Week #3– FEB 10/11 - WINTER 2018

Influencing Others 1 Corinthians 11:1-2

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Let’s do life together! This past weekend our Pastors challenged us to read the Bible every

day for the next 21 days by reading a chapter in John each day. Who found their chair this

week? Who accepted the challenge and have read every day? How did God speak to you? (you

may want to turn to the book of John).

T.E.A.M. Signups: Leaders - if you need to bring up T.E.A.M. and get people serving with in your

group please do.

Our Subject Today “Influencing Others” - We will be talking about how we are to influence

others.

1) This is a powerful statement from Paul. Can you say those words to someone, “Follow me as

I follow Jesus”? Why do believers think this is so difficult?

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2) Let’s make it very practical - If you could pick one person in your life, family, neighbor,

friend, someone at work who God has convicted you to share Jesus with, who are they?

(LEADER NOTE - you may need to give your group members time to ask God about this).

Let’s go around the circle and share as God leads about your person you want to influence.

3) Share your thoughts with the group of the meaning of being a new creation in Christ.

4) Becoming a Christ follower means you have been forgiven of things in your past. Why is it

hard to let go of the past and instead dwell on the past and let the past control you?

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5) What does it mean to have a ministry of reconciliation? Is this something just for pastors or every born again believer? Why are we not more involved in reconciling people?

6) Being an ambassador is considered to be one of the highest honors an individual can have, and so how cool is it then, that God appoints us to be that very thing? What are some of the challenges in being an ambassador?

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1. Today, I will participate in our church-wide survey using the FFC app or this

link: bit.ly/Fishhawkchurchney3

2. Today, I will complete my 4 neighbors/classmates map.

3. This week, I will pray for and look for opportunities to influence the 4 people

and families on my map for Christ.

4. This week, I will memorize 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow

the example of Christ.”

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Last week you were challenged to memorize Psalm 119:18 and Matthew 6:6,

how did you do? Can anyone quote one or both verses?

This week, find someone you can influence by praying and inviting them to fill

the empty chair in our LIFEgroup? Our group may be full but never closed!

Next week we’ll discuss any opportunities we had to influence others.

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Question 1

1 Corinthians 11:1-2

As a result of the consistency with which Paul fulfilled this service, he felt capable of encouraging the Corinthians to follow his example as he followed the example of Christ. Christ gave up his freedom and honor, humbling himself to the point of death on a cross, in order to save others (Phil. 2:5–8). Paul encouraged the Corinthians to remember Christ’s great sacrifice as the perfect model of love and concern for others (see Eph. 4:32–5:1). (Richard L. Pratt Jr, I & II Corinthians, vol. 7, Holman New Testament Commentary [Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000])

Men are imitative beings, and, from a law of their nature, those whom they most admire and with whom they most associate, they become like in spirit and in character. The request of Paul here, at first sight, seems somewhat arrogant: “Be ye followers of me.” No man has a right to make such an unqualified claim on another. Hence Paul puts the limitation, “Even as I also am of Christ.” The apostle undoubtedly refers to the preceding verses, in which he speaks of himself as not seeking his own pleasure or profit, but that of others. This Christ did. We are told that he “pleased not himself.” He means to say, “Be like me in this respect, as I in this respect resemble Christ.” Here is the principle that should regulate our imitation of men; imitate them just so far as they resemble Christ. Children should not imitate their parents, pupils should not imitate their teachers, congregations should not imitate their ministers, only so far as they resemble Christ. (H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., 1 Corinthians, The Pulpit Commentary [London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909])

Question 3.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Paul asserted that every person who is in Christ—who is joined to him in his death and resurrection—has become a new creation. Paul drew from Old Testament prophetic language, describing the new world that God would bring at the end of the age (Isa. 66:22). This language also appears in the New Testament (2 Pet. 3:13). “New creation” describes those who follow Christ because they have begun the transformation that will eventually lead to their full enjoyment of salvation in the new heavens and new earth.

