2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4

I think I find few things more upsetting than being falsely accused.

! Don't know if it's ever happened to you. Maybe something trivial. You're kind of running

! running around at home with your brothers and sisters. Mum's favourite vase gets knocked

! over. You were nowhere near it, but you get the blame. Or you're playing football. The

player you tackle takes a dive and you're the one that ends up in the referee's book.

Those are quite trivial, aren't they? Sometimes it can be a bit more serious. Like those postmasters

sent to prison in the Horizon scandal. Or closer to home, perhaps. We say something to a loved one,

or maybe someone here at church. They kind of get the wrong end of the stick about what we've said.

They think we're saying something we hadn't said. And suddenly that relationship is strained or ruined.

It's terrible, isn't it? That false accusation can feel like a dark cloud hanging over us. We're

desperate to clear it up. Well, that's something of the situation that Paul is facing as he writes his

second letter to the Corinthians. He'd planted their church four or five years earlier. He'd then spent

18 months with them preaching to them, pastoring them, then he'd left to continue his missionary travels elsewhere.

But since he'd left, serious problems had bubbled up in the church. Most recently, an anti-Paul faction,

making all sorts of false accusations against him. And at one level, this letter is Paul's response to

those accusations to show how they're totally unfounded and unfair. Actually, though, it's much more than that.

Paul's realised that what's at stake in Corinth isn't just his reputation as a faithful minister,

but the spiritual health and very survival of this church. Because godly Christian leadership,

faithful teachers who will bring God's word to us, who will model a godly life to us, are absolutely vital

for the life of the church. Therefore, to move away from a faithful minister like Paul

is to cut ourselves off from the source of spiritual life and health. To turn away to perhaps a more

glamorous, more glamorous, outwardly impressive ministry would spell ruin for this young church.

So in this letter, Paul spells out what healthy Christian leadership looks like, the kind of

leadership that we should look for and support as a church, the kind of ministry we should exercise

if we're called to lead. Indeed, the kind of church and people that we should be as we seek to minister

God's word to a lost world. And it all flows out of the God that we meet in Jesus. Who God is

shapes the way that we do Christian ministry and leadership. And that's Paul's argument in this passage.

We'll see first of all three marks of genuine Christian ministry, and then we'll see how those

three marks are grounded in two truths that the gospel reveals about God. So first, those three

marks of genuine Christian ministry. And again, there are spaces to fill these in on those sermon sheets.

Number one, genuine Christian ministry is clear, not clever. It's clear, not clever.

Again, that first paragraph, verse 12. For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we

behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom, but by the grace of God,

and supremely so towards you. For we're not writing to you anything other than what you read and

understand. And I hope you will fully understand, just as you did partially understand us, that on the

day of our Lord Jesus, you will boast of us, as we will boast of you.

So that word boast comes three times in that paragraph. It comes 22 times in this letter of

2 Corinthians, 10 times in 1 Corinthians, but only 15 in all the rest of Paul's letters put together.

In other words, boasting seems to have been a particularly Corinthian problem. They were a proud church,

proud of their intellectual superiority as well-educated Greeks, proud of their spiritual gifts and

effectiveness, proud of their church leaders and their brilliant preaching. So with a twinkle in his

eye, Paul says, you know, I've got something to boast about too, only not those things that you've been

boasting about Corinthians. No, what I can boast about is my transparency. That's what that word

sincerity means in verse 12. It means being transparent. This bottle is transparent. You can see through it,

and you can see that the water in it is clear, healthy water. Nothing nasty or unexpected in there,

if I drink from it. And that's what Paul was like. Transparent, clear. So transparent motives,

verse 12. No hidden agenda, no secret ambitions. He was a WYSIWYG sort of guy. What you see is what you get.

And then transparent methods, verse 12. Not tricking people into the kingdom by using earthly wisdom,

clever arguments, emotional manipulation, but trusting God's grace alone to open blind eyes and change hard

hearts. And then above all, a clear and transparent message. Verse 13. We are not writing to you anything

other than what you read and understand. London, I guess a bit like Oxford, is a city that prides itself on

cleverness. Clever finances. Clever media. Clever schools. Clever university. Clever government,

perhaps. And the temptation is to think that to win a city like London, we have to use the kind of

cleverness that London values. Compelling persuasion. Entertaining speakers. Glitzy presentations. We want a

snazzy and successful church led by snazzy and successful leaders. So that when a colleague asks us where to go,

go to church, go to church, we can be proud rather than faintly embarrassed.

Well, that kind of ministry and that kind of church might flatter our egos so that we can boast,

but it won't build God's kingdom. It might be popular. It might get positive media coverage. It might be praised by the wider

Christian world. But it won't save any souls. Only God's gospel can do that. So wise and faithful ministers, a wise and

faithful church will give itself to setting forth that gospel as clearly and simply as possible.

