Bible Study - May 22nd
May 22nd, 2005
2 Corinthians 13: 1-13 - (The Message - Eugene Peterson)
"Put Things in Order"
He's Alive Now! 1Well, this is my third visit coming up. Remember the Scripture that says, "A matter becomes clear after two or three witnesses give evidence"? 2On my second visit I warned that bunch that keeps sinning over and over in the same old ways that when I came back I wouldn't go easy on them. Now, preparing for the third, I'm saying it again from a distance. If you haven't changed your ways by the time I get there, look out. 3You who have been demanding proof that Christ speaks through me will get more than you bargained for. You'll get the full force of Christ, don't think you won't. 4He was sheer weakness and humiliation when he was killed on the Cross, but oh, he's alive now--in the mighty power of God! We weren't much to look at, either, when we were humiliated among you, but when we deal with you this next time, we'll be alive in Christ, strengthened by God.
5Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. 6I hope the test won't show that we have failed. 7But if it comes to that, we'd rather the test showed our failure than yours. 8We're rooting for the truth to win out in you. 9We couldn't possibly do otherwise.
We don't just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives.
10I'm writing this to you now so that when I come I won't have to say another word on the subject. The authority the Master gave me is for putting people together, not taking them apart. I want to get on with it, and not have to spend time on reprimands. 11And that's about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure. 12Greet one another with a holy embrace. 13All the brothers and sisters here say hello.
According to some interpretations, Paul was (in Methodist terms) the first "district superintendent."
He started churches and then he moved on to start others ... but he kept in touch with those he left behind. Corinth was one of those. And things were getting out of control. And so Paul writes several letters. Two of which are part of the New Testament.
Paul admonishes the Corinthian church to live up to it's best principles and not to degenerate into strife, anger, envy, factions, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
In other words, Paul says "Shape Up!"
Paul's letter is a warning and a wish for things to improve and the hope that they will listen to his words - for no church can worship God in a spirit of bitterness.
But mostly, he wants them to "put things in order" or to "keep things in good repair."
Have you ever had an experience like this? Where your boss was away and suddenly came back to find things falling apart. Or maybe you were the boss? What happened? Can that happen in the church or in any organization? Why do we seem to need some outside authority in our lives - whether it be the District Superintendent or some other boss ... to keep things in line? How much authority should this person have? And, can the outside authority misuse their authority? And, what is the importance of authority in the Church? How much authority does the Pope have, for instance, or the Bishop, or the minister, or the lay people? Who, in the end, gets to speak for God and say "It's time to shape up?"
Lastly, who is the authority in your own life? Have you yourself (or God) or a parent or friend ever had to say to yourself "I better shape up?" What does that mean? Why does God want us to keep our spiritual life in "good repair?"
2 Corinthians 13: 1-13 - (The Message - Eugene Peterson)
"Put Things in Order"
He's Alive Now! 1Well, this is my third visit coming up. Remember the Scripture that says, "A matter becomes clear after two or three witnesses give evidence"? 2On my second visit I warned that bunch that keeps sinning over and over in the same old ways that when I came back I wouldn't go easy on them. Now, preparing for the third, I'm saying it again from a distance. If you haven't changed your ways by the time I get there, look out. 3You who have been demanding proof that Christ speaks through me will get more than you bargained for. You'll get the full force of Christ, don't think you won't. 4He was sheer weakness and humiliation when he was killed on the Cross, but oh, he's alive now--in the mighty power of God! We weren't much to look at, either, when we were humiliated among you, but when we deal with you this next time, we'll be alive in Christ, strengthened by God.
5Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. 6I hope the test won't show that we have failed. 7But if it comes to that, we'd rather the test showed our failure than yours. 8We're rooting for the truth to win out in you. 9We couldn't possibly do otherwise.
We don't just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives.
10I'm writing this to you now so that when I come I won't have to say another word on the subject. The authority the Master gave me is for putting people together, not taking them apart. I want to get on with it, and not have to spend time on reprimands. 11And that's about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure. 12Greet one another with a holy embrace. 13All the brothers and sisters here say hello.
According to some interpretations, Paul was (in Methodist terms) the first "district superintendent."
He started churches and then he moved on to start others ... but he kept in touch with those he left behind. Corinth was one of those. And things were getting out of control. And so Paul writes several letters. Two of which are part of the New Testament.
Paul admonishes the Corinthian church to live up to it's best principles and not to degenerate into strife, anger, envy, factions, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
In other words, Paul says "Shape Up!"
Paul's letter is a warning and a wish for things to improve and the hope that they will listen to his words - for no church can worship God in a spirit of bitterness.
But mostly, he wants them to "put things in order" or to "keep things in good repair."
Have you ever had an experience like this? Where your boss was away and suddenly came back to find things falling apart. Or maybe you were the boss? What happened? Can that happen in the church or in any organization? Why do we seem to need some outside authority in our lives - whether it be the District Superintendent or some other boss ... to keep things in line? How much authority should this person have? And, can the outside authority misuse their authority? And, what is the importance of authority in the Church? How much authority does the Pope have, for instance, or the Bishop, or the minister, or the lay people? Who, in the end, gets to speak for God and say "It's time to shape up?"
Lastly, who is the authority in your own life? Have you yourself (or God) or a parent or friend ever had to say to yourself "I better shape up?" What does that mean? Why does God want us to keep our spiritual life in "good repair?"
posted by Anonymous at 11:09 AM
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