Power in Weakness. 2 Corinthians. Part 4. Jars of Clay

Read: 2 Corinthians 4

• What do you notice?
• What stands out to you?
• What observations or questions does this passage raise?

Discuss:

This chapter starts and ends [v.1 and 16-18] with reasons not to lose heart.

• What are these reasons, and why do you think Paul feels the need to address this so much?
• In relation to your faith and actions taken in response to your faith, what discourages you?
• How can we help you to be more encouraged and persevere?

In v. 3-6 Paul makes it plain that we need the truth about Jesus revealed to us to overcome spiritual blindness and really see the truth.

• What does this suggest are key ingredients of successfully sharing the Gospel with someone?
• What does it imply about our ability to absorb and respond to spiritual truth and the direction of the Spirit?
• How might this ‘spiritual blindness’ play out in our modern context – in other words, what might be the objections raised by someone whose ability to understand is still obscured?
• Do you think that would be different in different cultures?

• What do you think it means that God’s glory is displayed in the face of Jesus?
• Where do you think Paul is going with his analogy about clay jars?

Pray: that we might be able to stay encouraged – not losing heart – in our service and sharing, that God might remove the blindness of people we are sharing with, and that we might see and celebrate the glory of God shown in the face of Jesus.