Boasting in Weakness: The Power of Christ

In gathering as God’s people, we are reminded of the grace that defines our identity—not as those who have it all together, but as those who have been rescued and sustained by Christ. The world is full of messages that tempt us to boast in ourselves, our achievements, or even our hardships, but the true gospel calls us to something radically different. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11 challenge us to recognize the subtle fraud of self-promotion and the allure of false teaching that draws us away from the sufficiency of Christ.

Paul’s opponents in Corinth boasted in their credentials, eloquence, and spiritual pedigree, seeking to impress and enslave the church with a message that was not the gospel. In contrast, Paul “boasts” in his weakness, recounting the many trials, persecutions, and sufferings he endured—not to glorify himself, but to point to the faithfulness of God who delivered and sustained him through every hardship. His life is a testimony that God’s power is made perfect in weakness, and that our greatest boast is not in what we have accomplished or survived, but in Christ crucified and risen.

This perspective is deeply countercultural. When difficulties arise, our instinct is often to withdraw from worship, community, and service, focusing on our own ability to solve problems. Yet, Paul’s example urges us to do the opposite: to lean into God’s presence, to trust in His deliverance, and to let our stories of struggle become testimonies of His sustaining grace. Whether we are tempted to boast in our strengths or wallow in our hardships, the call is the same—to make much of Christ, who has delivered us, sustained us, and will do so again.

As we reflect on our own lives, we are invited to consider: Has God delivered us? Has He sustained us through seasons of fear, failure, and uncertainty? If so, our response is not self-congratulation or self-pity, but humble boasting in the cross of Christ. In every weakness, every trial, and every victory, may our lives point to the One who is faithful, and may our boasting be in Him alone.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Danger of Fraudulent Gospels False teaching often masquerades as wisdom, appealing to our desire for self-importance or comfort. These messages, whether they promise prosperity or elevate human credentials, ultimately enslave and exploit, drawing us away from the true gospel. Discernment is needed to recognize when a message is subtly shifting our focus from Christ to ourselves or to human leaders. [36:40]
• 2. Boasting in Weakness, Not in Self Paul’s “boasting” is a deliberate subversion of worldly values. Instead of highlighting his strengths or achievements, he recounts his sufferings and weaknesses to magnify God’s faithfulness. This challenges us to see our own hardships not as liabilities, but as opportunities to display the sustaining power of Christ. [45:55]
• 3. God’s Faithfulness Through Every Trial Paul’s long list of trials—imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, hunger—serves as a testimony that God delivers and sustains His people, not by removing suffering, but by being present in it. Our confidence is not in our ability to avoid hardship, but in God’s proven track record of faithfulness in every circumstance. [51:14]
• 4. The Subtle Temptation to Self-Reliance When faced with challenges, our first instinct is often to withdraw from spiritual practices and try to solve problems on our own. This is a form of false teaching we preach to ourselves, subtly shifting our trust from God to self. True faith leans into God’s presence and provision, especially in times of need. [58:54]
• 5. The Only Legitimate Boast: Christ Crucified Whether tempted to boast in our strengths or our struggles, the gospel calls us to boast only in Christ and His work on the cross. Our stories—of deliverance, sustenance, and even failure—are meant to point others to the sufficiency of Jesus, not to our own abilities or endurance. [52:42]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [31:20] - Church Announcements & Upcoming Events
• [33:33] - Gathering in Grace and the Gospel
• [34:16] - Opening Prayer
• [34:52] - Series Introduction: The Battle of the Faithful Christian
• [35:16] - The Problem of Fraud and False Teaching
• [36:40] - The Allure of Worldly Boasting
• [38:52] - Paul’s Sarcasm and the Folly of Credentials
• [41:34] - The Enslaving Nature of False Messages
• [42:59] - Paul’s “Boasting” and His Pedigree
• [44:49] - Paul’s Sufferings and Weaknesses
• [49:53] - Boasting in Weakness, Not in Self
• [51:14] - God’s Deliverance and Sustaining Grace
• [55:41] - Paul’s Escape from Damascus: An Example of God’s Deliverance
• [58:34] - Our Response to Trials: Trust or Self-Reliance?
• [62:02] - Application: Has God Delivered and Sustained You?
• [64:56] - The Power of Weakness and the Call to Boast in Christ
• [65:31] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 11:16-33 (ESV) — 16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool.
18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves!
20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.
21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;
26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;
27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me,
33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

Observation Questions

1. What kinds of things were Paul’s opponents in Corinth boasting about, and how did Paul respond to their boasting? ([39:33])
2. List some of the hardships and sufferings Paul describes in this passage. What stands out to you about the way he talks about them? ([45:12])
3. According to Paul, what is the difference between boasting in oneself and boasting in weakness? ([45:55])
4. How does Paul describe God’s role in his life through all his trials and difficulties? ([51:14])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul chooses to “boast” in his weaknesses and sufferings instead of his strengths or accomplishments? What message is he trying to send to the church? ([45:55])
2. The sermon mentions that false teaching often appeals to our desire for self-importance or comfort. Why is this kind of message so attractive, and how does it differ from the true gospel? ([36:40])
3. When Paul recounts his many trials, he says that God delivered and sustained him every time. What does this teach us about God’s faithfulness, especially in the midst of suffering? ([51:14])
4. The pastor said that our first instinct in hard times is often to withdraw from worship, community, and service. Why do you think we do this, and what does Paul’s example suggest we should do instead? ([58:54])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to consider whether we are tempted to boast in our strengths, our achievements, or even our hardships. In what areas of your life are you most tempted to “boast” or seek recognition? How can you shift your focus to boasting in Christ instead? ([52:42])
2. Think about a recent difficulty or trial you have faced. Did you find yourself withdrawing from spiritual practices or community, or did you lean into God’s presence? What would it look like to trust God’s deliverance and sustaining grace in that situation? ([58:54])
3. The pastor shared a story about trying to solve a church financial problem on his own before remembering to trust God. Can you recall a time when you tried to fix a problem by your own strength instead of relying on God? What might you do differently next time? ([59:44])
4. Paul’s list of sufferings is long and intense, yet he uses them to point to God’s faithfulness. How might you use your own story of struggle or weakness to encourage someone else or point them to Christ? ([51:14])
5. The sermon warned about the danger of “fraudulent gospels” that shift our focus from Christ to ourselves or to human leaders. Are there messages you hear (in church, online, or elsewhere) that tempt you to trust in yourself or others more than in Jesus? How can you practice discernment in these situations? ([36:40])
6. The pastor said that sometimes we boast in how great we are, and other times we boast in how hard our lives are. Which of these are you more prone to, and how can you practice “humble boasting” in the cross of Christ instead? ([01:04:08])
7. Looking back over your life, can you identify specific ways God has delivered or sustained you through seasons of fear, failure, or uncertainty? How can you make a habit of remembering and sharing these stories as testimonies of God’s faithfulness? ([01:02:22])