How Far Would You Go for the Church?

Devotional

Day 1: Love That Goes the Extra Mile for Others

Paul demonstrates a love for the church that is willing to go beyond comfort, convenience, and even personal cost, pouring himself out for the spiritual growth of others. This kind of love is not transactional or based on what we receive in return, but is rooted in the example of Christ, who gave everything for us. True Christian love means being willing to invest in others, even when it is difficult, inconvenient, or when we feel unappreciated. It is a call to see people not as burdens, but as beloved brothers and sisters, worthy of our time, energy, and sacrifice. [46:15]

2 Corinthians 12:14-15 (ESV)
"Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?"

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you find difficult to love or invest in right now? What is one practical way you can go the extra mile for them this week, even if it costs you time or comfort?

Day 2: Boasting in Weakness, Not in Strength

Paul’s example shows that true spiritual leadership and maturity are not about boasting in our strengths or accomplishments, but in our weaknesses and dependence on God’s grace. The world values self-promotion and outward success, but the way of Christ is humility—recognizing our limitations and allowing God’s power to be made perfect in our weakness. When we are honest about our struggles and failures, we create space for God’s grace to shine and for others to be encouraged in their own journeys. [39:01]

2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (ESV)
"I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works."

Reflection: What is one area of weakness or struggle in your life that you usually try to hide? How might God use your honesty about this area to encourage or strengthen someone else today?

Day 3: Patiently Pursuing the Wayward and Weary

Paul’s heart breaks for those who have wandered from the faith or are struggling in sin, and he refuses to give up on them, returning again and again with love and truth. Instead of cutting people off when they disappoint us or fail to meet our expectations, we are called to patiently pursue, encourage, and restore them, just as God has been patient with us. This kind of perseverance requires humility, compassion, and a willingness to be grieved over the brokenness of others, rather than growing bitter or indifferent. [51:59]

2 Corinthians 12:20-21 (ESV)
"For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced."

Reflection: Is there someone you have given up on or grown impatient with in their spiritual journey? How can you reach out to them this week with renewed patience and encouragement?

Day 4: Sacrificial Living for the Sake of the Kingdom

The call of Christ is not to add Him to our already busy lives, but to be transformed so that our priorities, time, and resources are surrendered for the sake of God’s kingdom. Paul challenges us to consider what we are truly living for—whether our decisions are shaped by comfort and self-interest, or by a willingness to sacrifice for what really matters. The example of Jesus, who gave everything for us, invites us to hold nothing back in our devotion and service to others. [58:16]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Reflection: What is one comfort, habit, or possession you sense God asking you to surrender or reprioritize for the sake of His kingdom? What step can you take today to begin that process?

Day 5: Remembering What Really Matters

In the end, what will matter most is not our achievements, possessions, or comfort, but the legacy of faith, love, and obedience we leave behind. The hours of our lives are limited, and we are called to use them for God’s glory—investing in people, sharing the gospel, and building up the body of Christ. Let us not waste our days on what is fleeting, but live with eternity in view, seeking first the kingdom of God and trusting Him with the rest. [59:29]

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Reflection: If you knew you only had a short time left, what would you want your legacy to be? What is one change you can make today to align your life more closely with what really matters for eternity?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we gathered to reflect on the depth of love and commitment that God calls us to have for one another within the body of Christ. Drawing from Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:11-21, we considered what it means to truly pour ourselves out for others, not just when it’s easy or convenient, but especially when it’s hard—when people are difficult, ungrateful, or even critical. Paul’s example is striking: despite being misunderstood, criticized, and even rejected by the very people he served, he kept coming back, willing to give everything he had, even to the point of exhaustion, for their spiritual growth.

We are reminded that the Christian life is not about self-preservation or comfort, but about sacrificial love. Paul’s willingness to “spend and be spent” for the Corinthians challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we willing to go the extra mile for those who frustrate us, or do we cut people off when they don’t meet our expectations? Our culture often tells us to prioritize our own needs and to avoid those who drain us, but the gospel calls us to a different standard—a love that mirrors the patience and persistence of Christ himself.

Paul’s heart was not for recognition or material gain, but for the people themselves. He was grieved not by inconvenience, but by the spiritual stagnation and sin of those he loved. His deepest desire was to see the church grow in maturity, to see lives transformed by the grace of God. This is a call for us to remember those who have poured into our own lives, and to take up the responsibility of investing in others, even when it costs us time, comfort, or reputation.

