Summary:
Paul explains that he and his coworkers strive to place no obstacle in anyone’s way so that their ministry will not be discredited. Instead, they commend themselves as servants of God by enduring hardships - afflictions, beatings, imprisonments, and sleeplessness - while displaying purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, sincere love, truthful speech, and the power of God.
Though outwardly marked by paradox - dishonor yet glory, sorrow yet always rejoicing, poor yet making many rich, having nothing yet possessing all things - their lives testify to the authentic power of God at work in them.
Teaching:
Now is the day of salvation - the time to receive God’s grace. God is fully prepared to pour out His grace upon us. To receive that grace, we must come before Him, ask for His help, and obey what He speaks.
Only a very small part of salvation concerns going to heaven after death. While we are alive, everything that God bestows upon us is grace. Within those acts are His love and His sovereign purpose.
Because we live bearing God’s image, we must live in a way that honors His name and be worthy of that calling.
This year, I bless everyone to have a glorious and beautiful name—to be true, to be honored, to be fully alive, to have eternal life, to rejoice, to be rich, and to possess all things.
Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Jan 5, 2026
2 Corinthians 6:3-10