Sunday, February 12, 2023
Lesson Text: II Corinthians 1:3-11
King James Version (KJV)
I. THE VALUE OF COMFORT (II Corinthians 1:3-7)
3. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
II. THE VALUE OF PRAYER (II Corinthians 1:8-11)
8. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
11. Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
New International Version (NIV)
I. THE VALUE OF COMFORT (II Corinthians 1:3-7)
3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
4. who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
5. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
6. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
7. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
II. THE VALUE OF PRAYER (II Corinthians 1:8-11)
8. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
9. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
10. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
11. as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
PRACTICAL POINTS FOR DISCUSSION:
God not only comforts us in our times of need, but He expects us to return the favor to others (II Corinthians 1:3-4).
When we persevere in our sufferings, it encourages others to do the same (II Corinthians 1:5-7).
Trials and sufferings will surely come to believers, but we can persevere as we trust in God (II Corinthians 1:8-9).
Our prayers can help fellow believers overcome times of suffering and difficult trials (II Corinthians 1:10-11).
***The Sunday School Lesson, Union Gospel Press Curriculum***
Leave A Comment