Emotionally Healthy Discipleship
2 Corinthians
How is strength found through weakness? How did Paul develop his Theology of Weakness?
Small Group Discussion Guide (5/28/23)
Series: Emotionally Healthy Discipleship
Sermon: Vulnerability & Weakness
Opening Discussion
What is strength? What comes to mind and how would you describe strength?
What is weakness? What comes to mind and how would you describe weakness?
Text Study
Read 2 Cor. 1:3-7 – how does God comfort us in our troubles? How does God use us to comfort others?
Read 2 Cor. 1:8-9 – from Paul’s perspective, what did the troubles he endured make him feel? According to Paul, why did these things happen?
Read 2 Cor. 4:8-10; 6:4-6; 7:5-7; 11:23-28.
What are some of the things that Paul and his companions went through?
What do you think enduring all this would do to you?
Theology of Weakness
Read 2 Cor. 12:1-10 – what stands out to you? What questions do you have?
Why was Paul given a thorn in his flesh?
According to this passage, where is strength found? What is the problem with relying on our own strength?
Do you have any examples from your own life of how this principle is true of you?
In what ways can we be vulnerable about our weaknesses? How do we resist being vulnerable and why? How might God work through us if we are vulnerable about our weaknesses?
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
New International Version
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn
12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.