Embracing God's Grace: The Urgency of Now

Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, where Paul addresses the Corinthians with a sense of urgency and a call to action. Paul is deeply concerned that the Corinthians are treating God's grace as though it were in vain, empty, and meaningless. He emphasizes that now is the time to act on the grace they have received, to live out their faith genuinely and sincerely. Paul’s message is clear: the grace of God should not be received in vain; it should transform lives and be evident in the way believers love and support one another.

Paul's frustration is palpable as he addresses the false teachers who have infiltrated the church, spreading rumors and causing division. He reminds the Corinthians that the essence of their faith is not in who plants or waters, but in the truth of the Word and the unity of the body of Christ. He uses the analogy of a quilt to illustrate how the Holy Spirit stitches together the diverse experiences and lives of believers into a beautiful, unified whole.

The concept of "now" is central to Paul's message. He challenges the Corinthians to understand that "now" is the moment to act, to love, to serve, and to live out their faith. Procrastination and delay are the enemies of spiritual growth and effective ministry. Paul’s rapid-fire list of hardships and virtues in verses 3-10 underscores the resilience and commitment required to live a life that glorifies God, regardless of circumstances.

Paul concludes by urging the Corinthians to open their hearts wide, to love sincerely, and to remove any stumbling blocks that might hinder others from coming to Christ. He calls them to be genuine representatives of God's love and grace, emphasizing that the time to act is now, not later.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Urgency of Now: Paul stresses the importance of acting on God's grace immediately. The concept of "now" is not just a moment in time but a call to action. Delaying our response to God's call can lead to missed opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry. We must seize the moment and live out our faith actively and urgently. [05:11]

2. Unity in Diversity: The analogy of a quilt illustrates how the Holy Spirit weaves together the diverse experiences and lives of believers into a unified whole. Each patch represents a different part of our lives, and the stitching symbolizes the Holy Spirit's work in unifying us. This unity is essential for the body of Christ to function effectively. [24:32]

3. Removing Stumbling Blocks: Paul warns against placing stumbling blocks in the way of others. These can be in the form of judgment, exclusion, or any barriers that prevent people from experiencing God's love. As believers, we must ensure that our actions and attitudes do not hinder others from coming to Christ. [17:59]

4. Living Out Sincere Love: Genuine love is the hallmark of a true believer. Paul emphasizes that our faith should be evident in the way we love and support one another. This sincere love is what makes our witness effective and our ministry credible. Without it, our faith is empty and in vain. [28:18]

5. Endurance Through Hardships: Paul lists various hardships and virtues to highlight the resilience required to live a life that glorifies God. Despite challenges, believers are called to endure with patience, purity, and sincere love. This endurance is a testament to the transformative power of God's grace in our lives. [11:50]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[02:09] - Upcoming Events and Announcements
[03:34] - Background on 2 Corinthians
[05:11] - The Urgency of Now
[07:01] - Living Out God's Grace
[08:49] - The Meaning of "Now"
[10:14] - The Importance of Immediate Action
[11:50] - Endurance Through Hardships
[13:29] - Spiritual Richness
[14:50] - Being God's Representatives
[17:08] - Removing Stumbling Blocks
[19:31] - Personal Testimony
[21:21] - The Quilt Analogy
[24:32] - The Holy Spirit's Work
[27:03] - Opening Wide Our Hearts
[31:50] - Final Call to Action

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he urges the Corinthians not to receive God's grace in vain? ([05:11])
2. How does Paul describe the hardships he and his companions have endured in their ministry? ([11:50])
3. What analogy does Paul use to illustrate the unity of believers, and what does it signify? ([24:32])
4. What specific actions does Paul suggest to remove stumbling blocks from others' paths? ([17:59])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the urgency of "now" in his message to the Corinthians? How does this urgency relate to their spiritual growth and ministry? ([05:11])
2. How does the analogy of a quilt help us understand the role of the Holy Spirit in the unity of the church? ([24:32])
3. What are some modern-day stumbling blocks that might prevent people from coming to Christ, and how can we address them? ([17:59])
4. How does Paul’s list of hardships and virtues in verses 3-10 serve as a testament to the transformative power of God's grace? ([11:50])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the urgency to act on something important. How can you apply that same urgency to your spiritual life and ministry? ([05:11])
2. Think about the diverse experiences and backgrounds in your small group. How can you contribute to the unity of the group, much like the patches in a quilt? ([24:32])
3. Identify a potential stumbling block you might be placing in someone else's path, whether intentionally or unintentionally. What steps can you take to remove it? ([17:59])
4. Genuine love is essential for effective ministry. What are some practical ways you can show sincere love to those in your church and community this week? ([28:18])
5. Enduring hardships is part of the Christian journey. Share a recent challenge you faced and how you relied on God's grace to overcome it. How can this experience encourage others in your group? ([11:50])
6. Paul calls us to open our hearts wide and love sincerely. Is there someone in your life you need to reconcile with or show more love to? What steps will you take to do this? ([28:18])
7. How can you be a genuine representative of God's love and grace in your daily interactions? Identify one specific action you will take this week to reflect Christ's love to others. ([13:29])

Devotional

Day 1: The Urgency of Now
Paul's message to the Corinthians emphasizes the critical importance of acting on God's grace immediately. He warns against treating God's grace as though it were in vain, urging believers to live out their faith genuinely and sincerely. The concept of "now" is not just a moment in time but a call to action. Delaying our response to God's call can lead to missed opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry. We must seize the moment and live out our faith actively and urgently. [05:11]

2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV): "For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to respond to God's call in your life? How can you ensure that you do not delay in acting on this prompting?

