12 - A profile of Christ’s Ambassadors

2 Corinthians 6:3-13 - Tim SmylieFor the sake of the gospelWe commend ourselves in every way:♦ by our faithful perseverance (vv4b-5)♦ by our godly character (vv6-7)♦ by our new-creation perspective (vv8-10)♦ by our open hearts (vv11-13)

11 - The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2 - Tim Smylie “Christ’s love compels us”: in Christ we have a new life to live (5:14-17) “Be reconciled to God”: we are ambassadors for Christ and the new life he brings (5:18-6:2)

10 - What are you living for?

2 Corinthians 5:6-13 - Tim SmylieOur faith in future realities guides our lives in the present (vv6-9)- we live to please our Lord now, because we will live to please him thenThe way we live in the present will have consequences in the future (vv10-13)- so we live, not for spectacular religious experiences, but for the spread of the gospel

09 - What are you looking at?

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5 - Tim SmylieAs we focus on eternal realities:I. We become more substantial people here and now (4:16-18)II. We experience a deep longing for complete renewal (5:1-5)

08 - Don’t waste your weakness

2 Corinthians 4:7-15 - Tim SmylieOur weakness is where God’s powerful gospel works best (vv7-12)Serving the gospel in the midst of our weakness is totally, eternally worth it (vv13-15)

07 - We do not lose heart

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 - Tim Smylie
Why don’t we lose heart in gospel ministry? (v1)
- because it’s a glorious privilege! 
What is the sign of losing heart in gospel ministry? (v2)
- obscuring the clarity of the gospel (by our words and/or our lives)
What is the aim of gospel ministry? (vv3-6)
- displaying the glory of Christ that brings light to those in darkness
 
 

06 - Ever-increasing Glory

2 Corinthians 3:4-18 - Tim Smylie
The greater glory of new covenant ministry (vv4-11)
it brings, not condemnation and death, but righteousness and life
The transforming power of new covenant ministry (vv12-18)
 

05 - Servants of the gospel

2 Corinthians 2:12-3:3 - Tim Smylie“In Christ’s triumphal procession”: Even the weakest of us can be effective servants of the gospel (2:12-16a)“A letter from Christ”: Changed hearts are reliable evidence that God is at work through us (2:16b-3:3)

04 - Look who’s watching the church

2 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:11 - Tim Smylie
 
We honour Christ and defy Satan when we show love that:
I. Takes the state of the church seriously (1:23-2:4)
II. Takes both sin and forgiveness seriously (2:5-11)
 
 

03 - God is faithful

2 Corinthians 1:15-22 - Tim Smylie
We must be committed to faithfulness… (vv15-17)
because our God is faithful… (vv18-20)
all his promises are fulfilled in Christ
And he has equipped us for faithfulness (vv21-22)
by giving us his Holy Spirit

02 - God, Who Raises The Dead

2 Corinthians 1:8-14 - Tim Smylie
There is no trouble that puts us beyond the reach of God’s life-giving power (vv8-10)
Our relationships with one another are seriously significant for our experience of God’s life-giving power (vv11-14)

01 - The God of all comfort

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 - Tim Smylie
God our Father is our all-sufficient source of comfort (vv1-4a)
We are to be channels of God’s comfort (vv4b-7)

Getting what you want

Luke 16:19-31 - Tim Smylie
What are your “good things”? (vv19-26)
Don’t wait for God to get your attention – he has said and done enough (vv27-31)

The smart yet foolish manager

Luke 16:1-13 - Tim Smylie
Learn from the manager’s:
Smartness – use the resources you have cleverly and creatively, with eternity in mind (vv1-9)
Foolishness – don’t expect true riches if you’re being untrustworthy with the lesser riches God has entrusted to you (vv10-13)

Where is your treasure?

