Tag Archives: Gospel

Acts 2:34-41 Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Small Group Questions

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Acts 2:34-41

(PRT)

vv. 34-35 For David did not rise again into the heavens, but he himself says: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand at the place of authority and honor, even while I put your enemies under your feet like a footstool.’ v. 36 Therefore, all Israel, you can know with all confidence that God has made this same Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. v. 37 And grasping all of this, the crowds were pierced to the heart and called out to Peter and the rest of the Apostles: “Brothers, what do we have to do?” vv. 38-39 Peter then urged them: “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for your sins’ forgiveness, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For this promise is to you, to your children, and to everyone who is far away, as many as our Lord and God will call.” v. 40 And he warned them with many more words and encouraged them: “Choose to be saved from this warped and deceitful generation!” v. 41  Then those who accepted his words were baptized and around 3000 were added to their number that day.

Study Notes:

vv. 34-35 For David did not rise again into the heavens, but he himself says: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand at the place of authority and honor, even while I put your enemies under your feet like a footstool.’

David didn’t ascend, or rise, into the heavens. In other words, he was buried just like all people.

This refers back to the other Psalm reference and the resurrection. If David, the King most revered, didn’t rise untainted by corruption, who will fulfil this prophecy? Look for the one who rises to the heavens without decay. That would be Jesus.

The main point Peter makes from this verse is that David, though a great King and revered, was not Lord. Rather, the Lord is in the place of authority and honor.

The enemies are those hostile to the Lord’s plans, the adversarial ones in opposition to His will.

He doesn’t take the place of authority and honor after all the hostiles are taken down; He is there now as the Kingdom of God comes in fulness.

During these days, if a conquering king was present, the enemies (or at least the opposing ruler) would kneel and the conqueror would set his foot on the necks of the vanquished. This signified total defeat and allegiance in servitude.

Jesus the King is conquering those at odds with him by His love and grace; and those hostile who never turn are being set in their places. The Kingdom is casting down the works of the enemy.

v. 36 Therefore, all Israel, you can know with all confidence that God has made this same Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Messiah.

Jesus the miracle worker has now sent the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit (Joel), He has conquered death (David’s Psalm) and He sits in the place of authority and honor in the heavens (David’s Psalm). Based on this Biblical account from the OT, the knowledge they have of Jesus walking among them, and the present Holy Spirit, it can only mean one thing: Jesus is Lord and Messiah. And the Father has made this so!

The word for all confidence means a certainty. The word for “can know” is one that means with head and heart.

The Greek phrase means to slip or trip. You can know without a slip or trip that God has done this.

He calls on all Jews to know this since they are the recipients of the prophecies, they can know with confidence that Jesus is Lord and Messiah.

Juxtapose this cold-hearted response to the Messiah with Luke 19:41 when Jesus looks over Jerusalem and weeps for them.

v. 37 And grasping all of this, the crowds were pierced to the heart and called out to Peter and the rest of the Apostles: “Brothers, what do we have to do?”

The verb means “what, in light of all you’ve said and all we have done to Jesus, must we do?” God’s Spirit brings conviction to the heart for repentance and redemption. This is what happens when the Good News is shared with confident passion to people who get it. They get right with God.

The hearers were moved to remorse at their actions and ignorance. Now they knew. And we know that the Holy Spirit is active in making this known.

vv. 38-39 Peter then urged them: “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for your sins’ forgiveness, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For this promise is to you, to your children, and to everyone who is far away, as many as our Lord and God will call.”

If you are uncertain what the crowd meant by “what do we do” Peter makes it clear: acknowledge you are culpable, you’ve failed God and turn from a life that does so. Announce it to the world through baptism, but not like John’s – in the Name. You’ll get the Holy Spirit, you’ll be forgiven, and the promise will be realized in Him.

Peter is speaking to “everyone” and at the same time “each one.” This is a people movement of all, one at a time, who repent, goes to the waters, receives the Spirit.

I can’t see that there is a progression of the order of actions here, since at the end, he asserts that the promise is to whoever God calls. From this, I see acknowledging Jesus as both Lord and Messiah, repentance, and a public declaration all fully together as our response to the Good News;  the Father’s response is forgiveness, relationship with the Father, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Luke has Jesus instructing the disciples to bear witness and call people to repentance so they can be forgiven (Luke 24). Matthew’s account of the Great Commission includes baptism (Mt. 28:19). Even in Peter’s first sermon, the nations are include – “all who are far off”.

