Sermons on 2 Corinthians 5:11

2 Corinthians 5:11 Interpretation:

Embracing Discipleship: Love, Relationships, and Reconciliation (Summit Community Church | SCC Morganton) interprets 2 Corinthians 5:11 as a deeply motivational passage, emphasizing the "fear of the Lord" as a real, sobering awareness of the coming judgment seat of Christ, not merely reverence or respect. The sermon uniquely highlights that this fear is not just awe but a genuine, motivating fear of accountability before Christ, which compels Paul—and by extension, believers—to persuade others about the gospel. The preacher uses the analogy of childhood toys (friction cars, rubber-band planes) and a car’s gas pedal to illustrate the concept of being "compelled" or propelled forward, but then contrasts these with the limitless, persistent compulsion of Christ’s love, which never runs out. The sermon also introduces the idea of God’s love as a crib or playpen: it hems us in, not to restrict, but to protect and enable us to thrive, paralleling how God’s love both motivates and safeguards us as we persuade others.

Empowering the Sacred Bond: Minister and Church (MLJTrust) offers a distinctive interpretation by focusing on the word "persuade" in 2 Corinthians 5:11, arguing that the minister’s role is not to denounce, entertain, or merely inform, but to actively and compassionately persuade people of their need for salvation. The sermon draws out the Greek nuance of "persuade" (peitho), emphasizing that it involves both reasoned argument and heartfelt appeal, engaging both intellect and emotion. The preacher insists that persuasion is not just about logic but about beseeching, even weeping, for souls, and that the ultimate reliance is on the Holy Spirit’s power, not human eloquence. This interpretation is set against the backdrop of the minister as an ambassador, whose authority and message are not his own but are given by God, and whose motivation is both the "terror" (awe and seriousness) of the Lord and the constraining love of Christ.

Daily Dependence: Embracing God's Provision and Grace (Colton Community Church) interprets 2 Corinthians 5:11 as a call to genuine, transparent Christian living, where the fear of the Lord is not just respect but a daily, motivating awareness of God’s holiness and authority. The sermon uniquely unpacks the word "persuade" as helping others become "settled" and "convinced" about Christ, not through a quick presentation but through ongoing, relational engagement. The preacher also stresses that Paul’s motivation is not self-promotion but authenticity before God and others, and that the compulsion to persuade comes from Christ’s love, which overcomes resistance and leads to self-emptying service.

Living with Eternal Hope Amidst Temporary Struggles (Living Word Lutheran Church | Marshall, MN) interprets 2 Corinthians 5:11 as the natural outflow of a life transformed by the gospel and the hope of eternity. The sermon frames the "fear of the Lord" as a motivating awareness of both the temporariness of earthly life and the reality of future judgment, which leads to a passionate desire to persuade others to be reconciled to God. The preacher uses the analogy of "tenting"—living in temporary, uncomfortable conditions—to illustrate the urgency and motivation for persuading others, since this life is not our permanent home.

Confronting Culture: The Power of Preaching Truth (Alistair Begg) offers a distinctive interpretation of 2 Corinthians 5:11 by focusing on the phrase "knowing the fear of the Lord we persuade men" as the apostolic motivation for evangelism. The sermon draws a sharp distinction between the contemporary aversion to persuasion and the biblical mandate, arguing that the fear of the Lord is the only force strong enough to overcome cultural resistance to evangelistic persuasion. Begg introduces the nuanced distinction between "servile" and "filial" fear, suggesting that a proper understanding of the fear of God (not mere terror, but reverent awe and filial respect) is essential for authentic Christian motivation. He also uses the example of John Knox, who "feared God so much that he never feared the face of any man or woman," to illustrate how the fear of the Lord emboldens believers to persuade others, regardless of societal pressures. This interpretation is unique in its emphasis on the internal, spiritual dynamic of fear as the wellspring of persuasive ministry, rather than external obligation or mere duty.

Living Wisely: Embracing the Fear of the Lord (Desiring God) provides a fresh and theologically rich interpretation by exploring the paradoxical experience of "fear and great joy" in the Christian life, as it relates to 2 Corinthians 5:11. The sermon insists that "fear" in this context is not an Old Testament relic but a vital, ongoing reality for believers, characterized by a trembling awe before God's holiness that coexists with deep joy and assurance. The preacher draws on the Greek term "phobos" (fear) and connects it to a range of biblical experiences—such as the women at the tomb who departed "with fear and great joy"—to argue that the fear of the Lord is both a motivator for persuading others and a means of sanctification for Christians themselves. The analogy of God as a "blazing fire of holiness" and the believer as one who finds "asbestos refuge" in Christ, trembling with a "sweet, deep, appropriate trembling," is a unique metaphor that shapes the understanding of the passage as a call to both evangelistic urgency and holy living.

