who said he is our Shephard and that we shall not want. The Macedonian church is teaching us that we ought to give to help others who are in need even when we seem to feel a general hardship in the economy. Faith teaches that the God that provided for us will still provide. Secondly and most importantly, we should give in proportion to our income or ability. This lesson should make me review my giving policy so that I will give propotional to my ability. So help me Lord God.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 7:5) What are the distinctions between fear, faith, and courage? Why is being honest about our fears better than pretending we don’t have any fears? How did Paul deal with his fears? Fear is a reaction to a threat, danger, failure etc that may affect us. Some of the cause of fear are real but a lot are imaginary which end up just our making in our minds. Faith, the opposite of fear is the confidence we have ingod that He willl deliver us from the thing that causes us fear. It is such faith that develops courage that developes courage in us. It is good we acknowledge our fears. But it is even more important that we trust in God's ability to deliver us from the thing we fear. Paul dealt with his fear by trusting God to deliver him from whatever sitaution.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) What kind of separation is Paul calling the Corinthians to? How can they strike a balance between separating themselves from sinful practices that mess up their spiritual lives while at the same time maintaining friendships with pagan neighbors and co-workers? Paul is preaching that Christians should seperate themselves from any one that will lead them astray into sin. We can be friends to non Christians so that we can win them to God but we should not join them to sin or participate in their sinful practices..

Q2. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) What are the reasons Paul gives us – both in his letter and by quoting Old Testament scriptures – that we should live holy lives? What kinds of temptations did the Corinthians face in their notorious city. We should live holy lives because God is holy and we should be holy. In addition, we are the temples of God and therefore cannot afford to be dirty. The Corinthians face two major temptations namely: idolatary and sexual immorality. These two vices were vary common among pagans in Corinth in those days and christians were at a agreat risk to also join in such pracrtices.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 6:3-13) Why do you think Paul shares so much about his various struggles with the Corinthians? How does this help them accept his apostleship as authentic? Have you ever complained about what you’ve had to put up with in your ministry? How does it compare to what Paul faced? Paul shared so much about his struggles so that the Corinthians would know that he was trully an apostle of Jesus Christ. Only a true apostlelike Paul could endure such hardship and go on without abandoning the the ministry. This made the Corinthians christians had a re-think about their acusations of him. I thinh I have not encountered much suffering as the apostle Paul had. But even so, I havehad cause to grumble about some bad treatment from my christian coleagues.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2) If you, then, are called to be an urgent agent of reconciliation, how is this likely to affect your daily life? How will it affect how people perceive you? How will it affect how God perceives you? I should create more time than ever to share the gospel to those around me- in the neighbourhood, workplace and wherever I may find myself given theurgency which god wants every one to be reconciled to Him as time is running out..

Q3. (2 Corinthians 5:21) In what sense did Jesus “become sin” on our behalf? In what sense do we “become righteousness”? Jesus took our sins on Himself, nailed them on the cross and also imparted His righteousness on us that we may be acceptable to God ie to be reconciled to God.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) How have we humans been reconciled to God? What did God do so that reconciliation could take place? In what sense are you an Ambassador of the Kingdom of God? In what sense are you a Minister of Reconciliation for Jesus Christ? While we were yet sinners, God reconciled us to Himself through the death of the Lord jesus christ who shed His blood to clean us from our sins.This is however true for only those who accept the Lord jesus Christ as their saviour. We are ambassadors of the kingdom of God because we (Christians) represent God in our homes, neighbourhood, workplace etc. We are to appeal to those that have not acceted the Lord Jesus Christ to do so. This is a ministry and we are thus minister.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17) What does verse 17 teach us about the nature of a new believer? What changes in a person when he puts his faith in Christ? Why don’t old habits disappear immediately if everything has become new? The song that says 'the things I used to do, I do them no more... there is a great change since I am norn again' tells us how the new believer helped by the spirit of God begins to live a life pleasing unto the Lord. The bad things are no longer his/ her major engagement. Old habits however take a while to disappear as God allows us to change by our willful submission to the Holy Spirit. This is a struggle against the flesh that wages war against us. I however wish He would change me automatically and fully even now.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 5:10-11a) How does Paul’s mention of the Judgment Seat of Christ fit the context here? How should our belief that we Christians will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged for our works affect (1) our desire to please him? (2) Our motivation to persuade people to receive Christ? Paul needed to tell believers in Corinth that they will still appear at the judgement seat of God even though they were believers. They will be judged not of salvation but of deeds done so as to determine and be given the appropriate reward. This knowledge should motivate us to please Him while those who have not recieved the Lord Jesus will persuaded to accept Him

Q3. (2 Corinthians 5:7) What does it mean to walk by faith, not by sight? Why can’t nonbelievers understand this kind of living? What aspects of your life are guided by your senses rather than by your faith? How can you bring a faith perspective into these areas? To walk or live by faith is to trust in God's abilty to fulfill His promises. David believed God would help him defeat the giant and God did. The size and history of Goliath victories did not stop David from puting his faith in God. Non believers will not understand this king of faith because faith is a spiritual matter that only those with the spirit of God can dicern and understand. Most time fear disarms me of my faith particluarly when the thing feared is so real and intimadating. Only running back to God and His word bring back faith in such circumstances.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) How do Paul’s words comfort you when you consider your death? What do Christians believe happens when we die? What will happen to us if we die before Christ returns? What will happen to us when Christ returns? There is much more after death. Death is not to be feared because when we die, our spirit goes to be with God. There we will not die again but live to enjoy fellowship with God. Christians believe in the resurrection of the dead wehn the Lord Jesus comes to take us to be with him forever.