The Church’s Dirty Little Secret
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 
Read the passage
BIO: My name is Paula Lindrum. I’m a native Floridian, raised in Orlando and a graduate of Rollins College. I am also a graduate of Bible Study Fellowship and have been a member of FPCO since 1990. I served as administrative assistant to Dr. Edington, Dr. Eckel, and am currently Dr. Swanson’s assistant. My two sons are married to wonderful women and they’ve blessed me with 3 beautiful grandchildren.
KEY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 12:20 “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.”
CENTRAL TRUTH: Relationships with people are often difficult, disappointing, and messy – even in the Church. But, Paul’s example is not to run the other way, but to persevere with each other.
DEVOTIONAL: The Church’s Dirty Little Secret
This passage isn’t a great sermon or lecture, instead we are reading Paul’s personal letter to people he loves who have let him down. And it’s not flowery prose, either. Actually, it’s emotional, confrontational and even sarcastic at times. It’s a window into Paul’s very human heart.
Here’s the situation: the church Paul founded in Corinth has come under the influence of some bogus teachers who have criticized Paul because preached and taught for free. They’ve even accused Paul of some sort of con game where he profited not by asking for financial compensation for himself, but by scamming the congregation with a plea for funds for the church in Jerusalem and then keeping the money.
Paul reminds them that he wasn’t a second-rate apostle who short-changed them – they saw plenty of signs and wonders with him. He didn’t burden them financially because he loved them, and he never exploited them. In verse 19 he asserts that he is accountable to God and his only motivation has been to strengthen them.
Next, Paul tells them he’s going to make a third trip to come back and see them. And then he shares his fear: “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.” And that’s the dirty little secret — we do disappoint each other and there is quarreling and all the rest that even the Apostle Paul couldn’t avoid. But, Paul’s example to us is that, in Christ and before God, our goal is to strengthen each other and love each other, and always make the third trip – Paul’s going back to them in spite of dreading what he will find when he gets there. And that’s the good news.
QUESTION 1: What group or person has repeatedly let you down until you’re ready to abandon them?
QUESTION 2: Where is fear of what you’ll find keeping you at a distance from others?
QUESTION 3: Who in your life is holding you accountable the way Paul is caring for this church?
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