Luke 13:13-34 - Tim Smylie
Don’t trust in what you have (vv13-21)
- you can’t keep it, and it can’t satisfy you
Don’t get anxious about what you don’t have (vv22-30)
- God will provide what you need, and more
 Instead, live for what you can’t lose (vv31-34)
- God’s kingdom lasts forever

54 - Word-tremblers and world-harvesters

Isaiah 66 - Tim Smylie
Be a Word-trembler, not a Word-sampler (vv1-17)
- keep trusting God’s Word – even when other “Christians” don’t
Be a world-harvester, not a world-hater (vv18-24)
- keep proclaiming God’s glory in Christ – as the only hope for the nations 

The unshakeable kingdom

Hebrews 12:14-29 - Tim Smylie
Live for your inheritance (vv14-17)
Think about your inheritance (vv18-24)
Invest your life in unshakeable things (vv25-29)

53 - Paradise regained

Isaiah 65 - Tim Smylie
 
 “All day long I have held out my hands”: the fairness of the great divide (vv1-16)
“I will create new heavens and a new earth”: paradise is God’s provision for his servants (vv17-25)
- fullness of life and fullness of peace
 

52 - Our Father

Isaiah 63:7 - 64:12 - Tim Smylie
“They are my children”: God’s commitment is the foundation of our intercession (63:7-14)
“You are the potter”: God’s re-creating power is the goal of our intercession (63:15-64:12)
“Look down”: We call on the one who is perfectly able to help us (63:15-19)
“Come down”: We ask him to do what we cannot do (64:1-12)

51 - For Zion's sake

Isaiah 62:1 - 63:6 - Tim Smylie
“I will not keep silent” – we are called to join Jesus the Messiah in his work of intercession (62:1-12)
- until the wedding day comes
“I have trodden the winepress alone” – only Jesus the Messiah can complete the work of redemption (63:1-6)
- so the wedding day can come

50 - The year of the LORD's favour

Isaiah 61 - Tim Smylie
A time of God’s grace
Jesus the Messiah proclaimed its arrival and provides its blessings (vv1-3)
The broken made beautiful
The people of Jesus the Messiah proclaim its presence and enjoy its blessings (vv4-11)

49 - The City of Light

Isaiah 60 - Tim Smylie
Your light has come: the Church of Jesus Christ is where God’s new creation has begun (vv1-2)
Nations will come to your light: the Church of Jesus Christ is where the world’s longings are fulfilled (vv3-14)
The LORD will be your everlasting light: the Church of Jesus Christ will enjoy eternal perfection and security (vv15-22)

How to receive God's mercy

Luke 18:9-17 - Tim Smylie
Understanding ourselves: none of us deserve God’s acceptance – we need his mercy (vv9-14)
Understanding Jesus: child-like trust in Jesus is the only way to receive God’s mercy (vv15-17)

47 - Finding our joy in the Lord

Isaiah 58 - Tim Smylie
When is serious, self-denying worship unacceptable to God? (vv1-5)
- when it’s not accompanied by serious, self-denying care for others.
What are the blessings when our worship spills over into serious, self-denying care for others? (vv6-14)
- close, refreshing fellowship with God and priceless joy in God.

47 - Revive us, O Lord

Isaiah 56:9 - 57:21 - Tim Smylie
How not to wait for God’s new world (56:9-57:13a)
Being irresponsible with our responsibilities (56:9-57:2)
Living like God isn’t able to satisfy us (57:3-13a)
The way of repentance is the way forward (57:13b-21)

45 - Sabbath people

Isaiah 56:1-8 - Tim Smylie
Sabbath people:
Have found our salvation and rest in God, and are committed here and now to the justice and righteousness of his new creation (vv1-2)
Include all those who match the description in point 1 – no exclusions! (vv3-8) 

44 - The Lord's invitation

Isaiah 55 - Tim Smylie
Come to me and be satisfied – you can’t afford it, but Jesus has paid the bill (vv1-5)
Come with total commitment – to receive my gift you must leave everything else behind (vv6-9)
Come and find your greatest joy in glorifying me (vv10-13)

43 - The Servant's success

Isaiah 54 - Tim Smylie
Because of the Servant’s work, God’s people are:
Beyond barrenness (vv1-3)
Beyond abandonment (vv4-10)
Beyond defeat (vv11-17)

Celebrating Freedom

Colossians 2:8-15 - Tim Smylie
True freedom is only found in Jesus Christ (vv8-10)
He frees us from our present slavery to sin and our past record of sin (vv11-15)

42 - The Servant - our Saviour

Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 - Tim Smylie
Successful through suffering (52:13-15)
Despised and rejected (53:1-3)
Pierced for our transgressions (53:4-6)
The willing Lamb (53:7-9)
Successful, exalted, and interceding (53:10-12)