2 Corinthians 1:1-11

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

God Comforts Us in All Our Afflictions

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Believers are afflicted so that they may experience and share God’s comfort.

  2. Believers are afflicted so that they may experience and pray for God’s deliverance.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s pass it on.

QUESTIONS

  1. How many letters did the Apostle Paul write to the church at Corinth?

  2. When was the church at Corinth founded?

  3. What problems had arisen in the Corinthian church?

  4. What is the meaning of “comfort” in this passage?

  5. What is the meaning of “affliction” in this passage?

ANSWERS

  1. Possibly four. We have the two inspired letters which are part of the Bible, but there may have been two other letters which were lost (See 1 Corinthians 5:9; 2 Corinthians 2:3).

  2. During Paul’s Second Missionary Journey, see Acts 18

  3. Some at Corinth were questioning Paul’s authority as an apostle and they were also allowing some false teaching to creep into the church.

  4. The basic idea of “comfort” is encouragement or assistance. The word means to come alongside to give help in time of need. The Holy Spirit is called our Comforter in John 14-16.

  5. An affliction is anything and everything that presses in upon us from outside; anything which burdens our spirits. It includes any trouble or distress such as pressure from circumstances or antagonism from people.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Who is the source of all comfort? What afflictions is He there to comfort? Don’t look for help in time of need to the world or to yourself—look to God. He is the Source of all comfort.

  2. Discuss why God allows afflictions. It is so that we will experience God’s comfort and also so that we will share God’s comfort with others. Have you seen in your life how God can take your past afflictions and turn them into an opportunity to comfort others?

CHALLENGE

  1. Sometimes affliction forces us to turn to God for deliverance. This is a good reaction, turn and pray to God in your times of affliction.

KEY VERSES

  • “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:1

  • “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4



2 Corinthians, Talks, New TestamentDeb Harms2 Corinthians 1:1-11