Embracing Divine Expectancy and Our Spiritual Obligations (SermonIndex.net) interprets 2 Corinthians 5:11 through the lens of obligation, using the phrase "knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" to frame the Christian's responsibility to evangelize. The sermon employs vivid analogies, such as likening the world to a sinking ship and the church to those who have discovered the leak, to stress the urgency and moral imperative of warning others. The preacher's use of the word "terror" (rather than simply "fear") underscores the seriousness of coming judgment and the weight of personal accountability before God, making the act of persuasion not just a suggestion but a non-negotiable duty. This interpretation stands out for its emotive, almost visceral, appeal to the conscience and its insistence that evangelism is an act of love and rescue, not merely religious obligation.

2 Corinthians 5:11 Theological Themes:

Embracing Discipleship: Love, Relationships, and Reconciliation (Summit Community Church | SCC Morganton) introduces a multi-faceted motivational framework for Christian mission, identifying five "factors"—fear, love, confidence, transformation, and reconciliation—that together compel believers to persuade others. Notably, the sermon’s "Fear Factor" is not just reverence but a real, sobering fear of Christ’s judgment, which is rare in contemporary preaching. The "Love Factor" is described as a limitless, all-encompassing force that never runs out, unlike any earthly compulsion, and the "Confidence Factor" is rooted in the assurance of Christ’s substitutionary death. The "Transformation Factor" emphasizes a radical change of mind and perspective, and the "Reconciliation Factor" reframes evangelism as announcing what God has already accomplished, not what people must do to make peace with God.

Empowering the Sacred Bond: Minister and Church (MLJTrust) presents the theme that the minister’s primary task is persuasion, not denunciation or entertainment, and that this persuasion must be both intellectual and emotional, culminating in a Spirit-empowered appeal. The sermon also highlights the dual motivation of the "terror of the Lord" (awe, seriousness, and accountability before God) and the "love of Christ" as the constraining, inescapable force behind all ministry. It further develops the idea that the church’s response—its encouragement or discouragement—can either hinder or validate the minister’s persuasive work, making the congregation’s spiritual health a living testimony to the truth of the gospel.

Daily Dependence: Embracing God's Provision and Grace (Colton Community Church) adds the theme of authenticity and transparency in ministry, emphasizing that the compulsion to persuade others must arise from a genuine fear of the Lord and a love that leads to self-emptying service. The sermon also introduces the idea that Christ’s love "overcomes our resistance to submit," making obedience a response to love rather than duty, and that the act of persuasion is a relational, ongoing process rather than a one-time event.

Living with Eternal Hope Amidst Temporary Struggles (Living Word Lutheran Church | Marshall, MN) brings a fresh angle by connecting the motivation to persuade others directly to the Christian’s experience of life as "tenting"—living in a temporary, uncomfortable state that intensifies the urgency of the gospel. The sermon also highlights the "crazy" nature of Christian living, where being controlled by Christ’s love leads to behaviors and priorities that seem odd to the world but are actually the most rational response to eternal realities.

Confronting Culture: The Power of Preaching Truth (Alistair Begg) introduces the theme that the fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of wisdom but also the essential motivator for evangelism, contrasting "servile" (slavish, punitive) fear with "filial" (childlike, reverent) fear. The sermon uniquely argues that without this fear, Christians lack the internal compulsion to persuade others, and that the loss of this fear in the modern church has led to a decline in bold, authoritative preaching and evangelistic fervor.

Living Wisely: Embracing the Fear of the Lord (Desiring God) develops the theme that the fear of the Lord is a complex, paradoxical experience for believers—one that involves both trembling before God's holiness and rejoicing in His grace. The sermon adds the distinctive angle that this fear is not eradicated by salvation but is transformed into a "sweet trembling" that motivates both evangelism and sanctification. The preacher also highlights the role of fear in preserving humility and guarding against unbelief, suggesting that fear is a means by which God keeps His people in His kindness.

Embracing Divine Expectancy and Our Spiritual Obligations (SermonIndex.net) presents the theme of obligation as a multi-faceted response to God's grace, rooted in the "terror of the Lord." The sermon uniquely frames evangelism as a rescue mission, using the metaphor of a burning house and a sinking ship to illustrate the urgency and moral necessity of persuading others. The preacher also introduces the idea that the final judgment will reveal the extent to which believers have fulfilled their obligation to both Christ and their neighbors, making evangelism a matter of eternal significance and personal accountability.

