2 Corinthians

THE MARKS OF CROSS-SHAPED LEADERSHIP

You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for

personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing

that God is watching us.

2 CORINTHIANS 2.17

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that

we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written

laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new

covenant, the Spirit gives life..

2 CORINTHIANS 3.4-6

Humility/No Patronage

Hospitality/Giving

God’s Calling

Self-Emptying

Suffering

Lack of Personal Ambition

Slave of Christ

Social Status

Materialism/Possessions

Honor/Shame

Self-Exaltation

Contentment/Comfort

Advancement

Proper Pedigree/Titles

Paul Super-Apostles

PAUL VS. THE SUPER-APOSTLES

STRUCTURE OF 2 CORINTHIANS

The epistle is about Paul’s ministry, which the Corinthians fail to understand (not about the legitimacy

of his apostleship, which is not in question). They understand him only in part (1:14) because they still

evaluate things from the perspective of the flesh… This letter is not just a personal defense; it is a restatement of the basic doctrine of the cross which Paul preached

to them.

Garland, D. E. (1999). Vol. 29: 2 Corinthians. The New American Commentary (33). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Paul is trying to show them what gracious, godly leadership and ministry looks like.

PURPOSE OF 2ND CORINTHIANS

Christian leaders live out the cross in a ministry willing to sacrifice and suffer for the truth and for the benefit of God's people. They understand that

it is internal character change, brought about through the Spirit, which is important and not

external ability. Such leaders should be obeyed, honored and supported.

True Christian Leadership is Cross-Shaped

MESSAGE OF 2 CORINTHIANS

• Conduct motivated by a sincere love for Christ and desire for His people to grow. 1.1-2.17

• Receive suffering and deliverance from Christ to comfort others. 1.1-11

• Open, truthful plans based on Christ's promises and love for God's people. 1.12-2.4

• No hidden agendas

• Forgiving, reaffirming and comforting in public and private discipline. 2.5-12

• Reconcilers and restorers

• Handle well suffering and rejection based on God’s calling and promise. 2.13-17

• Handle adversity well, with an eternal perspective

MARKS OF CROSS-SHAPED LEADERS

• Real call to ministry is seen in changed lives, superior message, suffering and character 3.1-5.10

• Growth of followers into the image of Christ 3.1-18

• “Look behind you. If no one is following you are not a leader.”

• Willingness to participate in the sufferings of Christ. 4.1-5.10

• Sees difficulty as grace and opportunity to see God working . 4.1-12

• Motivated by eternity and focused on inner growth. 4.13-18

• Suffers joyfully in view of the eternal body and the greater experience of a life of obedience. 5.1-10

MARKS OF CROSS-SHAPED LEADERS

• Focused on grace, not the externals 5.11-7.16• Share a clear message of reconciliation with God.

5.11-21

• Content oriented preaching rather than fancy rhetoric

• Persevering, Open, Integrity in Life and Ministry 6.1-13

• Separate from false doctrine and practice 6.14-7.1

• Life matches preaching

• Actions match what they ask others to do

• Willingness to Confront in Love 7.2-16

MARKS OF CROSS-SHAPED LEADERS 1.1-7.16

• Done God's Way, not in human ways, and in God's power. 10.1-18

• Uses God's methods 10.1-6

• He packs high-powered, divine weapons, but “the meekness, kindness and gentleness of Christ” always govern their use.

• Persuades rather than intimidates, reasons and coaxes rather than beats up

• Motivated by God's approval not human approval. 10:7-18

• Refuses to compare ministries 10.12

• Do Good without expecting something in return

• Do the job without the title or the salary

MARKS OF CROSS-SHAPED MINISTRY 10.1-13.6

• Glories in God, not self. 11.1-12.10

• Keeps focus on Jesus, not self. 11.1-4• Sacrifices to build up the body 11.5-15• Avoids the silliness of boasting about one's own accomplishments

or abilities. 11.16-22• Boasts about weaknesses and suffering because they point to

God's power. 11.23-12.10

• “Thorn in the Flesh”

• Paul is not saying that weakness is power. Instead, he is saying that “the weaknesses that characterize his life as an apostle—of which the Corinthians are very much aware and from which he neither seeks nor expects relief—represent the effective working of the power of the crucified Christ in his ministry.” What makes Paul seem so weak to some paradoxically allows the power of Christ to work through him all the more.

MARKS OF CROSS-SHAPED MINISTRY

• Godly leaders draw the church away from sin and its consequences 12.11-13.6

• Invest their lives in others and earn respect 12.11-18• People will grow in Christ-like character. 12.19-21• People see Christ’s power in them to grow

spiritually. 13.1-6• Here is the best litmus test for the sign of an apostle. A true

apostle of the crucified Christ is one who is willing to spend and be spent on behalf of a congregation. He serves at great cost to himself for the great benefit of others.

MARKS OF CROSS-SHAPED MINISTRY

The Offering for the Poor in Jerusalem • Sacrificial and Participatory 8.1-6• Excellent spiritual service done as God gives ability,

with purity of motive 8.7-15• Administration transparent and handled by people of

proven integrity 8.16-24• Planned, committed and generous expression of love

9.1-6• Demonstrated faith in God and His care for His

people 9.7-10• Increase in thankfulness, praise and prayers 9.11-15

CROSS-SHAPED LEADERSHIP IN ACTION 8.1-915

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last

words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 CORINTHIANS 13.11

1. Joy

• Optimistic atmosphere of joy, praise and gratitude

2. People are Mended/Restored

• Nobody is perfect, including the leader but we are helping each other toward Christ

3. People are Comforted, Encouraged and Admonished

4. One Mind

• Intent on the Same Purpose ; Unified

5. At Peace

• Sharing the blessings of God’s love with one another.

CHARACTER OF A CROSS-SHAPED CHURCH 13.11

The only valid Christian criteria to measure

apostles have nothing to do with noble birth or

personal accomplishments but

relate to how they conform to the cross of

Christ and what God has done in them.