All Israel, you know the prophecies and you can connect it all together; but to all the world, the invitation is this: turn away from a life without God to the Savior Jesus, show the world your new allegiance, and be filled with the Spirit of God.

v. 40 And he warned them with many more words and encouraged them: “Choose to be saved from this warped and deceitful generation!”

The word could mean teachings and instead of warn, declare or speak. Warn fits what come right before and right after this word.  What kind of age, season, nation or generation are they in? One that is warped in thinking and perverse in action. This generation was not thinking or talking straight and their actions were deviant and corrupt. What is our response to such? Find the place of safety and be delivered to a secure place.

“Save yourself by being saved” is the intensity; in other words, You have before you how to be saved, choose to be saved.

The age they lived in was heading toward destruction and Jesus stands in the gap.

v. 41  Then those who accepted his words were baptized and around 3000 were added to their number that day.

We always say 3000, but this affirms that they didn’t get an exact count. More or less. It was 3000-ish. Not worth the quibbling, but they had more on their minds than click off the people counter. There were now 3120 (or 3500, if you go by the 500 on the hillside); and they needed to be disciples in the ways of Jesus.

While many say numbers don’t matter – it’s the quality, not the quantity –  Acts shows a different perspective. Both are important. Here is the quantitative; vv. 42-47 is the qualitative. And in the signs and wonders of the Pentecost outpouring and Joel’s passage, we have the corroborative. Numbers, character, and evidence all point to the Gospel’s power.

Were they all baptized that day? There were pools and water features around the city so it could be possible. Not all of the 3000 stayed after the Pentecost feast; but they left saved and  baptized to live for Christ in their home town under the leadership of God’ Promised Spirit.

Small Group Questions:

Acts 2:34-41

  1. Who gives best directions in your family? Or how are you at giving directions?
  2. If you were in the crowd when Peter said v. 36 how you have felt? How does this verse apply to you since you were in Jerusalem calling for Jesus’ crucifixion.
  3. Of the three questions – Who’s in Charge of my life? Where did I go wrong? How do I get back on track? – which is most relevant to your life today? Why?
  4. How can we pray for you tonight?

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Teaching on Fasting

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT) Matthew 6:16-21, 33-34

v. 16 And again, when you fast don’t act out like the hypocrites, all gloomy with faces twisted up in pain so they look like they haven’t eaten for days. In all honesty, they get what they deserve.

vv. 17-18 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so you don’t looking like you’re fasting; but fast to seek your Father without attracting attention, and your Father who sees what is done secretly will restore to you what you seek.

vv. 19-20 Don’t surround yourself with the world’s riches, where it can be consumed by moths or rust or where robbers can break in and steal it. Instead, lay up for yourselves riches in heaven where neither moths nor rust can consume it and where robbers don not break in and steal.

v. 21 For the place your treasure will be is where your heart will be, too.

v. 34 So, before everything else, seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to  you.

v. 35 Don’t be troubled by tomorrow’s concerns for tomorrow will be concerned enough for itself; each day will have concerns enough.

  1. Pure and Simple on Purpose. Life can get complicated, right? And there is a tangible release when we simplify and declutter our lives. Following Jesus is a simple and uncluttered process. And our passage today nudges us toward simplicity, making our values what the Kingdom values and how this practice of fasting pleases the Father and changes our hearts. But life can still be complicated, hurried, busy.
  2. For some of us, we follow Jesus in the midst of a complex and busy life. We invite His presence and nearness, his wisdom, his grace, into the busy-ness. And each time in that busy-ness that we take a moment to love someone or listen or give hope sets our lives apart from the world. And our choice to pace our walk to His tempo stands out in the world. The peace He gives in the midst of the storm, the busyness, becomes the light and becomes salt to those around us.
  3. For some of us, we follow Jesus by making our lives less complex and hurried. We look for ways to regain time with Him, time to listen to Him and be still,  and to respond to his voice by serving others, loving others and giving hope.

Salt and Light is what we are because of Who’s we are.

  • And because we belong to Him and seek Him and follow Him, Jesus scatters us as salt and displays us as light. And it comes naturally because He is present in our lives and we belong to Him.

And in our passage, Jesus encourages us to practice this discipline in order to know Him better and to more effectively be salt and light to our world.

  • Try Fasting. Jesus says,

v. 16 And again, when you fast don’t act out like the hypocrites, all gloomy with faces twisted up in pain so they look like they haven’t eaten for days. In all honesty, they get what they deserve.

vv. 17-18 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so you don’t looking like you’re fasting; but fast to seek your Father without attracting attention, and your Father who sees what is done secretly will restore to you what you seek.

When we fast He restores what we seek, He gives what we need, He opens us up to His gifts and blessings.

What is this practice called fasting? And why is it important for us today?

  • Maybe starting with what it is not might help. Some may go on a hunger strike to seek to bring about political or social change. Others might fast and try to find the divine within. Still others might fast to cleanse their bodies. That’s not what Jesus is talking about.
  • Fasting is focused first on loving and drawing near to Jesus. It’s not mainly to get from God but to give ourselves anew to God. We might ask for God’s provision; but it’s first about God’s will and the values of the Kingdom.
  • And Jesus says twice here – when you fast, when you fast. It’s expected. It’s not commanded here, but he expects that we will. The spiritual value makes it a part of the practice of being Salt and Light in our world.
  • It so valuable, so much a part of the Christian walk that Right before, Jesus talks about “when you pray.” And just before that he teaches on “when you give.” And here he says “when you fast.” So what is fasting all about?
    • Personal fasting – we might fast for a special prayer request, for a friend or family member, or a big choice facing us.
      • Fasting may become a regular part of your devotional life. You fast a day a week for instance. John Wesley asked all who served in the ministry to fast Wednesdays and Fridays.
      • Response to the need to repent. A sin that nags our lives. And we need to live above and past this sin or temptation. And we fast and pray to place this behind us.
      • Urgent need to battle the enemy. We sense that the enemy is attacking our lives, our family. And we fast and pray to attain victory against the tempter or the accuser. Illustration: Jesus at one point cast out an evil spirit, then explained to his disciples how prayer and fasting works to push the darkness out.
      • Need to follow God’s call on your life. He has been speaking about a fresh and renewed call to serve or to go or to lead. And we need to seek the Father’s blessing and wisdom in this pursuit of His calling on our lives.
      • Face an emergency. There is a crisis in our lives that we face and we need to fast and seek God’s provision to avert this danger.
      • Or we may be facing an enormous task or beginning a new journey. And we want to dedicate this to God and ask that it honor Him and bring the values of the Kingdom to your life.

Do you have an enormous task? Are you facing a new journey or challenge? Is God stirring up a fresh task or call for you? Have you faced temptation or battled the enemy this week? Has God revealed the need for repentance and forgiveness?

Try Fasting:  How do we make this happen practically.

  • Don’t start with grand  and long plans. Don’t start with a lot of days. Fast for one day and Fast to listen and to draw near to Jesus. One day (eat dinner one day and then dinner the next.)
  • Keep your day job. Do what you normally do, but pace the day in a way that you can listen to the Spirit, listen to who is in front of you, and see what God might do throughout the day.
  • Take the time for meals to worship, to read Scripture, to pray. Invite God’s presence. Ask him for what you long for. And see who He puts near so you can serve those He puts before you.
  • United fasting – we might join with others in union to fast for a season and for a reason.
    • A need before us for wisdom, for guidance, and for provision.
    • A response to a call to repent and invite God’s healing for our church or for our nation. Illustration: Did you know that General Washington six weeks before the signing of the Declaration called for a day of fasting and prayer for the united colonies.
    • A response to an emergency or tragedy. And ask for God’s healing and provision together. Esther called for a three day fast when the lives of all Jewish people were threatened.
    • An invitation to God to revive His church, pour out His gifts and His Spirit, and to use our nation or church to reach the nations.
  • When we fast and pray, we see life and truth more simply and clearly. And when we fast and pray together, God magnifies that life and truth. We know He is present and answering when we are alone; but when we fast and pray together, that unity acts like a magnifier.   It’s like He causes us to zoom in on what is important and what lasts, and the things that may seem urgent or threatening or calling for our time and money become less important and less a voice in our lives.
  • When we fast, whatever is deep down inside us that we keep hidden or covered by things, busyness, food, addictions, bad relationships, or more. Those things surface and come to light. 1 Corinthians 6 says that we have freedom in all things, but nothing will control or enslave us.

