Could You Use A Little Encouragement? (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Annual Meeting 2021

 Could You Use A Little Encouragement? (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Annual Meeting 2021

GIST: We can be those who don’t lose heart; we can have constant renewal in the face of persistent decay; we can view suffering as preparation for mind-blowing glory; and we can prioritize eternal over temporary.

I was surprised when Bro Bob called me a few months back and asked me to speak today. We play phone tag a lot, and between teaching and pastoring, I’m really bad at tagging back ☺️, so I thought he might be calling to ask if we were still in the association ☺️. Nonetheless, I feel really honored to be asked to share with you guys. 

I also want to make sure and acknowledge who I’m preaching to today. Let’s be completely honest. If you’re at the annual meeting, you’ve already had a full day. In fact, a large number of you have already preached sermons to your own congregations just before coming out here. I had several people ask me this, so I’ll go ahead and clear the air. This isn’t the sermon I preached at Providence this morning, or one from a previous series ☺️. When I was praying about what to share with this group, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 immediately came to mind, so we’re going to camp out there for a bit this afternoon. I also figured you needed some encouragement because, though you might be running on Sunday-adrenaline right now, you’re probably exhausted. Furthermore, I assumed you probably didn’t need a long sermon from one of the youngest pastors in the association, so I plan on trying to keep this short and sweet (feel free to be the judge on both accounts ☺️) .

First, let’s look at 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

“16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

I find myself quoting these verses a lot. They’re powerful and encouraging and comforting, and they don’t really need much explanation. Typically, when I preach, I start with a “gist statement” so my congregation knows what they missed while they were napping. My gist for us is more a series of truths I want us to chew on a bit real quickly today—> We can be those who don’t lose heart; we can have constant renewal in the face of persistent decay; we can view suffering as preparation for mind-blowing glory; and we can prioritize eternal over temporary.

I teased you with saying this would hopefully be a short sermon, so let’s dive in! 

I. WE CAN BE THOSE WHO DON’T LOSE HEART

“So we do not lose heart... “

We know this “so” is tied to what he’s been outlining above this passage. Many of you are likely familiar with the context, but here’s a beautiful refresher-snippet: “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:5-10‬)

You will be shaken but not destroyed. We can have hope in the midst of hardship because our lives aren’t about us. They belong to Jesus who, because of His incredible love, has already won the victory in our place. 

O soul are you weary and troubled

No light in the darkness you see

There's light for a look at the Savior

And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace (“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”)

II. WE CAN HAVE CONSTANT RENEWAL IN THE FACE OF PERSISTENT DECAY.

“Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. “

Let’s start with that first promise: you’re dying. I know that seems less than encouraging ☺️, but we’re just “keeping it real”. Your body will fail you. Jesus won’t. We might be crumbling or at least moving toward times of crumbling, but→ 

Every day, our soul can be refreshed. We all know the excitement of renewal or something fresh, a new start. Even a new haircut, unless it’s a hack-job, gives us a certain confidence. New cars, which many of us might never actually experience, are apparently so impactful they have a smell named after them. As a teacher, I always think about the excitement of a new school year. Even though it only lasts a short while, there is that sense of opportunity and expectation that permeates the atmosphere. It’s exciting. And, guys, in Christ, everyday is new. 

At school, I tell my students “Merry Christmas” everyday. When they ask me why, I always respond with: “It’s a lifestyle.” It should be. That excitement of knowing Jesus had shown up and is bringing hope and life where it is not is something we can celebrate everyday.  

III. WE CAN VIEW SUFFERING AS PREPARATION FOR MIND-BLOWING GLORY.

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”

Our suffering isn’t without purpose. He’s moving in the midst of the pain. He’s making something beautiful despite the hurt and chaos…if we look to Him. Seeing that now gives us a glimpse into what we will ultimately experience when He makes all things new and wipes every tear, and we experience His goodness first hand in Heaven.

Oh, and it’s going to be incredible! This passage calls it beyond all comparison. I always put it like this. We’re about to enter one of the most beautiful times of the year in Missouri. It’s hard to beat a morning when the leaves start turning. You have those cool early fall breezes blowing, and those red sunrises. It’s gorgeous…and this is the broken version! 

So we can look at these struggles as preparation for what is coming, and with this outlook→ 

IV. WE CAN PRIORITIZE ETERNAL OVER TEMPORARY. 

“as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Again, let’s acknowledge who’s in this room. Most of you, not just the pastors, have just lived through trying to love and serve your churches through a pandemic that tossed everything upside down. Now, most of you are trying to navigate living for Christ in a, maybe, post-pandemic world. Let’s just be completely honest. None of us were prepared for this. None of us are really good at this ☺️, but none of this is forever. 2020 might have seemed like it was going to last forever, but this is temporary. So how do we live in the middle of a crazy transient world? Live for the eternal! Love God. Love people. Don’t lose heart. 

Ok, I have one→  

TAKEAWAY

All of these are “cans”, but they aren’t automatic. Are you living like these are true?

We should be those who don’t lose heart; we can have constant renewal in the face of persistent decay; we can view suffering as preparation for mind-blowing glory; and we can prioritize eternal over temporary.

Small group prayer time. I think we all need this more than 15 more minutes of me preaching.