You might think that II Corinthians is just another letter in the New Testament, but it is in fact a battleground for the survival of the Church.  In the weeks ahead we will be handling some white hot theology, that will push us to think through our own understanding of what constitutes authentic Christian experience and indeed, what constitutes an authentic Church.  Paul is generally a pretty irenic guy, willing to sacrifice wherever he can for the sake of unity (see e.g. Rom.14, I Cor.8-9 etc.).  But sometimes ‘live and let live’ will kill a Church, and if we can’t distinguish between those two categories, we’ll do a lot of damage very quickly.  The issues in II Corinthians are definitely in the latter category.  There are two ideas about what it means to be the Church vying for the Corinthians’ acceptance.  And if they choose the wrong one, the Church will die.  Of course, both claim to be genuinely Christian...  so how are they supposed to be able to tell which is which?  That’s what II Corinthians is about, and actually, it’s all very straightforward when you know how (1:13).

We’ll get into the details of what’s at stake in the coming weeks, but we already get a flavour of the coming battle in the first half of Chapter 1.  One of the key issues will focus on the place of suffering in the Christian life.  It is too easy to assume that being a Christian should somehow mean God protects us from suffering.  Paul knows he worships a crucified God.  Suffering has its place in the life of God, and so it has its place in the life of the Church.  More on that later.

But before Paul is able to get to the front line, he does have one or two outstanding issues to attend to, loose ends as it were, from his first letter to Corinth.  The first relates to I Cor.16:5-8, where Paul expresses the hope that he can visit the Corinthians.  But Paul never turned up, and that caused some hurt and confusion.  Worse, it is being used by his opponents to insinuate that Paul can’t be trusted...

Questions:

In 1:3-11, Paul begins to outlines some of God’s purposes in our experience of suffering – for us, and for others.  Can you identify them?  Can you think of other passages that help us understand what God is doing in our suffering? 

Is it right for Christians to pray to avoid suffering?  ...and if so, under what circumstances?  Why do you think Paul doesn’t seek to avoid the sufferings he’s relating in these verses? 

In Rom.5:3, Paul talks about how Christians glory in their suffering.  What does he mean by that?  Should we follow such masochistic thinking?

Do you think MIE is good at supporting each other in the midst of suffering?  Why are we so reluctant to share our suffering?  As a HomeGroup, are there ways you can help support each other more effectively?  How can we support each other in ways that ensure God’s purposes are realised?

Do you think Paul is talking about suffering that Christians uniquely experience, rather than the suffering that is the common lot of humanity (see e.g. v.5)?  Does the type of suffering affect how you answer these kinds of questions?

In vv.12-23 (actually Paul’s train of thought runs through to 2:4), why is Paul so concerned that the Corinthians understand he is acting with ‘integrity and godly sincerity’?   Should this be of equal concern to all Christians?  Is there really a Christian way to plan our diary?  What is it?

How does the way we make arrangements point to the Gospel?  What does it mean to say that all God’s promises are ‘Yes’ in Christ?  Is Paul stretching the point here?  According to Paul in this passage, how important is it that we can trust God? ...and those who minister in His name?

What does Paul mean when he talks of Christians ‘boasting’ in each other (v.14)?  Who will you boast in on ‘the day of the Lord Jesus’, and why?

What does this section of II Corinthians teach us about how to handle conflict in the Church?