Church, our nation needs us to pray and to fast and to seek God’s healing. Our God is both holy and compassionate.  And we as a church and nation need to pray and fast because repentance is a good thing and mercy is needed.

My application to you in this is simple. I want you to choose a day this week and try fasting. If medically, you have a reason to avoid this, please do. Otherwise,  take a day and choose to fast. I’m on for tomorrow. Because repentance is good – I need it. And our church needs a deeper experience of God’s presence. And our nation needs the intervention of the God of holiness and compassion.

(Sunday, June 26th, this message was chosen especially in light of the US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade just three days prior. It’s a day to rejoice and a day to pray. Here is my charge for this week:

Sunday, I taught on fasting and prayer and then challenged each of you to join in a day of fasting and prayer for personal needs and for our nation. At the signing of our nation’s Bill of Rights, Washington called for a Day of Prayer for our salvation and, among other things, the will and wisdom “to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness.” (nationaldayofprayer.org).

We have much to be grateful, rejoice in and at the same time, ask for forgiveness for – we celebrate life and the wisdom of our highest court who ended the nationally mandated act of abortion. And we grieve that it took 49 years, and in those years the words, talents, accomplishments, and voices lifted in truth and worship of millions were silenced.

Pray and fast with us, thanking God for the men and women who were bold in truth to overturn a devastating decision a half a century ago. Let’s ask God to revive us, heal our land, protect our nation, and restore His call to us to represent Him well to our world.)

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Matthew 5:17-20

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

PRT Matthew 5:17-20

v. 17 Don’t even consider that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets; I came not to overthrow and dismiss them but to satisfy and fulfill them.

v. 18 For I tell you this very truth: until heaven and earth come to an end, neither the smallest letter nor the tiniest accent point will disappear until all these things will happen.

v. 19 for this reason, anyone breaks even the smallest of these commandments or teaches others to do the same, will be the smallest in the Kingdom of Heaven. But here’s the one who will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven: everyone who does what it says and teaches others to do the same.

v. 20 For I tell you that, unless your right actions and right relationship with God extends beyond the standards of the legal experts and Pharisees, you won’t even enter the doors of heaven.

Study Notes:

v. 17 Don’t even consider that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets; I came not to overthrow and dismiss them but to satisfy and fulfill them.

Jesus is answering an unspoken question here (or perhaps he heard the rumblings of this statement about tearing down the law and prophets – it later became one of the big accusations. He didn’t destroy (he wrote them!) The word is to break down, dissolve, dismiss, abolish. He came to fulfill the prophets and satisfy the law.

This word destroy is a word picture of someone taking down a tabernacle or tent into pieces. He came to fulfill, that is fill to the fullest, the Law and Prophets.

Light plays a huge role in demonstrating the effect of the Kingdom on people, churches, cultures, generations, etc. We are brought into the light, become the light of the world, and are indwelt by the Spirit of Jesus, the Light of the world.

Ephesians 4 “we were in darkness and now we walk as children of light.”

Philippians 2:15 “you shine as lights to the world.”

1 Peter 2 “we are called out of darkness and into His wonderful light.”

Read this in context with v. 15-16 – what we do is in the light, not to show us to the world, but to show Jesus to the world. Matthew says the light is on the stand where everyone in the house can see the light. Luke says the light is on the stand so that everyone who enters into the house can see. He satisfies the reason people grasp for religion and rules. Jesus completes the prophetic.

v. 18 For I tell you this very truth: until heaven and earth come to an end, neither the smallest letter nor the tiniest accent point will disappear until all these things will happen.

The smallest letter of the Hebrew language is the “yod” – no bigger than an apostrophe. The accent point in Greek is the little marking that might distinguish letter and pronunciations. These accents were not widely used in the marketplace since most wrote in Uncial; and after all, it was their language.

