Sermons on 2 Corinthians 4:12-17:

"Incentive For The Church To Stay Focused”

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Nov 12, 2001

It’s easy to start a Bible study; to start going back to church, to start a daily prayer time; the thing we must focus on is being faithful.

Intro: In a church in the Deep South where the preaching style was a “talk back” sort of style. The pastor was getting the congregation exited about their prospective future. The preacher said, “this church is like a crippled man who needs to get up and walk under the power of Jesus.” The ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Do I Suffer Affliction?

Contributed by Bob Briggs on Dec 14, 2000

Have you struggled with the thought, if I am a Christian why do I suffer affliction in my life?

Have you wondered, if God is going to bring blessing into my life, why do I seem to have so many struggles? Church, we have seasons of struggles and testing, the Lord has a purpose in not allowing us to be fruitful at all times. The seasons of struggle work to destroy the pride we have in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:17, Psalm 40:1-3

Denomination: Pentecostal

Surviving With Christ

Contributed by Chris Sparkman on Aug 23, 2001

Many times we face difficulties in life. Jesus Christ is there for each of us, He never fails, and He will lead you through!

Surviving with Christ 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 As we take our journey that begins at the cradle and ends upon this earth when we enter our grave. We will often times experience circumstances that we do not fully understand. Things will take place in our lives that we do not want to accept. In ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Mother Of Pearl

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Mar 20, 2002

Mother of pearl is a message about turning the grit of life into something beautiful, using the creation of a pearl as an illustration.

Mother of Pearl; turning the grit of life of life into something beautiful; do you have it in you? 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory; Pearls as a gift, have been considered from time immemorial, one of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Mystery Of Light Part 3

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 27, 2002

Scientists are baffled by the mystery of light they can study it but still don’t understand what light is. God is light according to the Bible and he’s as mysterious as light in the natural sense but like scientist we can study God and understand what l

Mystery of Light part 3 Opening Illustration: Video clip – To reference Bob’s comment last week at the end of the service. Show video clip on the need for son glasses (humorous). Thesis: Scientists are baffled by the mystery of light they can study it but still don’t understand what light is. God ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12, Matthew 5:14-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can You See What I Am Hearing?

Contributed by Joe Harding on Jul 8, 2001

God is still calling people to follow him into full time ministry and we must hear his voice and respond.

CAN YOU SEE WHAT I AM HEARING? NEW VISION I SAMUEL 3: 1-21 (II CORINTIANS 4: 5-12) JULY 8, 2001 INTRODUCTION: In More than You and Me, Kevin and Karen Miller write of the power of a God-given Vision: One couple lived in London 130 years ago. For the first 10 years of their marriage, William ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21, 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Denomination: Baptist

Beat Down? Series

Contributed by Greg Huguley on Jul 24, 2003

First in a series of sermons about the things in life that beat us down. Here we explore how other people beat us down and how we respond in a CHristlike and God-honoring way

LifeBeaters: Taking Back The Life God Promised You (Wk. 1, 7/13/30) Beat Down? 2 Corinthians 4:8-10,17 Introduction—What’s A Life Beater? Lifebeaters? The things in this life that beat you down. There are a lot of them you know, Things like worry, stress, depression, anger, guilt . . . They have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-17

Denomination: Baptist

God's Goodies In Cracked Pots

Contributed by Johann Neethling on Sep 3, 2003

We’re all earthen vessels – made from the dust of the earth – and some of us, are just cracked pots! But in them we carry an awesome treasure!

God’s Goodies in Cracked Pots Introduction: • Our oldest daughter, Maria, told us a wonderful story recently about a friend of hers in Lander, Wyoming who had gone out with her husband to the city dump to dispose of some larger yard trash. • As they were ditching their junk their eye caught a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18

Denomination: United Methodist

Hold On

Contributed by Olayinka Alamu on Sep 11, 2003

We should hold on to God no matter what

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Responding To A World Of Despair

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Nov 3, 2004

1- Live your faith 2- Stand firm in your faith 3-Spread your faith

INTRO.- ILL.- A grandmother overheard her 5-year-old granddaughter playing "wedding." The wedding vows went like this: "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say may be held against you, you have the right to have an attorney present. Now you may kiss the bride." ILL.- While enjoying ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Still Have Joy

Contributed by La Juana Morris on Nov 10, 2004

The Joy of the Lord is our Strength

I still Have Joy! II Corinthians 4:7-18 Joy a word small in stature but mighty in meaning Joy a directive a strong basis for the faith of a Christian And in our Christian journey we will find that Joy is the opposite of Happiness! Why? Well Happiness is the reaction to an action where as Joy is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Denomination: Methodist

Troubled But Not Distressed

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 14, 2003

Too many people fall in to the trap of feeling like they are a victim of their circumstances. John Leo, in the Dec. 8th, 2003 edition of US News and World Report writes: "Expert victimologists estimate that 91.2% of people in North America and Europe now

Troubled but Not Distressed (2 Cor. 4:8-18) Paul reminds us that even though we may think we are at the end of our rope, we are never without hope. Paul faced all kinds of troubles, hardships and adversity for the sake of the Lord Jesus and His kingdom’s ministries. Regardless of the risks, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Keep Going When You Can't Go On

Contributed by Mike Turner on Jan 21, 2004

All of us get to the point where we feel we can’t go any further. By looking at the words of Paul, we can learn how to keep going when we can’t go on !

How To Keep Going When You Can’t Go On 2 Cor. 4:1-18 I believe my sermon title tonight would be called a oxymoron. It doesn’t hardly make sense does it. Yet, there are times when we must keep going when we just feel like we can’t. Have you ever said, " I just don’t know how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Strong Men (And Women Too)

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 31, 2004

For Black History Month; using the poetry of Sterling A. Brown, "Strong Men", to illuminate the African-American experience and to connect with Paul’s analysis of the source of strength.

Bill Cosby has a routine about little old ladies who stand around looking cool. He says that if you mess with one of these harmless-looking, gray-haired little old ladies, don’t imagine that you can take them on and win. Says Cosby, you ought never to mess with a little old lady standing around ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Ultra-Runners

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Feb 17, 2004

Have you ever wondered - "What’s the secret of sticking with it spiritually?" An examination of Paul’s secrets of spiritual endurance, discovering how we can have the endurance of an "ultrarunner."

SCRIPTURE READING: "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at things which are seen, but at ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Holiness