[Practical Application Review – Week 31]
Greetings,
We continue our journey of exploring all 260 chapters of the New Testament, five (5) chapters each week. Let us continue in the book of 2 Corinthians.
Schedule – Week 31:
Please read and/or listen to 2 Corinthians 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Even though reading and listening to the Bible being read is valuable, our primary goal is learning to live the Bible (to the best of our ability).
Consider our Practical Application Review process…
For “every” chapter:
Step 1: Select a passage of interest
Step 2: Identify area of teaching
Step 3: Consider a practical application
Now let us explore an example (of our three-step process) for each of these five chapters…
Text #1: 2 Corinthians 2
Passage: (vv. 1-4)
Teaching: Paul desired not to make his fellow believers in the Church at Corinth sad. Especially since this would be counter-productive later on when he wanted them to make him happy.
Application: Genuine friends are helpful always. In both happy and sad times. Truly it is far more enjoyable to share our better moments with those we care about the most.
Text #2: 2 Corinthians 3
Passage: (vv. 4-6)
Teaching: As God’s people, we are not sufficient without His strength. He even makes us worthy ministers of the New Covenant, through His Spirit, the Giver of Life.
Application: Though my physical strength comes from earthly elements (food), spiritual strength can only be found in God. And I can only really minister to others through His Spirit working in and through me.
Text #3: 2 Corinthians 4
Passage: (vv. 5-6)
Teaching: We are your servants for Jesus’ sake. God has sent light to shine in our dark hearts. Our Lord Jesus has enlightened (revealed to) us with the knowledge of the Glory of God.
Application: The more I pursue Jesus the more I enjoy Father God. I am eternally grateful for the Light of Jesus entering into my heart and life.
Text #4: 2 Corinthians 5
Passage: (vv. 1-8)
Teaching: While on Earth, we live in a physical body. As long as we remain here in it, we are absent from our Lord. Christian believers should embrace the transition from Earth to Heaven (when our Lord is ready for us).
Application: The older I become, the more I long for my face-to-face encounter with Father God and my Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven excites me as the place where I can be fully present without any of the worldly distractions that were left behind.
Text #5: 2 Corinthians 6
Passage: (vv. 14-18)
Teaching: Christians are not to marry non-Christians. Righteousness and iniquity, light and darkness, Christ and Satan, believer and unbeliever, temple and idols … none of these should ever attempt to mix.
Application: I am so fortunate to have married someone with a heart for God. We met and became friends having discussions about the Bible and the Christian faith.
“Under the Shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1),
Shawn Episcopo