Here, the word is not everlasting but sufficient until heaven and earth disappear. At that point, we will as Paul says, “know in full.” Until God brings it all to the culmination, not even an accent point will be canceled.

v. 19 for this reason, anyone breaks even the smallest of these commandments or teaches others to do the same, will be the smallest in the Kingdom of Heaven. But here’s the one who will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven: everyone who does what it says and teaches others to do the same.

Remember that the legal experts and teachers had set the laws in major and minor categories – greater laws and lesser laws with corresponding ramifications. Some says 613, but these are what Moses said to do or not do. The “for all time” laws are the big ten.

The “least” in the kingdom is a word that can mean littlest or smallest; the person who chooses to live contrary to God’s parameters and/or takes others in the same direction chooses a “small” life here, and the “smallest” life in eternity.

It’s choosing to live in the light. Luke adds some insight here; our acts give light to the world and cause the lost to bring glory to God. Our eyes are our light in Jesus’ parables; and we let light in by what we choose to give witness to; or we let “dark” into our eyes by what we feed on.

The big question on everyone’s mind, then, if the Pharisees and the teachers of the law aren’t in, who will be? Nobody wants to be small; so who will be great? Jesus answers: you who do and teach (demonstration, proclamation.) the Pharisees (Matthew 23:3) taught but clearly didn’t do. That’s why he said the next sentence.

v. 20 For I tell you that, unless your right actions and right relationship with God extends beyond the standards of the legal experts and Pharisees, you won’t even enter the doors of heaven.

These are the comments that endeared Jesus to the people and drew the ire of the temple leaders. This would also fly in the face of “common wisdom” that the Pharisees and legal experts were the examples to follow; Jesus says it’s the exact opposite. It’s like the lovers of the law were approaching heaven, but couldn’t see what stopped them (unforgiven sin – they needed a Savior.)

  1. Have you ever been in a place that was completely, utterly, dark? How did it make you feel?
  2. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? What is it? Why is it so meaningful to you?
  3. How do you “let light in” to your life through using the Bible? What practices do you do now? What do you need to begin practicing?
  4. What can you do the avoid places that make your life smaller and darker?
  5. What kinds of “beautiful deeds” do you like doing for others to help them experience the love of the Savior?
  6. How can others help you through prayer and encouragement?

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 16:9-20

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT)

v. 9 Now, when Jesus was raised early on the first day of the week, he appeared first of all to Mary Magdalene, from who he had thrown out seven demons. vv. 10-11 She left there and told those who had been with Jesus and were now grieving and weeping; and they couldn’t believe that he was alive, even after hearing the news that she had seen him. vv. 12-13 And even after all this, two of them showed up and reported to the other disciples that while they were just now walking through the countryside, Jesus appeared to them in a different outward appearance; and they still didn’t believe it. v. 14 But not long afterwards, while the eleven were eating dinner, he showed up and then scolded them for their disbelief and hard-heartedness since they had not trusted those who had seen him risen from the dead. v. 15 Then he said to them: “As you journey into all the world, tell the whole creation the Good News. V 16 The ones who believe and are baptized will be saved; but the ones who remain unbelieving will be condemned.” vv. 17-18 Additionally, miraculous signs will show up around the ones who believe: in my name, they will throw out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will remove serpents with their hands; they will not be harmed even if they drink something deadly; and they will place their hands on the sick and they will be restored.” v. 19 Then, with all assurance, after speaking to them, Jesus was taken up into the heavens and then sat down at God’s right hand. v. 20 And they left there, declaring the Lord everywhere. The Lord was working through them and validating the word through accompanying miraculous signs. Amen.

Study Notes:

v. 9 Now, when Jesus was raised early on the first day of the week, he appeared first of all to Mary Magdalene, from who he had thrown out seven demons.

The rock removed wasn’t for Jesus to escape. The power to keep Jesus from corruption and decay and raise him from the dead wasn’t so weak that a rock would stop it. The rock was removed by the angel afterwards, so the women would see and have faith.

Jesus’ resurrection in v. 8 is framed by his crucifixion. His sacrificed life is integral to the new life we are given in Him.

