This is an exposition of 2 Corinthians 3:1-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 15, 2018.
Intro:
A year ago we began a process. It started as some folks got together for a meal and after dinner began to talk about the church. The talk rightly led to prayer. This group meet again and again for prayer.
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That eventually led to including others in prayer and discussion. Eventually to a survey and the formation of two strategic teams. We are currently studying and strategizing. Our goal is to honor the LORD. “Pastor, I thought our goal was to grow our church?” I sincerely hope that is not our goal. Our goal, the aim of all we do, ought always be to bring glory to our God. Do I want to see us grow? Yes! Do I want to see us reach new people, see them come to Christ, baptize them into the fellowship of our church and disciple them into vibrant Christians? Yes, but that is an unworthy goal. We are to aim for something greater. That the name and the fame of our God would be known throughout the earth. To live and work for the growth of Trinity Baptist Church is too small a thing. We are called to minister the gospel. We are to give our lives for the life-altering truth of the saving work of Christ. That is a work worthy of our souls, our lives, our all. Do we need to study and strategize? Yes. Should we question what we do and how we do it? Of course. But we must use caution as we seek to evaluate and determine our effectiveness. This is a spiritual work, a biblical work therefore we must use biblical standard in evaluating.
From the moment Saul of Tarsus was captured by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, his life had a single focus - Christ, and His kingdom. Saul, the Pharisee and persecutor of the church had because Paul the apostle, and the slave of Christ. It was not an easy life as 2 Corinthians 11:21-29 makes clear. For 18 months he ministered the gospel in Corinth. For a year and a half he labored in that pagan city teaching, caring for, praying for the people of that city. A church was established and he fed their souls with the word of God. He counseled and encouraged them to live the truth of the gospel. Now there were those who viciously attacked his integrity, his character, his teaching and the very thought of his being a spiritual leader. “Why, he’s no apostle. He did not sit at the feet of Jesus. Who does he think he is? He doesn’t even have a letter of recommendation from the Baptist Building in Jerusalem!” It stung. Nothing could hurt him more than to have such things said about him but his greatest concern was not his personal feelings or his reputation but the gospel. Our text this evening is found in the 3rd chapter of 2 Corinthians.
Text: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18
What I think is essential for us to note from this chapter and to keep in mind as we evaluate our ministry is this…
Thesis: In offering a defense of his own ministry the apostle Paul points not to himself but to the glory and wonder of gospel itself!
There are three things to note.
- The validation of gospel ministry is found in the lives it transforms. (3:1-3)
- The sufficiency for gospel ministry comes from God alone. (3:4-6)
- The superiority of gospel ministry is made clear by its greater glory and profound benefits. (3:7-18)
Context: Exodus 34:29-35 - when Moses came down from the mountain and his face shone.
Conclusion:
We have been called to a new covenant ministry.
A ministry that finds its validation in the lives transformed.
A ministry that finds its sufficiency in God alone.
A ministry that is far superior to all others.
May we be found faithful.
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