Sermons on 2 Corinthians 11:21-12:10:

Strength Through Weakness Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Apr 15, 2018

Paul dealt with a thorn in the flesh, a continual, unceasing burden. Although he had prayed specifically three times for the Lord to remove it, the thorn remained. God allowed his thorn in the flesh for a purpose.

Strength through Weakness 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 Our text today comes from the second letter Paul had written to the Corinthian church. The church at Corinth struggled with purity and spiritual consistency. While they had embraced the Gospel, many continued to walk according to the flesh, and the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Bu God Said, 'no!'

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 23, 2018

Many prayers went up for my wife's healing after the discovery of an aggressive brain tumor. She died in March of 2018. God said NO to her healing in this world. How do we respond when the answer is ,'No'?

1. 2 Corinthians 12.5-10 2. God’s Timing A young man visited the father of his girlfriend to ask the father’s permission to marry his daughter. To his surprise, the father said “No.” The young man thought it was a formality; the father took it much more seriously. The father explained to the young ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:5-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When God Says No

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Jul 8, 2018

Like Paul, we all have a "thorn in the flesh." We can learn from Paul that God allows it, Satan sends it, and we can accept it. Because when we are weak, then we are strong, with God's strength on display through our weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 When God Says No Have you ever received a “no” answer from God? It hurts, right? You think you know best, you really do. And then God says, “I don’t think so.” Well, it particularly hurts when you’ve been suffering, and not only does God not remove the suffering, but maybe ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Power In The Thorns Of Life

Contributed by Randy Shepard on Jul 9, 2018

If we are humble enough to ask, Christ will let His power rest on us to help us dear with the thorns we encounter in life.

The year 1527 was the most trying year of Martin Luther’s life. On April 22 he was preaching in Wittenberg when he became dizzy and fainted. Over the next several months he dealt with debilitating depression and sickness. It had been 10 years since he had published his 95 theses. He had battled ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-13, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Denomination: United Methodist

Strength In Weakness

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Jul 15, 2018

This statement of the Apostle Paul, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” is confusing and difficult for many to accept. Paul was not anti-power or wanted us to be weak. He was a very strong man in many aspects of his life. What did he really mean?

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” This statement of the Apostle Paul is confusing and difficult for many to accept. Many people want to be strong, whether physically (by doing weights and endurance training in fitness centers or if necessary, taking strong herbal or energy drinks), ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Says 'no'

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 22, 2018

Sometimes God says no. When you are weakened by His answer, He will strengthen you by His grace.

The late Chuck Colson of Watergate fame shared his experience when God said NO. The great paradox [of my life] is that every time I walk into a prison and see the faces of men or women who have been transformed by the power of the living God, I realize that the thing God has chosen to use in my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Denomination: Other

Encouragement Pt 1 Series

Contributed by David Welch on Aug 15, 2018

This is the first of three messages exploring the concept of encouragement from God and each other. This messages focuses on God's encouragement.

Chico Alliance Church Pastor David Welch “Our God of All Encouragement” Introduction Most of you could complete the lyrics of this old song. “Where seldom was heard….” Today’s culture broadcasts plenty of discouraging words. Today’s environment generates abundant discouraging circumstances. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, 2 Corinthians 7:5-7, James 1:2-4

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Turning Thorns Into Roses

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 3, 2018

The decided weakness of Paul, which he called his “thorn” was kept vague so everybody could relate to whatever type of aggravating affliction, discomfort, constant temptation, emotional or physical or bouts.

14B Elif Shafak wrote “be thankful for every thorn that others might throw at you. It is a sign that you will soon be showered in roses”   1). The thorn “thrown”at Our Lord in our Gospel reading today was actually the rude comments by his hometown folks who dismissed him as being “all too ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Mark 6:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

The Character Of A Disciple: Endurance Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jun 19, 2018

Endurance. Strength and inner-lasting ... Digging deep down into your guts, your heart, your soul to find that reservoir of strength that keeps us going when we want to lay down and quit. God is that reservoir and Paul is a great example of enduranc

August, 1974, Fort Dix, New Jersey … That’s where I did my basic training for the U.S. Army. The Vietnam was almost over … but not quite. It would end six months after I joined. So, the Army was still training us as if we were going to the jungles of ‘Nam. All of my drill sergeants were tough ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:23-27

Denomination: United Methodist

In Weakness Power May Reach Perfection

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 30, 2018

how can we reach out to the thousands of souls starving for faith, hungry for Christ?

Fourteenth Sunday in Course 2018 Power Made Perfect “Where did He get all this?” We’ve all heard rags-to-riches stories of men and women who have started out with nothing and succeeded beyond all expectations. Abraham Lincoln born in a log cabin in LaRue County, KY, elected twice president, ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 2:2-5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Mark 6:1-6, Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Catholic

Trials Of Suffering

Contributed by Alexandria Jimenez on Jun 30, 2018

We aren't promised to never experience suffering, but how do we react and handle it, when our lives become the target to suffering?

Can you imagine the emotional state, along with the nerve wrecking distress that Jesus Christ himself felt the day before he was nailed to the cross? Can you imagine the hours, down to the minutes, and then the seconds, that our Father counted till his ultimate sacrifice, and our ultimate ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:35-36, Luke 22:42-43, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Mark 14:22-24

Dealing With A Thorny Situation

Contributed by Derrick White Sr on Nov 28, 2017

FOR GOD ALLOWED PAUL TO SEE AND HEAR SOME THINGS CONNECTED TO THE THIRD HEAVEN IN PAUL 2ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 12 CHAPTER VERSE 4 PAUL DESCRIBE THOSE THING AS UNSPEAKABLE

DEALING WITH A THORNY SITUATION 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV) 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Grace: It’s So Much More Than God’s Favor

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Apr 8, 2017

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the Lord tells Paul "My grace is sufficient." If God's grace is all Paul needed to deal with the messenger from Satan, perhaps there's more about grace that we need to know and understand.

I have been reading 2 Corinthians 12 about the Apostle Paul and his pleading with God three times to handle “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan” sent to stop him from preaching the gospel. The Lord’s response gives me goosebumps. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 2:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fasting & You

Contributed by Bishop Emma Omon on Apr 22, 2017

An inspiring teaching on the purpose and power of fasting from the New Testament perspective. It also features a helpful guide for effective fasting.

A few weeks ago I received a call from a young minister of the gospel who wanted to know my view on the subject of fasting. He explained that he attended a Christian conference recently where the guest preacher got him confused about fasting. According to him the preacher made a mockery of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-2, Acts 13:3, 2 Corinthians 11:27, 2 Corinthians 6:4-5, 1 Corinthians 7:4-5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

What If Things Don't Change? Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Apr 27, 2017

hang on to God when things don't change

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong . (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Last week I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Matthew 26:39

Denomination: Episcopal