~ LISTENING CENTER ~

Date: February 9, 2020 Title: The Ministry of Reconciliation Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:9-21 Speaker: Bob Corbin Sermon Note Sheet (PDF) Download Audio

* As we began our study of Paul's second epistle to the church of Corinth, we considered the purpose of affliction in the life of the believer. Through afflictions, we have the opportunity to receive the encouragement of God and, subsequently, to dispense that same encouragement to others who are experiencing afflictions. Afflictions are a means by which we can give testimony to the greatness of our God! * Over the past two weeks, we have seen that at the core of "Embracing Afflictions" is the constant battle between the physical and the spiritual realms. As we have seen meteorologically, when two fronts collide there is a storm! Paul told the Ephesians, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood ..." Though we live in a physical plane, as spirit beings we must learn to think beyond the moment. * Today's passage, continues the thought process from the past two messages and brings our consideration of events of this world to a crescendo. This is where the rubber meets the road; where proclaimed belief meets actual actions. For if we are in Christ, we are new creations with a new focus and a new calling!