There were two choices for Jesus being “not there:” His body was taken, or He rose from the dead. No other options are there.

In this summary verses of the telling of the story, Mary Magdalene returned to the sepulcher to try to make sense of all she’d discovered.  And Jesus appeared to her. (Confirmed by John 20.)

vv. 10-11 She left there and told those who had been with Jesus and were now grieving and weeping; and they couldn’t believe that he was alive, even after hearing the news that she had seen him.

This is confirmed in the other Gospels that they couldn’t wrap their minds around this story either. They were slow in coming to believe that Jesus was alive.

vv. 12-13 And even after all this, two of them showed up and reported to the other disciples that while they were just now walking through the countryside, Jesus appeared to them in a different outward appearance; and they still didn’t believe it.

These would be the two walking toward Emmaus to whom Jesus appeared. They rushed back to tell the disciples they had seen Jesus. In sync with the two witnesses, word comes back from others that Peter has seen Jesus, too. (Luke 24)

In his resurrected body, Jesus is the same, yet not the same. He is not subject to the rules we are. He appears as and when and through whatever closed door He wishes. And He does so in the next verse.

That Jesus appeared to a woman and to two who were not of the inner circle shows that status isn’t the qualifier. Each of us has this revealing of the truth and presence of Jesus in our salvation.

v. 14 But not long afterwards, while the eleven were eating dinner, he showed up and then scolded them for their disbelief and hard-heartedness since they had not trusted those who had seen him risen from the dead.

Mark names the new set of apostles minus Judas, The Eleven. They were known here in the context of the one absent but also by the rest remaining faithful and together.

Jesus shows up at dinner, calms their fears, shows them his wounds, has a bite. and calls them out for not believing Mary or the two from Emmaus (or even what has been prophesied – Luke 24).

v. 15 Then he said to them: “As you journey into all the world, tell the whole creation the Good News.

Even the ending of Mark 16:8 fulfills the three prophecies Jesus gave: 8:31, 9:31, 10:32-34. He will complete the work and hand off the work to tell everyone to us. Good News experienced and share in discipleship.

The whole creation contrasts with what Jesus sent them to do earlier as they went out in twos to the Jewish people. Now, all creation, Jews, Samaritans, and the nations.

V 16 The ones who believe and are baptized will be saved; but the ones who remain unbelieving will be condemned.”

This passage is interesting in including baptism in the numbers of the ones who are saved. This isn’t adding the act of baptism to make salvation happen. It is saying, “you believe and of course baptism what you do to show it” but if you don’t believe, of course you wouldn’t be baptized. If you believe, you are also baptized, and in community. The NT concept doesn’t entertain the loner Christian. Other Christians are our community; the ones we rely on, relate to.

vv. 17-18 Additionally, miraculous signs will show up around the ones who believe: in my name, they will throw out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will remove serpents with their hands; they will not be harmed even if they drink something deadly; and they will place their hands on the sick and they will be restored.”

All of this is witnessed in Acts but one: Philip, Paul, others threw demons out of people; Pentecost and the house of Cornelius prayed in new tongues; Paul shook the snake into the fire on the trip to Rome; numerous people were healed from the hands of the early church. Early church fathers tell us that John was poisoned as a way to dispatch him; but he lived.

v. 19 Then, with all assurance, after speaking to them, Jesus was taken up into the heavens and then sat down at God’s right hand.

This is the position of both authority and serving. The timing for His return is known only in the heavenlies. I remember the movies always had trouble making this real; how does one imagine what this was like? I will get to ask the disciples who were on the hillside watching this.

v. 20 And they left there, declaring the Lord everywhere. The Lord was working through them and validating the word through accompanying miraculous signs. Amen.

The main character in this passage is neither the angel resting with confidence on the bench to the right of where dead people lay, nor the women who come to anoint the body, nor the disciples, nor Peter. It is the culmination of the Good News of the Kingdom. It’s about Jesus just like it started with verse one: The Good News starts with Jesus; Our Hope begins here.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

2 Corinthians 4:1-12 (The Message)

1-2Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.

3-4If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get.

5-6Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

7-12If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!