That's not an excuse for being lazy or slapdash. Preaching the gospel clearly will require all the

gifts and abilities and talents that God's given us. But as a preacher of an earlier generation put it,

no one can give the impression at one and the same time that he himself is clever and that Jesus Christ

is mighty to save.

So what kind of church do you want to be? What kind of reputation do you want to have?

A clever church known for the cleverness of your message, the giftedness of your ministers, the impressiveness of your building?

Or simply, that's the church where people talk about Jesus.

Genuine Christian ministry is clear, not clever. Secondly, genuine Christian ministry is faithful, not flashy.

It's faithful, not flashy. Verse 15.

Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first so that you might have a second experience of grace.

I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea.

Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this?

Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say yes, yes and no, no at the same time?

A year or two ago, one of our children was having some orthodontic treatment and had to have five teeth removed in one go.

Without naming any names, I felt very sorry for him.

So I promised to buy him a large tub of Haagen-Dazs ice cream on the way home.

Which I did.

Problem was, his mouth was very sore, so he didn't really feel like eating it at the time.

And then accidentally, a couple of days later, I ate it.

Now, understandably, that unnamed family member was quite distressed.

Felt let down by his dad, who'd promised something, but then failed to deliver.

And that's the accusation that some in Corinth were making about Paul.

Like I said, Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth, planting this church.

Then later, when he heard about their problems, he wrote to them, promising them a couple more visits.

One on the way up to Macedonia in northern Greece, and then one on the way back down.

But that first visit, on the way up, had gone so badly, been so difficult, that Paul had changed his plans.

Decided not to visit.

And now some of his opponents were using that as a stick to beat him with.

Paul is fickle, they were saying.

Flaky.

He makes promises, and he breaks promises.

He's not a strong, reliable leader.

He's a coward.

A runaway.

A flip-flopper.

Now, we'll see in a moment why Paul changed his plans.

But for now, he simply says, verse 17,

Look, I wasn't being flaky.

Vacillating, changing my mind.

I really had intended to visit you.

It's just that circumstances made me change my mind.

I'm not being weak as a leader.

I'm simply trying to be wise.

And again, I think he's tackling a mistaken view of Christian leadership that was doing the rounds in Corinth.

That Christian leadership is all about being strong and decisive.

Knowing what needs to be done, and sticking to your guns, come what may.

But the big theme of this letter is actually the godly Christian leadership will often look weak and unimpressive.

Because the godly leader is more concerned about doing the right thing than giving the right impression.

If Paul had kept to his plan, gone back to Corinth, given them a real telling off,

then, yes, he would have come across as a strong, determined leader.

And some people would have liked that.

But Paul knew it would have caused more harm than good.

So he had the good sense and humility to change his mind.

Genuine Christian ministry is faithful, not flashy.

And again, is that what we look for and value in our leaders?

Not those who give the impression of being infallible,

of never making a mistake,

of always knowing the right thing to do and getting it done straight away.

But those who are faithful, utterly committed to our welfare,

willing to admit when they've made a mistake,

wise enough to change tack if a plan isn't working.

Because they're concerned not about their own reputation,

but only about the glory of God and the good of his church.

Is that what we value?

Is that what we pray for, for our leaders?

That kind of humility.

Christian ministry is clear, not clever.

It's faithful, not flashy.

And thirdly, genuine Christian ministry.

Hopefully still filling in the gaps as we go.

It's about loving people, not lording it over them.

It's about loving people, not lording it over them.

Now we'll come back to verses 18 to 22 in a moment,

because they're really the heart of the passage.

For now, let's just pick up Paul's argument from verse 23.

But I call God to witness against me.

It was to spare you that I refrain from coming again to Corinth.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy.

For you stand firm in the faith.

For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.

For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?

And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice.

For I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.

For I wrote to you, out of much affliction and anguish of heart,

and with many tears, not to cause you pain,

but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

If you've read any Harry Potter, you might be familiar with the concept of a howler.

A howler is a magical letter in a bright red envelope

that literally shouts its contents at its recipients.

A howler is typically sent by an angry parent, Molly Weasley,

to her disobedient and recalcitrant offspring, Fred and George.

Well, Paul here is explaining to the Corinthians why he'd changed his plans,

and instead of visiting them, sent them his own version of a howler.

A stern letter calling them to repent.

Now, that letter doesn't actually survive.

It was written sometime between 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians,

and it was clearly very strongly worded.

A passionate rebuke for the way they were conducting themselves as a church.

Well, the reason that Paul didn't visit in person,

the reason he sent that howler instead,

wasn't because he didn't love the Corinthians,

or didn't want to see them.