2 Corinthians 5:11 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Empowering the Sacred Bond: Minister and Church (MLJTrust) provides detailed historical context about the church in Corinth, noting that Paul devotes significant space in 2 Corinthians to defending his ministry because of criticism and opposition from within the church and from "false apostles." The sermon explains that in Paul’s time, the relationship between minister and church was vital, with the church’s support or opposition having a profound impact on the effectiveness of ministry. The preacher also references the custom in aristocratic families of sending sons into the ministry as a profession, critiquing this as a historical source of spiritual decline due to lack of genuine calling. Additionally, the sermon situates the role of the ambassador in the ancient world as one who speaks not for himself but for the authority who sent him, paralleling Paul’s self-understanding as Christ’s ambassador.

Confronting Culture: The Power of Preaching Truth (Alistair Begg) provides historical context by referencing the cultural climate of Paul's day, where persuasion was considered taboo in matters of faith, and contrasts it with the contemporary Western aversion to evangelistic persuasion. The sermon also references the Reformation and Puritan eras to illustrate how the fear of God once motivated bold public witness, suggesting that the loss of this fear has contributed to the decline of authoritative preaching in the modern church.

2 Corinthians 5:11 Cross-References in the Bible:

Embracing Discipleship: Love, Relationships, and Reconciliation (Summit Community Church | SCC Morganton) cross-references Matthew 28:18-20 (the Great Commission) to frame the call to persuade others as obedience to Christ’s final command. The sermon also references Luke 7 (the woman anointing Jesus’ feet) to illustrate radical worship and transformation, Hebrews 3 (Christian community and encouragement), Ephesians (the dimensions of Christ’s love), Romans 8 (God’s gracious provision through Christ’s death), and 2 Corinthians 5:17 (new creation in Christ) to support the themes of motivation, transformation, and reconciliation. Watchman Nee’s interpretation of 2 Corinthians 5:17 is also mentioned, emphasizing the totality of the new creation.

Empowering the Sacred Bond: Minister and Church (MLJTrust) references several passages: Philippians 1 (the church’s partnership in the gospel), 2 Corinthians 3 (the church as Paul’s "epistle"), Acts 17 (Paul reasoning from the Scriptures in Thessalonica and Athens), Galatians 2 (Paul’s confrontation with Peter), Luke 12 (Jesus’ teaching on judgment), Romans 1 (the power of the gospel), and 2 Corinthians 5:14, 17 (the love of Christ and new creation). These references are used to illustrate the method and motivation of persuasion, the seriousness of judgment, and the transformative power of the gospel.

Daily Dependence: Embracing God's Provision and Grace (Colton Community Church) cross-references John 15:12-13 (Jesus’ command to love as He loved, laying down one’s life), 1 John 3:16 (knowing love by Christ’s sacrifice), 1 Corinthians 15 (the resurrection as the focal point of faith), John 14:6 (Jesus as the only way to the Father), Ephesians 2:8-9 (salvation by grace through faith), and 1 John 5:11-12 (eternal life in the Son). These passages are used to reinforce the message of Christ’s love, the necessity of persuasion, and the assurance of salvation.

Living with Eternal Hope Amidst Temporary Struggles (Living Word Lutheran Church | Marshall, MN) references 2 Corinthians 4 (jars of clay, not focusing on what is seen), Philippians 1:21-26 (to live is Christ, to die is gain), and 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (the ministry of reconciliation, new creation, and ambassadorship). These cross-references are used to support the themes of temporary suffering, eternal hope, and the urgency of persuading others.

Living Wisely: Embracing the Fear of the Lord (Desiring God) makes extensive use of cross-references to illuminate 2 Corinthians 5:11. The sermon cites 2 Corinthians 7:1 to show that the fear of the Lord is essential for Christian sanctification, not just for evangelism. Matthew 10:28 is used to distinguish between fearing people and fearing God, emphasizing that the latter is both a warning and a comfort. Acts 5 (Ananias and Sapphira) and Acts 9:31 are referenced to demonstrate that the early church experienced both "great fear" and "comfort" in the Holy Spirit, reinforcing the idea that fear and joy coexist in the Christian life. Romans 11 is used to warn against arrogance and to encourage believers to "fear unbelief," showing that the fear of the Lord is a safeguard against spiritual complacency. Psalm 31 and Isaiah 66:2 are cited to illustrate that God's goodness is reserved for those who fear Him and take refuge in Him, and that trembling at God's word is a mark of true humility.