Paul’s ministry was compelled by the display of Christ’s love on the cross. Paul had been united to Christ in his death and resurrection, and thus had been inwardly renewed and regenerated. In this changed state, he began to look at people differently. Prior to coming to Christ, Paul would not have thought about the Corinthians much. But now the shadow of Christ’s cross fell across his view every time he looked at other people. He saw believers as new creations in Christ and unbelievers as people in need of Christ. This perspective shaped his ministry. (Richard L. Pratt Jr, I & II Corinthians, vol. 7, Holman New Testament Commentary [Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000])

The words “in Christ” refer to being in union with him. Genuine conversion begins life transformation, but not by reforming the old nature. The indwelling Spirit creates divine life in believers (Romans 8:8–10), so that the new has come. Other NT passages communicate this truth by using language such as “born again” or “regeneration” (John 3:3–8; Titus 3:5; 1Peter 1:23). (Kendell H. Easley, “2 Corinthians,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax [Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017])

Question 4.

Isaiah 43:25.

God freely offers atonement for sin for those who confess and turn from their sins. Although it may not make much sense for God to blot out a person’s sins and not hold him guilty for the evil done, such is the indescribable grace of God that is born out of his amazing love.

COMMENTARY

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Question 4, cont.

Isaiah 43:25.

He forgives because of who he is. He desires to be reconciled with his people so much that he makes the renewal of the God-man relationship possible. Being forgiven is not a thing that a person does; it is accomplished solely on account of God’s merciful granting of complete freedom from guilt. In order to bring glory to God (“for my own sake” lĕmaʿănî), God will do what is not required, expected, or thought conceivable. He will completely blot out the problem of sin that separates himself from his people. (Gary Smith, Isaiah 40-66, vol. 15B, The New American Commentary [Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2009])

Question 5.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19.

Reconciliation: Bringing together of two parties that are estranged or in dispute. Reconciliation basically means “change” or “exchange.” The idea is of a change of relationship, an exchange of antagonism for goodwill, enmity for friendship.

In the restoration of relationship between God and humanity, reconciliation occurs with an unexpected twist. God, the injured party, takes the initiative (2 Cor. 5:19). When Paul admonishes his readers in 2 Cor. 5:20 to “be reconciled to God,” he is telling them to receive humbly and gratefully the reconciliation that God has already achieved in Christ.

God’s reconciling work is in large measure the ministry of the church. Believers have been commissioned by the resurrected Lord to have a message and ministry of reconciliation. (Stan Norman, “Reconciliation,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary [Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003])

Question 6.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21.

Paul identifies himself as an ambassador of Christ. He is Christ’s spokesman. He does not act on his own authority but under the commission of a greater power and authority who sent him. Paul therefore understands himself to be divinely authorized to announce to the world God’s terms for peace. Envoys were usually sent to others as a sign of friendship and good will, to establish a relationship, to renew friendly relations, or to make an alliance. God’s purpose in sending Christ and his envoys has the same end—to put an end to hostilities and to bring about a reconciliation. Being Christ’s ambassador has not given Paul a sacrosanct status in the eyes of this world nor any diplomatic immunity. He is an ambassador in chains (Eph 6:20), incarcerated, beaten, and dishonored (2 Cor 6:4–10). While other ambassadors might wear gold chains and pendants as tokens of the wealth and power of those they represented, the insignia of Paul’s embassy is his chains.

Our picture of ambassadors as career diplomats residing in foreign embassies does not fit the situation in the first century. Many did not welcome the prospect of having to leave one’s home for a prolonged period of time or having to undergo the long and strenuous journey to wherever they might have to go, usually to Rome.

By contrast Paul does not consider being an ambassador of Christ an onerous task but an enormous privilege to become part of God’s saving enterprise in the world. The church not only is to preserve sound doctrine but is called by God to be, as apostles were, a reconciling force. That means it must adopt the status of a servant and must be active in a ministry of helping and healing. (David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians, vol. 29, The New American Commentary [Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999])

(All quotations used by permission of the publisher or are public domain works.)