Day 2: Unity in Diversity
Paul uses the analogy of a quilt to illustrate how the Holy Spirit weaves together the diverse experiences and lives of believers into a unified whole. Each patch represents a different part of our lives, and the stitching symbolizes the Holy Spirit's work in unifying us. This unity is essential for the body of Christ to function effectively. The diversity within the church is not a weakness but a strength, as it reflects the multifaceted nature of God's creation and His work in our lives. [24:32]

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."

Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity of your church community today? What specific actions can you take to embrace and celebrate the diversity within the body of Christ?

Day 3: Removing Stumbling Blocks
Paul warns against placing stumbling blocks in the way of others. These can be in the form of judgment, exclusion, or any barriers that prevent people from experiencing God's love. As believers, we must ensure that our actions and attitudes do not hinder others from coming to Christ. It is crucial to reflect on how our behavior and words impact those around us and to strive to be conduits of God's grace and love. [17:59]

Romans 14:13 (ESV): "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother."

Reflection: Is there a specific attitude or behavior in your life that might be a stumbling block to others? How can you change this to better reflect God's love and grace?

Day 4: Living Out Sincere Love
Genuine love is the hallmark of a true believer. Paul emphasizes that our faith should be evident in the way we love and support one another. This sincere love is what makes our witness effective and our ministry credible. Without it, our faith is empty and in vain. True love is not just about words but is demonstrated through actions that reflect the love of Christ. [28:18]

1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: Think of a specific person in your life who needs to experience God's love through you. What practical steps can you take today to show them sincere love and support?

Day 5: Endurance Through Hardships
Paul lists various hardships and virtues to highlight the resilience required to live a life that glorifies God. Despite challenges, believers are called to endure with patience, purity, and sincere love. This endurance is a testament to the transformative power of God's grace in our lives. The trials we face are opportunities to demonstrate our faith and reliance on God's strength. [11:50]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: What is a current hardship you are facing? How can you rely on God's grace to endure this trial with patience and faith, allowing it to strengthen your walk with Him?

Quotes

1. "See, loving one another and supporting one another and not throwing down stumbling blocks in front of one another, that is the fruitfulness of Christianity, of believing in Christ, of being saved. That is what he's wanting. He says, now is the time. You can't wait." [07:01] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Because there are people who are dying now who don't know the Lord, don't know him. And we have got to start working. We cannot let the Lord die in vain or emptiness because we have not shared his grace with other people. Because, well, we didn't get around to it. Or it was uncomfortable." [10:14] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Sorrowful yet rejoicing, poor yet making many rich. This is not a financial richness. This is a spiritual richness. This is a spiritual wealth. This is giving people the knowledge of Christ, saving grace, eternal life. We are making people wealthy, making them rich, having nothing and yet possessing everything." [11:50] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You and I are God's picked representatives to humanity. We are God's, when we say to the Lord, come into my life, send your spirit, change me, take away my sins, give me your grace, we then say, I have decided. You kind of sign on the line. It's just kind of like a little contract that you're saying, I will be your spokesperson. I will be your representative to the world." [13:29] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We don't say, this story about Jesus is only for these people. It is for everyone, and I can't express that if I don't love, if I don't have sincere love. I cannot share that with people. And that is exactly what Paul is telling them. And he says, you know what? I'm not putting stumbling blocks in front of you. We're not doing that." [17:08] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Serve where we can serve. He doesn't ask every single one of us to preach a sermon or to lead us in prayer or to do something, go out and cross the seas or walk on water, but he asks you to do what's within your ability with his strength to do, and we do it." [20:58] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The Holy Spirit is there the whole time. In the hard times, the good times, the fun times, the times that we just can't figure out on our own. The Holy Spirit is there intertwined in all of us making a beautiful story. Stitching all of the pieces of all of our lives together." [24:32] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "See, God's word comes knit together in different ways and he says, listen, it doesn't matter what situation you're having. Be a spokesperson for the Lord in sincerity. Don't let his death be in vain. Do not let the gospel of Christ be empty simply because we can't find now. We need to know now." [27:03] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "If we are not opening wide our hearts to the people around, we close ourselves off from growing in numbers and in strength and in faith. See, I learned so much about life when I'm able to sit down with other people and hear their stories and hear what the Lord has done for them." [28:46] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "My thing to you today is if you've tried to decide whether or not you really want to follow the Lord or you really want to take your relationship to the next step, it says don't play. Don't play. And don't think that by any means, because I am too old to just decide that I'm going to teach teenagers tomorrow or that I'm going to go back and teach preschool." [32:41] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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