Heaven’s Treasure in Earthenware Jars

v. 1 Therefore reflects back to God pouring his mercy out on us. He has met us and He is changing us.

2 Cor 3:16-18Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

v. 2 We have renounced, walked away from, deceit, manipulation, bait and switch.

 We don’t use the Gospel for our own benefit. We don’t use it dishonestly or shameful. We don’t manipulate with the truth. We persuade. We defend. We convince. But not in ways that violate another’s will or integrity. That’s the way of the enemy. We don’t violate another’s conscience.

There are those who would use whatever means they have at their disposal, including the truth of the Good News, to get their own way and acquire influence, resources, or selfish desires. We serve and give away what we are and have to show God’s love and truth; and we share in a convincing way that in Jesus we find mercy and hope.

v. 3 The Good News, like the glory of God, is hidden behind the enemy’s cloak; because those in the shadows participate in the cloaking by refusing truth. Acts 4:12 – there is no other name by which we must be delivered.

v. 4 The god of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the devil, the usurping ruler of this world, has designs on men and women. He is real. In the meantime…we stand, we fight, we pray, we stay the course.

We stand firmly in the light and do the works and speak the words of light and hope so that the light will clear the fog, the darkness from others.

“The god of this world.” Better, the god of this age. Jesus came at the right time to invade the coup of the enemy who sought to cast darkness over all this world. It truly is a battleground and the blow struck at the birth of Jesus and his death and resurrection is the fatal blow to the enemy’s. In the meantime…we stand, we fight, we pray, we stay the course.

We stand firmly in the light and do the works and speak the words of light and hope so that the light will clear the fog, the darkness from others. We don’t faint or give in to fear or evil.

Light of the glorious gospel of Christ is the result of His light – what he does through us. He is the Light, but we are carriers of this light. The light is here, but the blinding is as if the dawn isn’t visible.

v. 5 It is His Good News given to us to share; not our good news that we make up.

Slaves is the word here. Not slaves of Jesus, but willing bondslaves to his purposes and to those who need Jesus. We live a life of inconvenience. We stretch ourselves to share the light, even when it costs.

  1. Enthroned at the right hand of the Father.
  2. Enthroned in the hearts of these clay pots.
  3. Returning as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

v. 6 God said “light” when he created it all. God sent “light” to redeem and restore that very creation that had too long rejected the light and chose shadow.

God, who is invisible, has become visible in Jesus. Fully. Without shadow. And we live to make Him visible to others as he is reflected in our relationships, our finances, our workplace, our studies, our time management.

v. 7 Earthenware Jars – what you see is not what God is doing on the inside. What you get is better than what you see. The ultimate top shelf experience. The upgrade unexpected. We say yes to Jesus and the journey is far more than we saw on the brochure. You and I are jars made of clay, scarred, smudged, broken handled, but we contain the beauty of God’s work in our lives. Who wouldn’t want this Good News?

The jar would be sealed to keep the treasure fresh.

The jar would be hidden to keep the treasure safe.

Romans 9:20. Can the clay jar say to the potter, what were you doing making me like this?

Matthew 14 and the treasure in the fields. But we choose to crack open the jar and spill it out on others. Like Jesus and the woman with the ointment who spilled it out on Jesus’ feet, we spill out this treasure every day.

  • Veracity/Truth – Can the pottery say to the potter, what do you think you are doing? God is doing a good work in you.

v. 8-9 Troubled by what we cannot avoid, but able to standup. At the end of our mental ability to control and change but trusting in such a way that we don’t fall into hopelessness. In the battle and bruised, but not dead and destroyed.

Pressed down is squeezed. Like the olives for oil or the grapes for wine. The pressing doesn’t destroy but squeezes us.

Paul had been left for dead more than once. The list is even longer with Hebrews 11.

v. 10 The hostility to God’s goodness remains today. And we stand firm against the hostility. We don’t get sidetracked by small minded conspiracies or detours that don’t matter to the kingdom; we live in the battle and continue to do good and, by doing so, destroy the works of the enemy.

v. 11 Delivered to death – we are the people who value what God values, and this means we live the Philippians 2 lifestyle.

v.12 For I am crucified in Christ. I deny myself, pick up the cross daily.

Illustration: The person who bought the field to get the treasury.