Quite the opposite.

He'd done it, verse 23,

to spare them.

To spare them the pain of another difficult visit.

He'd done it, verse 24, for their joy,

and their faith.

So they'd have time to reflect on his rebuke,

repent,

and be restored.

Above all,

chapter 2, verse 4,

he'd done it out of love.

And again, Paul is contrasting himself

with what the Corinthians valued in their leaders.

They wanted leaders they could be proud of.

Leaders with natural charisma

and spiritual authority.

Able to impose their will on a church

and get things done.

And sadly, we're not that different.

I remember an older,

wiser Christian leader

warning a group of us as young ministers,

your church will want to put you on a pedestal

and you will want to be there.

And sadly, church history,

right up to and including today,

is littered with examples of leaders

who've succumbed to that kind of adulation.

Overbearing leaders,

celebrated for their apparent strength and success,

but essentially bullying and exploiting the flock

for their own egos and gain.

But that kind of leadership

is not Christian leadership

because it's not Christ-like leadership.

Christ-like leadership,

the kind of leadership that Jesus showed

when he walked this earth,

is all about sacrificing my ego,

sacrificing my comfort,

sacrificing my reputation for the good of others.

Sometimes that will mean having to say tough things to people,

like Paul does here.

God-leadership does not shy away

from difficult conversations,

doesn't sweep problems under the carpet

and hope they'll go away.

But equally, it doesn't relish

and seek out problems and conflict.

Sometimes it will decide with Paul

that discretion is the better part of valour,

and that a kind but clear letter or email

is the way to give people time to reflect

on what's being said,

rather than a face-to-face confrontation.

But it's overriding concern,

the thing that determines

whether and how an issue is addressed,

will always be love.

Not me getting something off my chest,

me proving that I was right all along,

but the eternal welfare of those that I serve.

Shall we look again at chapter 2, verse 4,

and read it through.

It's one of the most emotion-packed verses

in the whole Bible.

Dare I say that a Christian leader

who never experiences these kinds of feelings,

affliction, anguish, tears,

is not qualified to be a leader of God's people.

Because genuine Christian ministry

is about loving people,

not lording it over them.

And when you love people,

there is always the risk they will break your heart.

Clear, not clever.

Faithful, not flashy.

Loving, not lordly.

But why?

Why does genuine Christian ministry

have to look and feel like this,

so weak and unimpressive?

We'll look again at verse 12,

back at the start.

True Christian ministry looks like this

for the simple reason

that any other kind of ministry

will inevitably obscure the grace of God.

if a ministry or a church

is outwardly impressive in some way,

conservatoire-quality music,

TED Talk-style sermons,

barista-quality coffee,

Hollywood lighting effects,

then if that church grows,

the credit will go to the church

and its leaders.

Well done us.

Let's write a book about it.

But if a church grows

despite not being particularly slick

and professional,

despite having very ordinary leaders,

very ordinary music,

very ordinary services and activities,

if it grows simply by a clear message,

a faithful ministry,

and loving pastoral care,

God's ordinary means of grace,

then all the credit and glory

goes to God

and his gospel.

And that, I think,

is what Paul is talking about

in verses 18 to 22,

and this wonderful exposition

of God's faith.

It's really worth a sermon,

all of it on its own.

The point Paul is making

is that the character

of genuine Christian ministry

is shaped by the character

of the God revealed

in the gospel.

Christian ministry is clear,

faithful, and loving

because God is clear,

faithful, and loving.

So as we draw to a close,

not another sermon,

but let's briefly dig into these verses

and what they tell us about God.

So we're looking into the Christian faith.

They'll take us right to the heart

of why God can be trusted

with our lives and eternities.

If we're Christian believers already,

they'll give us two great reasons

to keep trusting God

for another week.

And children,

these are the last two bullet points

at the bottom of your sheets

if you've made it that far.

Number one,

God is faithful to his promises.

Here's the first thing

that we learn about God.

Faithful to his promises.

Verse 18,

As surely as God is faithful,

our word to you

has not been yes and no.

For the Son of God,

Jesus Christ,

whom we proclaimed among you,

Silvanus, Timothy, and I,

was not yes and no,

but in him it is always yes.

For all the promises of God

find their yes in him.

And that is why it is through him

that we utter our amen to God

for his glory.

We call the two halves of our Bible,

don't we,

the Old Testament

and the New Testament,

we could just as well call them

the promise

and the fulfillment.

The Old Testament,

with all its laws

and history

and proverbs

and poetry,

is one long promise.

A promise by God

to sort out the mess

that we've made

of our world

and our lives

and to bring us back

into relationship with him.

The New Testament

is then the true story

of how all those promises

came true

in Jesus.

