NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum.
Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 12:6-10
Discussion Question:
- How has God strengthened you during a trying circumstance?
Food for Thought by Emily Duncan:*
Modern Christianity has adopted the idea of “faking fine,” meaning things will be OK if we pretend they are. But we live in a fallen, sinful world where things aren’t perfect and trials happen. Paul made sure the Corinthians were aware that they, too, might suffer for Christ.
Many people have speculated about Paul’s “thorn” (2 Corinthians 12:7), but it doesn’t really matter what it was. The point is that the thorn was there to keep Paul humble before God. When we become too self-reliant or too proud, boasting in our own merit instead of His saving grace, He often allows something to remind us that our reliance should be on Him. When we forget to look toward Him, our eyes fall to ourselves. Our feet get tangled in our pride and sin.
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me,” (2 Corinthians 12:10). The world tells us our greatest strength comes from within ourselves, but when we rely on God, His power shows up instead of ours. We can endure trying circumstances through His power.
As our difficulties lead us to look to Him, we discover that His gracious presence in our lives is more than enough.
* Emily Duncan is a homemaker and mom living in West Georgia with her husband, daughter and two large dogs. She serves as a youth leader at New Hope First Baptist Church in Dallas, Ga.
Bible Studies for Life
Bible Studies for Life connects the Bible to life for adults, students, and kids. Bible Studies for Life helps individuals and groups know God’s Word through trustworthy content, creates biblical community through engaging and conversational group studies, and helps people engage the culture missionally by unpacking what the Bible says about real-life issues. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife.
Related posts:
LifeWay celebrates new headquarters in Nashville 
FIRST-PERSON: What the Bible is & why it matters 
FIRST-PERSON: Doctrinal fidelity without methodological conformity 
Bible Study: Heeding God’s correction and guidance 
4 entity heads address messenger questions 
LifeWay trustees approve new division, elect vice president for technology The Authority of the Bible 
Half of pastors support Trump, but many are hesitant to share preference