Embracing Divine Expectancy and Our Spiritual Obligations (SermonIndex.net) references John 9:4 ("We must work the works of him who sent me as long as it is day") to frame the urgency of Christian obligation, and alludes to the Great Commission ("Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel") as the foundational command for evangelism. The sermon also references Paul's statement about the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8) to underscore the eternal rewards associated with faithful service and evangelism.

2 Corinthians 5:11 Christian References outside the Bible:

Empowering the Sacred Bond: Minister and Church (MLJTrust) explicitly references Principal W.M. McGregor, a Scottish theologian, who warned ministers to be "pastors, not pet lambs," emphasizing the need for ministers to lead rather than merely please congregations. The sermon also alludes to Watchman Nee’s interpretation of 2 Corinthians 5:17 (though more directly cited in the Summit Community Church sermon), and references the broader tradition of nonconformist ministry in contrast to the historical practice of sending sons into the church as a profession.

Daily Dependence: Embracing God's Provision and Grace (Colton Community Church) explicitly references A.W. Tozer, quoting his description of Christians as "odd" people who live by paradoxical truths, to illustrate the countercultural nature of Christian motivation and the authenticity of Paul’s ministry. The sermon also cites Murray Harris, a New Testament scholar, who interprets the love of Christ as controlling and leaving believers no choice but to serve.

Confronting Culture: The Power of Preaching Truth (Alistair Begg) explicitly references John Knox, highlighting his reputation for fearing God above all else, which enabled him to confront powerful figures like Mary Queen of Scots. The sermon also mentions Sangster, a prominent Methodist preacher, to lament the decline of preaching in the modern church, and Neil Postman, whose critique of contemporary media culture is used to illustrate the challenges facing biblical preaching today.

Embracing Divine Expectancy and Our Spiritual Obligations (SermonIndex.net) references John Lake, a healing evangelist from the early 1900s, recounting the sacrificial ministry of his wife as an example of loving one's neighbor to the point of personal deprivation. The sermon also quotes Mark Twain ("It's not the scriptures that I don't understand... it's the scriptures I do understand") to emphasize the clarity and inescapability of the Great Commission, and mentions Leonard Ravenhill's warning that following Jesus will bring social cost and opposition. Additionally, the preacher shares a personal story about Jose Luis Solano, a Christian athlete, as an illustration of giving one's best to Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:11 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Embracing Discipleship: Love, Relationships, and Reconciliation (Summit Community Church | SCC Morganton) uses several secular analogies to illustrate the concept of being compelled: childhood friction cars and rubber-band-powered planes are used to show how physical objects are propelled by external forces, but these forces are limited and temporary. The preacher then contrasts these with the limitless compulsion of Christ’s love. The analogy of a car’s gas pedal and the need for fuel is also used to illustrate how believers are propelled into action by Christ’s love, which never runs out. Additionally, the sermon uses the imagery of a crib and playpen to describe how God’s love both protects and enables believers, paralleling the way parents safeguard children.

Daily Dependence: Embracing God's Provision and Grace (Colton Community Church) opens with a detailed analysis of song lyrics from "Blinded by the Light" by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and "Hold Up Wait" by Lecrae, using the confusion and lack of clarity in these lyrics as a metaphor for how people often approach faith superficially, enjoying the rhythm but not understanding the meaning. The preacher uses this to challenge the congregation to move beyond surface-level engagement with faith and to genuinely understand and share the gospel.

Living with Eternal Hope Amidst Temporary Struggles (Living Word Lutheran Church | Marshall, MN) employs the analogy of "tenting" during a mountain hunt in Alaska, describing the discomfort of wet, cold, temporary living conditions to illustrate the temporary nature of earthly life and the longing for a permanent, heavenly home. The preacher also references the "Midwest, I suppose, moan"—the involuntary groan people make when getting up from a chair—as a humorous way to connect the physical burdens of life with the spiritual longing for eternity.

Embracing Divine Expectancy and Our Spiritual Obligations (SermonIndex.net) uses several detailed secular analogies to illustrate 2 Corinthians 5:11. The preacher compares the world to a sinking ship, with Christians as those who have discovered the leak and are morally obligated to warn others, even as the rest of the passengers are distracted by the pleasures of the "party rooms" and "gambling rooms." Another vivid metaphor likens the church to people standing outside a burning house, having been rescued themselves, and hearing the cries of those still inside—emphasizing the urgency of running back in to save others. The sermon also recounts the story of Jose Luis Solano, a Pan-American Games gold medalist, who gave away his medals to those who helped him succeed, as a metaphor for presenting one's life's work as a crown to Christ. These illustrations serve to make the abstract concept of evangelistic obligation concrete and emotionally compelling.