Comfort Out

Written by Ed Allen
 Sunday, 25 November 2007 07:00

General Sermons

mp3

Sermon Notes

2 Corinthians 1:3–7

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6If 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. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

We are in effect extension cords. God comforts others through us.

We live for others...

  • That is our purpose... what we were created for.
  • When we don’t live for others, we block God’s power.

I live for others, so...

  • No matter how difficult my circumstances are right now, I know comfort is on the way... if I put my hope in God.
    • Sometimes it seems like it will never come, but it is on the way.
    • Psalm 103 “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name...”
  • The consolation that I receive from God is not deliverance from trouble, but comfort in and through trouble.
  • The comfort I receive is not for me; it is for others.

So What? Since you live for others...

  • Don’t get stuck in your troubles.
  • Don’t be stingy with your comfort.
    • Get engaged in other people’s lives.

Small Group Questions

?COMFORT OUT?

2 Corinthians 3:3-7

Icebreaker:

What is your favorite activity you do on a weekly basis?

Worship:

Sing or Talk about all the great attributes that God has revealed about Himself.

Edification questions:

  1. What does this passage say about God the Father? About Jesus?
  2. What special comfort deposits has God made in your life? (What experiences has He led you and comforted you through?)
  3. Can you recall a time when you experienced yourself being used to give comfort to others because of comfort you had received? Would you share it?
  4. Are there certain kinds of trouble that are likely to cause you to get stuck (eg. worry, discouragement, physical pain, broken heart, betrayal, loss ?)? Let?s pray for one another about these areas.
  5. Are you stuck in any kind of ?trouble? right now?
  6. What might lead you to be stingy with your comfort?
  7. How can we encourage you to be less stingy with your comfort of others?

Vision Time:

What can we do this Christmas season to love on those who don?t yet know of God?s Christmas gift to them?

Website developed by ChurchKatalyst