Sermons on 2 Corinthians 12:1-8:

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

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

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

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

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

Thanksgiving

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Sep 7, 2017

In the Bible, giving of thanks goes far beyond an annual American celebration on a day we remember to thank God for a multitude of blessings. It is a preoccupation of every Christian and extends even to those elders who are "before the throne" in heaven.

Note: I have some simple, not fancy textual slides I used with this sermon. If anyone is interested, I'll send them directly by email if you'll send an email to me at sam@srmccormick.net with the subject: Thanksgiving slides. THANKSGIVING I. In his 2nd letter to the Corinthian church, Paul told ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Psalm 100:3-5, 1 Corinthians 10:29-30, Romans 14:6, Luke 22:17-19, Deuteronomy 12:10-11, Daniel 6:10, 2 Corinthians 4:15, Luke 18:10-14, Nehemiah 12:27-46, 1 Chronicles 16:7-36, 1 Chronicles 16:7-8, 2 Chronicles 7:12, Leviticus 22:29, Leviticus 7:12-15, Revelation 11:16-18, Ephesians 5:18-20, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Paul: "The Thorns Really Hurt" Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Sep 25, 2017

Physical Pain, Unanswered Prayers, Grace

OUT OF WEAKNESS…STRENGTH - Paul: “The Thorns Really Hurt” 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (p. 808) October 1, 2017 Introduction: Have you ever wondered why God put thorns on roses? Well, here’s the scientific answer from a Harvard professor: “Roses really don’t have thorns…thorns ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Sustaining Grace” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Oct 9, 2017

God's grace can sustain us in the midst of our pain.

We live in a painful world. Turn on the news and you’ll hear a long list of stomach churning and tear jerking events, such as the evil we saw on display recently with the Las Vegas shooting. "People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire." - Job 5:7 (NLT) Job says as surely ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Thorn In The Flesh

Contributed by Wilson Oshorakpor on Apr 21, 2022

Paul had a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan sent to buffet him. God allowed it to keep him humble. God used the weakness in Paul's life to show His mighty power and majesty. God is able to turn our weaknesses to strengths if we surrender to Him.

TEXT: 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 "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. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, 2 Corinthians 4:7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Praying For God’s Will – Submitting To God’s Way

Contributed by Esther Collins on May 11, 2022

Often we pray for God's will, and hope things will work out the way we want them to. But in reality it's in submitting to His will, and willingly going His way can we experience God's perfect blessings.

When life is hard, and things don’t go as we planned we get discouraged. In times like these we go to God in prayer. As we pray fervently we hope that God will answer us the way we want Him to. We pray for God’s will to be done, and when we find that God’s will is not as we planned or desired, we ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:10-12, Deuteronomy 3:23-26, 2 Samuel 12:15-17, 2 Samuel 12:22-23, Daniel 6:10-11, Matthew 26:39, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, Matthew 26:45-46  (view more)  (view less)

The Treasure Of Scripture Over The Experience Of People: A Warning

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on May 22, 2021

When the rich man in hell begged for Lazarus to be sent back to warn his family about avoiding his fate, Abraham reminded him that they had the Scriptures. Nothing else has ever been used of the LORD other than His Word to convict the sinner.

Whenever a real man of God stands behind the pulpit and preaches the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:1-5), he is to hold nothing back and never compromise the Scriptures for the sake of feeling, alleged offense, or cultural beliefs. No preacher worth his sacred calling should ever water down the power ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:27-31, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Acts 7:54-60, Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist