Examining Faith: Embracing Correction and Unity in Christ

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1. "Paul loved the Corinthians, and for a year and a half, Paul spent time there as a tent maker with Aquila and Priscilla, teaching and preaching, but it was a tough, tough go. They were a tough group, and so thus we get these two letters, the most that we see of any correspondence to any church in the New Testament, about issues within the church from the Apostle Paul, 1st and 2nd Corinthians, and through his visits and letters, Paul has continually tried to help the church become what God wanted it to be, tried to help the people become what God had intended them to be, a united faith." [37:20] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "Isn't that often our first move, when somebody comes to give a correction, even a correction in love, as Paul has done over and over? Isn't it often our first move to kind of go, hey, what gives you the right? Well, who are you to say? Well, that's pretty judgmental, even. We'll turn it back on them. We question a person's motive and authority. Instead of listening and humbling and receiving the critique or looking at it and saying, what's right about that? Where in my heart, where do I need a heart change?" [38:21] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "Paul says to those who are divisive and questioning his authority, questioning his corrections, he says, he says, examine yourselves to see whether you're in the faith. Isn't that interesting? Whoa. Like, test yourself. This is a really harsh word. I mean, a really strong word of discipline. Remember, he's lived with them. He's visited them. He's written letters. And things aren't changing. So it comes to this. Paul says to them, hey, heart check. Are you really a believer? Are you really, truly a follower of Jesus Christ? Are you? Are you in the faith or not? Ouch. Wow." [43:04] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "To confirm your calling is to live out your faith daily. Enjoy. To live a life focused on the Savior Jesus. It is to come under Jesus' rule and reign, to trust him, and to welcome the Holy Spirit's power into your life, even the spirit that God gives of correction and discipline at times. This is Paul's desire that every word and action let all your words and deeds each Christian that it would point to Jesus. And you see, when we live in this way, we continually confirm our calling and election." [48:14] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "To test one's faith is to see if you're in the faith, if you're saved, just ask do I know that I'm a sinner? Do I believe that Jesus died from my sins? Is Jesus my refuge and strength? Do I daily need to die to myself and allow the spirit to guide and fill me? Am I open to the correction for the sake of growing closer to Jesus and living deeper into his will for my life? If the answer to those questions is yes, you're saved. Amen? You're held in God's promises. He will never let you go." [53:31] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "We have to be led by the Spirit. Open to correction. Seeking the Lord. He is so good. We have so much to give. No one will do Jesus but the church. Nobody is going to bring Jesus to the world. The creator of the world. The salvation and hope and life. Abundant and eternal. No one will do it but the church. Amen? This is urgent and powerful. This is our time and the world is spinning out of control. And the devil isn't reacting. Relaxing. And now is our time to forgive and love and pray and worship and reach out. Empowered by the Spirit to share Jesus." [01:04:52] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "Paul will say it like this in Ephesians 4.1. He says, walk in a manner worthy of your calling. Live it out. You're saved. Go and shine the light of Jesus Christ in this dark world. Actively seek to confirm your faith to God, to the world, and to yourself for His kingdom's sake. Now, maybe you've come here today and you're just dipping your toe in the water, kind of unsure of the church, of Jesus, of who God is, or if there is a God, and if there is, if He's for you or against you. Maybe you're here seeking and questioning and uncertain if you are loved or saved." [01:00:04] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "Jesus is in you. Jesus is in us. And he wants to live through you and me together to bring hope and truth and life into a dying world. Peter and Paul are crying out to the church, confirm your calling and election every day. Live out your faith. The time is now. It is urgent. And it doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming." [01:02:17] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "We come because we know we're broken. So that we can become who God wants us to be. For one another and for the hurting world. Paul's words are a bit harsh in 2 Corinthians. But it's because Paul understands the urgent, desperate situation that he's in and that we are in. The world needs Jesus. Amen? And the church must be healthy. If we're going to be as effective and impactful in saving the lost and transforming lives for Jesus' sake." [42:25] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "We hear those words and we hear them kind of taken and brought out of context. In these beautiful places like weddings. But you know what that word actually is? It's a corrective. Paul is telling them about love in chapter 13 because they're not good at it. They've divided themselves over spiritual gifts and they're arguing and love isn't seen in their community in the way that God desires them. The way that God desires them to live out for one another. These letters are gifts to the church because they address this human condition." [41:36] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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