Comfort-Able Living

II Corinthians 1:1-11

Week 1

Tim Bycroft, Lead Pastor  

THE POINT EXISTS TO WELCOME THE UNCHURCHED TO BECOME FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS. 

Pointing People to God  

Pointing People to Jesus  

Pointing People to Community 

A church characterized by Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness.

HARDSHIPS ARE PART OF EVERY LIFE

2 Corinthians 1:5, “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ…”  

Genesis 3:16, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children.” 

Gensis 3:17-9, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.  It will produce thorns and thistles for you and you will eat the plants of the field.  By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.”  

2 Corinthians 1:5, “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ…”  

2 Corinthians 1:8, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia.  We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even life.”

1 Peter 4:12 “Don’t be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”  

HARDSHIPS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE GOD’S COMFORT

2 Corinthians 1:9, “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God.”

John 15:5, “apart from me you can do nothing.”

HARDSHIPS EQUIP US TO COMFORT OTHERS

2 Corinthians 1:4, “He (God) comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

2 Corinthians 1:3, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”

2 Corinthians 1:6-7, “So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. 

Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort.”

HARDSHIPS ENABLE US TO TESTIFY TO OUR HOPE

2 Corinthians 1:11, “And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks.”