Embracing Reflection: Finding Identity and Transformation in Christ

Life often pushes us to keep moving, to check off tasks, and to measure our days by what we accomplish. Yet, in the midst of this busyness, we can miss the deeper work God wants to do in us. Sometimes, it takes something as simple as a child stopping to marvel at caterpillars to remind us to slow down, reflect, and truly see what matters. This is not just a lesson for our personal lives, but a spiritual discipline that Paul urges the church in Corinth to embrace. The Corinthians, like us, were shaped by their culture’s values—values that often clashed with the way of Jesus. Their struggles with division, pride, misuse of gifts, and fractured relationships all stemmed from letting the world define them, rather than their new identity in Christ.

Paul’s final words in 2 Corinthians 13 are not a list of actions to fix their problems, but an invitation to self-examination. He calls them to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith,” to test whether Christ is truly alive in them. This is not a call to navel-gazing or self-condemnation, but to honest reflection: Are we abiding in Christ? Is there visible fruit in our lives that points to His presence? Paul’s confidence is not in the Corinthians’ ability to fix themselves, but in God’s transforming power at work within them. Even in the face of their failures, Paul sees God’s grace and reminds them of their true identity—sanctified, called, and loved.

This call to slow down and reflect is not just for the Corinthians, but for us. We, too, are tempted to let our culture define our worth and our priorities. We, too, can be so busy that we avoid the hard work of self-examination. Yet, real change begins when we remember who we are in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal where we are living out of old patterns. God’s invitation is to pause, to invite Him to search our hearts, and to trust that He is not done with us. In that space, we find restoration, renewed identity, and the power to live differently—not by striving, but by abiding.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Slowing Down Reveals What Matters Most In a world obsessed with productivity, it is easy to miss the moments that matter—both with God and with others. Slowing down is not a waste of time; it is a spiritual discipline that allows us to see where God is at work and to invest intentionally in what truly lasts. When we pause, we create space for reflection, gratitude, and deeper connection. [36:48]
• 2. Self-Examination is the Gateway to Restoration Paul’s first step for the Corinthians is not to act, but to examine themselves honestly before God. True restoration—whether in relationships or in our walk with God—begins with a willingness to look inward, to test our motives, and to invite God’s Spirit to reveal what needs to change. This is not about shame, but about opening ourselves to God’s healing and transforming work. [43:12]
• 3. Our Identity in Christ is the Foundation for Change Real transformation does not come from trying harder, but from remembering who we are in Christ. Paul reminds the Corinthians—and us—that we are sanctified, called, and loved, even in the midst of our failures. When we live out of this God-given identity, actions that honor God flow naturally, and we are empowered to resist the pull of cultural values that distort our purpose. [56:56]
• 4. Visible Fruit Flows from Abiding in Jesus Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching that abiding in Him produces visible fruit—words, actions, and attitudes that reflect Christ’s character. The test of our faith is not just what we believe, but what our lives reveal. Regular self-examination helps us discern whether our lives are bearing the fruit of the Spirit or being shaped by other influences. [46:07]
• 5. God’s Grace is Greater Than Our Failures Despite the Corinthians’ many issues, Paul never gives up on them. He sees God’s grace at work, even in their mess, and places his confidence in God’s ability to transform them. This perspective invites us to see ourselves and others through the lens of grace, trusting that God is not finished with us and that His power is greater than the forces that have shaped us.
  
  ** [54:13]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Announcements and Ministry Updates
• [03:10] - The Challenge of Slowing Down
• [06:30] - The Caterpillar Walk: Learning to Pause
• [10:15] - Introducing 2 Corinthians 13
• [13:00] - Corinth’s Cultural Struggles
• [16:20] - Paul’s Hope for Restoration
• [19:05] - The Call to Self-Examination
• [22:00] - Abiding in Christ and Bearing Fruit
• [25:10] - Old Testament Roots of Self-Examination
• [28:00] - Corinth’s Many Problems
• [32:00] - The Root Issue: Culture vs. Kingdom
• [35:30] - Paul’s Confidence in God’s Transforming Power
• [39:00] - Identity in Christ: The Foundation for Change
• [42:00] - Practical Steps for Reflection
• [45:00] - Invitation to Prayer and Next Steps
• [48:00] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 13:5-11 (ESV) — > Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

John 15:4-5 (ESV) — > Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV) — > Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Observation Questions

1. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, what does Paul specifically ask the Corinthians to do, and what is the purpose behind this instruction?
2. According to the sermon, what was the root cause behind the many problems in the Corinthian church? ([39:30])
3. In John 15, what does Jesus say is the result of abiding in Him? How does this connect to Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 13? ([44:53])
4. What Old Testament examples of self-examination were mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to Paul’s instructions? ([46:07])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul focus on self-examination as the first step toward restoration, rather than giving the Corinthians a list of actions to fix their problems? ([43:12])
2. How does the culture of Corinth influence the church’s struggles, and in what ways does Paul challenge them to find their identity in Christ instead? ([39:30])
3. What does it mean for “visible fruit” to flow from abiding in Jesus, and how can someone tell if their life is bearing this kind of fruit? ([44:53])
4. Paul never gives up on the Corinthians despite their failures. What does this reveal about God’s grace and the way we should view ourselves and others? ([54:13])

Application Questions

1. The sermon began with a story about slowing down to notice caterpillars. In your own life, what are the “caterpillars” you tend to rush past? How might intentionally slowing down help you see what matters most? ([36:48])
2. Paul calls us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. When was the last time you honestly reflected on your spiritual life? What did you notice, and what might God be inviting you to see now? ([43:12])
3. Our culture often tells us our worth is based on productivity or achievement. In what ways do you feel pressure to measure your value by what you do, rather than who you are in Christ? ([39:30])
4. Think about a time when you saw “visible fruit” in your life or someone else’s. What practices or habits helped that fruit grow? ([44:53])
5. The sermon emphasized that real change comes from remembering our identity in Christ, not just trying harder. What is one area of your life where you’ve been striving in your own strength? How could you approach it differently by abiding in Jesus? ([56:56])
6. Paul’s confidence was in God’s transforming power, not in the Corinthians’ ability to fix themselves. How does this perspective change the way you view your own failures or the failures of others? ([54:13])
7. The Psalmist prays, “Search me, God, and know my heart.” What would it look like for you to make this your prayer this week? Is there a specific area you want to invite God to examine? ([59:38])