Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
v.1 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you…
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out… Isaiah 42:3
Jesus comes to us in meekness and gentleness yet there is nothing weak about it.
v.1 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you…
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out… Isaiah 42:3
Jesus comes to us in meekness and gentleness yet there is nothing weak about it.
7 You are looking only on the surface of things
So often we only look on the surface of things and forget this world is not all there is.
7 You are looking only on the surface of things
So often we only look on the surface of things and forget this world is not all there is.
v.4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Arguments, pretensions, thoughts are all to do with our thinking. The spiritual war is in our minds. But God has equipped us to control our minds/thoughts. Our weapons have divine power. God has made sure we are fully equipped to handle every situation.
v.4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Arguments, pretensions, thoughts are all to do with our thinking. The spiritual war is in our minds. But God has equipped us to control our minds/thoughts. Our weapons have divine power. God has made sure we are fully equipped to handle every situation.
v.15-16 Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you.
As faith grows, the area of influence grows as friends of friends hear the gospel and as the church outreaches beyond itself.
v.15-16 Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you.
As faith grows, the area of influence grows as friends of friends hear the gospel and as the church outreaches beyond itself.
v.6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
From commentary (Constable): Unless any church as a whole is willing to support the discipline of its member or members, the discipline that its leaders seek to impose will be ineffective.
Paul can't deal with the problems without the support of the church members. Church members have a responsibility to support the leadership especially when they have to deal with problems.
v.6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
From commentary (Constable): Unless any church as a whole is willing to support the discipline of its member or members, the discipline that its leaders seek to impose will be ineffective.
Paul can't deal with the problems without the support of the church members. Church members have a responsibility to support the leadership especially when they have to deal with problems.
v.9-10 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”
From commentary (Hughes): Paul's opponents interpreted meekness as weakness, forbearance as cowardice, and gentleness as indecision.
We need to be careful when our leaders are meek, patient and gentle, not to assume they are being weak, cowardly or indecisive.
v.9-10 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”
From commentary (Hughes): Paul's opponents interpreted meekness as weakness, forbearance as cowardice, and gentleness as indecision.
We need to be careful when our leaders are meek, patient and gentle, not to assume they are being weak, cowardly or indecisive.