God, Who Comforts
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Comfort
2 Corinthians 7:2-10 (ESV)
2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Sermon Outline
Our stress (v5) are best addressed by the comforts God provides as we root ourselves more deeply in Him (v4).
1. God sends people.
v6 “God… comforted us by the coming of Titus”
v7 “also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you”
v9 “I rejoice, not because you were grieved…”
v3 “you are in our hearts”
2. God sends his Son.
v6 “But God, who comforts the downcast…”
v10 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret…”
Prayer of Confession
God, who comforts the downcast, we humble ourselves before you now. We confess that we often turn from you, especially in our grief. We turn to things that dishonor you. We turn against you. Forgive our sins. Forgive us for how we grieve others. Lord, we need your help. We ask for mercy, and in repenting of our sins we pray you would accept us because of what Jesus graciously did on our behalf. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
When you are tired and anxious, what are your go-to comforts?
What are some ways that God provides for His people through His people? How can we recognize God’s provision for us as it comes through others?
What are differences between “godly grief” and “worldly grief”?
A church is meant to be a community that follows God and where God works, yet we often wound each other. How should we understand this? What should we do?
How does the comfort of God come to us in Christ? Why is it easier for us to connect with God in our need because Jesus came to us?
What does the habit of repentance look like? Are you practicing turning to God with frequency?
What are some strategies that can help you exist in a state of stress while resisting problematic comforts as you wait on God?
What are some ways you can be more available to bring God’s comfort to others? How can you better relate to others so that God’s work in you becomes a help to them?