Now some of those promises

are huge and global.

Salvation for the world,

blessing for the nations,

the restoration of the universe.

Other promises

are deeply personal

and individual.

Though I walk through

the valley of the shadow of death,

I'll fear no evil

because you're with me.

Either way,

the global,

the personal,

whatever the promise,

verse 20 is true.

Jesus is the one

who brings

all God's promises

to pass,

who fulfills

every prophecy,

who accomplishes

every purpose,

who matches

every prefigurement.

Perhaps there's

a particular promise

that you're struggling

to hold on to

at the moment right now.

The promise of forgiveness

even for that sin.

The promise of power

to change

even that habit.

The promise of good

worked out

even in the most

difficult of circumstances.

The promise of God's

purpose for our lives

even when we feel

totally hopeless

and useless.

If we're ever

tempted to doubt

a particular promise

of God,

we just look to Jesus

and all that he has done

to make that promise

come true,

love all by dying

and rising to new life.

Greatest promise

of all kept.

God is faithful

to his promises.

And secondly,

God is faithful

to his people.

Verse 21,

and it is God

who establishes us

with you

in Christ

and has anointed us

and who has put

his seal on us

and given us

his spirit

in our hearts

as a guarantee.

And here Paul shifts

from talking about

God's faithfulness

in history

to his faithfulness

in our own lives

and experience.

From the work of Christ

for us

in keeping those promises

and accomplishing

our salvation

to the work

of the Holy Spirit

in us

in applying those promises

and that salvation

to us today.

And Paul uses

two pictures

to help us grasp

the wonder

of the Spirit's work

in our lives.

First he says

the Spirit

is like a seal

of ownership.

I've got a seal

here,

a piece of wax

which you melt

onto a letter

and then a stamp

that you put into it

which leaves

an indelible mark.

That's how I do

all my correspondence

to Reuben.

Well that is,

Paul says,

God has done something

similar for the Christians.

He's poured his own

Spirit into our heart.

He's stamped us

as belonging to him

and he'll never

let us go.

He's sealed us

as his own

by putting his Spirit

to live within us.

We're marked out

as his.

That's the first picture

of God's faithfulness

to us,

a seal

that can't be broken.

But secondly,

says Paul,

the Spirit,

still in verse 22,

is like a guarantee

or a deposit

guaranteeing

what's to come.

If you ever buy

a house in England,

I don't know how it works

in other countries,

but here you have to

put down a deposit

10% of the purchase price.

And that deposit

is both a guarantee

that you'll pay the rest

because if you don't

you'll lose the deposit

and the house,

but it's also part

of the final payment,

10% of it.

Again,

the Holy Spirit

is like that.

He's the first

instalment

of our salvation.

When God brings us

to faith in Jesus,

he puts his Spirit

to live in us

so that even now,

from the very first day

we belong to him,

we can know

and love God

and walk with God

every moment of our lives

because his Spirit

is within us.

Even now,

by the Spirit,

I can call God

Father

and come to him

in prayer.

Even now,

by the Spirit,

we're being transformed,

made glorious,

as bit by bit

he makes us like Jesus.

And it's that old

mastermind catchphrase,

I've started

so I'll finish.

The same Spirit

who brought us

to faith in Jesus,

who is at work in us now,

making us like Jesus,

will one day

finish that work.

Just as he's given us

new spiritual life,

just as he is giving us

new moral life now,

changing us to be like Jesus,

one day he'll give us

new physical life,

resurrection bodies,

to live with Jesus forever

in the new creation.

God is faithful

to his promises,

he'll always keep them.

He's faithful

to his people,

he'll always keep us.

And the point is,

salvation is God's work

from beginning to end,

in its accomplishment

2,000 years ago

by Jesus,

in its application now

by the Spirit.

And that fundamental truth

should shape

how we do and view

all Christian ministry.

It's God the Son

who brings all God's promises

to pass,

not any Christian leader.

it's God,

the Holy Spirit,

who applies that salvation

to his people,

not any church minister.

Now the job of the Christian minister,

verse 20,

the task of us as a church,

is simply to say

our amen

to what God has already done,

to proclaim Christ

and his salvation,

clearly and faithfully,

and to invite others

to discover

and trust his faithfulness

as we have.

Worldly church leadership

will rely on itself

and so obscure

the faithfulness of God.

It'll be all about the leader,

his gifts,

his cleverness,

his knowledge,

his persuasiveness,

or all about

this particular church,

its resources,

its successes,

its fame and reputation.

genuine Christian ministry

will rely on God alone

and his promises

and therefore bring glory

to God alone,

to his grace,

his promises,

his son

and his spirit.

Let me read verse 20

and then let's pray.