Ultimately, we are challenged to consider what really matters in life. When all is said and done, will we be remembered for our comfort and self-interest, or for the way we loved and served others for the sake of Christ? Jesus went all the way to the cross for us—how far are we willing to go for one another? The kingdom of God advances not through convenience, but through the faithful, sacrificial love of ordinary people who are willing to put the needs of others above their own.

Key Takeaways

1. Sacrificial Love Over Comfort: True Christian love is not measured by what we give when it’s easy, but by what we’re willing to give when it’s hard. Paul’s willingness to “spend and be spent” for the Corinthians, even after repeated rejection, calls us to examine whether we are willing to love others at personal cost, especially those who are difficult or ungrateful. [46:56]
2. Remembering Those Who Poured Into Us: It’s easy to forget the many people God used to shape our faith—mentors, teachers, friends—who invested in us when we were immature or struggling. We are called not just to receive, but to become those who pour into others, carrying forward the legacy of grace and patience we have received. [36:24]
3. The Temptation to Cut People Off: Our culture encourages us to distance ourselves from those who are inconvenient or slow to change, but the gospel calls us to persistent, patient engagement. Paul’s example challenges us to resist the urge to “cut people out” and instead to keep showing up, even when progress is slow or unseen. [42:21]
4. Grief Over Sin, Not Anger: Paul’s response to the sin and immaturity of the Corinthians was not anger or frustration, but deep grief and humility. This models a heart that is broken for the spiritual well-being of others, rather than self-righteous or judgmental—a posture that seeks restoration, not condemnation. [51:59]
5. What Really Matters in the End: At the end of our lives, what will matter most is not our comfort, achievements, or possessions, but the ways we have loved and served others for Christ’s sake. The call is to live with eternity in view, investing our limited time and resources in what will last—people and the kingdom of God. [59:29]
** [59:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:10] - Baptism Invitation
[33:37] - The Gospel of Grace
[33:54] - Opening Prayer
[34:32] - Wrestling with a Challenging Text
[34:50] - How Far Would You Go for Others?
[35:47] - Remembering Those Who Poured Into Us
[36:45] - The “Hog Trough” Mentality
[37:07] - Paul’s Mock Apology and Boasting
[38:52] - False Teachers and True Apostleship
[40:34] - The Depth of Paul’s Love
[41:09] - Patience with Immature Believers
[42:21] - The Temptation to Cut People Off
[43:52] - Paul’s Willingness to Be Spent
[46:15] - Concern for the Wayward
[48:16] - Loving the Difficult People
[51:59] - Grief Over Sin, Not Anger
[53:20] - What Are We Willing to Give?
[56:07] - Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
[59:29] - What Really Matters?
[61:05] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 12:11-21 (ESV) —
> 11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
> 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
> 13 For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
> 14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
> 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
> 16 But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit.
> 17 Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?
> 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
> 19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
> 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
> 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Observation Questions

According to Paul in verse 15, what is he willing to do for the Corinthians, and how does he describe his attitude toward this sacrifice?
What kinds of behaviors and attitudes does Paul fear he will find in the Corinthian church when he visits again? (see verses 20-21)
In the sermon, what examples were given of how Paul was treated by the Corinthians, and how did he respond to their criticism and rejection? [[38:08]]
What is the difference between the way Paul “boasts” and the way the false teachers boast, according to the sermon? [[38:52]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul say he is willing to “spend and be spent” for the Corinthians, even after being misunderstood or rejected by them? What does this reveal about his understanding of Christian love? [[46:56]]
The sermon mentions that Paul’s grief over the Corinthians’ sin was not rooted in anger but in a broken heart. Why is this distinction important for how we respond to the failures of others in the church? [[51:59]]
The culture around us often encourages us to cut off people who are difficult or draining. How does Paul’s example challenge this mindset? [[42:21]]
The sermon talks about remembering those who poured into our lives when we were immature or struggling. Why is it important to both remember and imitate this kind of investment in others? [[36:24]]

