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2 Corinthians 6: Children of Our Father
How should accepting the Lord’s love affect our actions?
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2 Corinthians 6:1 As we work for the Lord, we beg you to accept his lovingkindness and make him active in your life.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
What do we do when the time is not right?
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Isaiah 40:31 Those who put their trust in the Lord as they work will find strength in him. They will be like eagles, soaring upward when they spread their wings. They will be like the runner who runs the full distance without getting tired. No matter how far they walk, they won’t become exhausted.
49:8 The Lord says, “When the time is right, I will answer. On that day of salvation, I will help you, I will protect you with a new agreement, establishing my people in the land to inherit what has been desolate.
2 Corinthians 6:2 For the Lord said through the prophet Isaiah, “When the time is right, I will answer. On that day of salvation, I will help you.” Now is that time, the day of salvation.
King James
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.
2 Corinthians 6:2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Why is it good to avoid offense in communicating the truth?
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2 Corinthians 6:3 We do our best to avoid offending anyone, never wanting to discredit what the Lord is doing.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.
How can hardships validate a ministry?
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2 Corinthians 6:4 As we patiently endure hardships, persecutions, and calamities, we show that we are God’s true servants.
6:5 We’ve been beaten and imprisoned, victims of angry mobs. We’ve worked to the point of exhaustion, spent sleepless nights, and for days had nothing to eat.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings.
Why might people have found Paul’s spiritual insights difficult to accept?
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2 Corinthians 6:6 With total sincerity, we gave spiritual insights in patience and kindness, by the Holy Spirit showing unconditional love.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned.
What forces oppose the truth? For what reasons?
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2 Corinthians 6:7 By the power of God, we preach the truth in righteousness, a weapon against opposition on the right and the left.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.
Why would Paul be concerned with what others said about him?
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2 Corinthians 6:8 No matter what people say about us, good or bad, we serve the Lord. We may be called deceivers, but we are not. What we teach is absolutely true.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true.
What is the difference between notorious and famous?
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2 Corinthians 6:9 Although we are well known, we are shunned as nobodies. Left to die, we still rise up. We’ve been beaten, but we’re not dead yet.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed.
When might we want to be well-known but not well-liked?
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Luke 6:26 Woe to the politically correct, those who say what people want to hear, for that is what their fathers liked about the false prophets.
2 Corinthians 6:9 Although we are well known, we are shunned as nobodies. Left to die, we still rise up. We’ve been beaten, but we’re not dead yet.
King James
Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
2 Corinthians 6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed.
How can we feel blessed when we don’t have what we want?
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2 Corinthians 6:10 While our hearts ache, we are always rejoicing. In poverty, we are made rich. Having nothing, we are abundantly blessed, having everything in the Lord.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Is it always good to be open and honest? Why or why not?
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2 Corinthians 6:11 Oh, my dear friends at Corinth, we have been completely open and honest.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
Why do we have difficulty loving those who don’t love us?
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2 Corinthians 6:12 You may lack love for us, but we have no lack of love for you.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
How can we encourage maturity in others?
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2 Corinthians 6:13 As if you were my children, I say, “Grow up.”
King James
2 Corinthians 6:13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
In partnering with someone, what are the most crucial beliefs that should be agreed upon?
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2 Corinthians 6:14 Don’t share goals with unbelievers, thinking you have much in common. How can righteousness partner with evil? Can the light coexist with the darkness?
King James
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Under what circumstances can a believer work with an unbeliever? When is that not possible?
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2 Corinthians 6:15 Just as Christ cannot be in agreement with the devil, a believer cannot work with an unbeliever.
King James
2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
If Jesus were scheduled to spend time in our home, how concerned should we be about its appearance?
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Ezekiel 37:27 I will make myself at home with them. Yes, I will be their God, and they will be my people.
2 Corinthians 6:16 What place should idols have in the Temple of God? None, of course. Know that you are God’s temple, one in whom the Holy Spirit lives. As God said through the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, “I will make my home among these people. I will be their God, and they will belong to me.”
King James
Ezekiel 37:27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
How can we avoid filth when we live in an unclean world (6:17)?
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Isaiah 52:11 Get out. Separate yourselves. Don’t even touch what is filthy, but keep yourselves clean as you carry what is holy.
2 Corinthians 6:17 As the prophet Isaiah said, “Get out. Separate yourselves. Don’t even touch what is filthy.” Then he will receive you.
King James
Isaiah 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
For us to become children of God, what are the conditions for adoption (–15, 23; 2 Corinthians 26:18; Ephesians 1:4)?
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Romans 8:14 All those who are guided by the Holy Spirit are God’s children,
8:15 but not as slaves obeying out of fear. You are God’s adopted children, who seek to please him.
8:22 Like a woman in labor, in intense pain about to give birth, we are crying out,
8:23 groaning for his Spirit to bring us forth—adopted children of God whose flesh is free from sin.
2 Corinthians 6:18 For the Lord Almighty says he will be a Father to you, his sons and daughters.
Ephesians 1:4 Even before the creation of Earth and people who sinned, God loved us and had the perfect plan in Christ Jesus for us to become like him, wholly without fault in his eyes.
King James
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
2 Corinthians 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.