Application Questions

Paul was willing to keep loving and serving the Corinthians even when they were ungrateful or critical. Is there someone in your life right now who is difficult to love or serve? What would it look like to “spend and be spent” for them this week? [[46:56]]
The sermon challenges us to resist the temptation to “cut people off” when they don’t meet our expectations. Can you think of a time when you were tempted to give up on someone? What might it look like to persist in love instead? [[42:21]]
Paul’s grief over sin was motivated by a desire for restoration, not condemnation. When you see someone struggling or failing, is your first response frustration, anger, or grief? How can you cultivate a heart that seeks restoration? [[51:59]]
The sermon asks us to remember those who invested in us spiritually. Who are one or two people who poured into your faith journey? Have you ever thanked them or considered how you might “pay it forward” by investing in someone else? [[36:24]]
Our culture values comfort and self-preservation, but Paul and Jesus both modeled sacrificial love. What is one area of your life where you tend to prioritize your own comfort over serving others? What is one step you could take to change that this month? [[46:56]]
The sermon asks, “What really matters in the end?” If someone looked at your life right now, what would they say you value most? Is there anything you want to change so that your life reflects a greater love for others and for God’s kingdom? [[59:29]]
Paul’s willingness to go back to the Corinthians again and again shows incredible patience. Is there a relationship or ministry where you feel weary or discouraged? What encouragement can you draw from Paul’s example to keep going? [[43:52]]

Sermon Clips

It's not just how far would you go to share the good news of Jesus Christ with somebody, it's also how far would you go to encourage a brother or sister in Christ who seems to be going wayward. How far would you go? [00:34:50] (18 seconds) #GoTheExtraMileForFaith

I think sometimes our own selfish desires to dismiss sin and to say it's okay can keep us from pouring into others. I think sometimes our desire to share the gospel or to help others comes from a place of obligation versus a desire out of love. [00:35:09] (20 seconds) #LoveNotObligation

How often in our lives do you get fed up with someone? And what I mean by that is fed up with someone like, not like a family member, which you just can't stand. I'm talking about fed up in the sense that you've been pouring into this person and pouring into this person and pouring into this person for days and weeks and months and maybe years and maybe a decade or more. And yet they still are not acting mature in their faith. [00:40:54] (31 seconds) #EndlessFaithInvestment

Paul was not concerned with their possessions, he says. He wasn't concerned with what he could get from them. What does it say that he was concerned with? He was concerned with the people of Corinth. His concern were those people that had at one time accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and were going wayward. That was his concern. That was his passion. That's why he was going back a third time. [00:46:04] (31 seconds) #PeopleOverPossessions

If you've ever been competing or lifting weights or doing something where you're pushing so hard that your body is at a place where it actually begins to fail... I think that's a great illustration of what Paul is talking about. He's willing to expend himself to a point where he can't go any further. And not like, I'm tired, woe is me. He's exhausted. He just can't do it. He's willing to give everything he has, including everything that he is, for these people. And it comes from a place of love. [00:47:23] (75 seconds) #AllInForChrist

Paul's concern is, when I get back, I'm not going to find you the way that I left you. I'm going to find you involved with all these things. And then he says, and God will humble me. What's the humbling? The humbling is the breaking for what these people who Paul preached into and spoke into have fallen away. And I will be grieved over all those who are living in sin and refuse to repent. Paul wasn't mad at their lifestyles. He wasn't mad that they continued in their sin. His heart was broken. His passion was for the church. [00:52:12] (45 seconds) #ReconcileTheBroken

I know how far Jesus went for me. He went all the way. I know that it should have been me on that cross that day, but it wasn't. Instead, my innocent Savior crawled upon the cross that was intended for me and my sins. And I wonder sometimes if we've forgotten that. [00:56:16] (26 seconds) #HeartBrokenForSin

I wonder how patient God is with you with your sins and how patient God is with your sins. How unpatient we are with others. I want to challenge you this morning to consider the heart of Paul and his laser-focused commitment and dedication for the body of believers, no matter what the consequences. [00:57:06] (28 seconds) #RememberJesusSacrifice

If you got to a place in life where you had only a certain amount of hours yet left, what would you do? Because that's the truth of where we are this morning. Each of us only have a certain number of hours left. What will you do with that? [00:58:01] (18 seconds) #PatienceWithOthers

This is how the world has changed, through men and women who are faithful and willing to go forth and proclaim the good news when it's not convenient. Men and women who make decisions not predicated on what's best for them, but what's best for the kingdom. Men and women who are less content and less concerned about their own desires and their own comforts and their own flesh and more concerned with what does God want me to do in this space? [01:00:36] (27 seconds) #LiveWithPurpose

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