This message is a sidebar to the short series of message Pastor Matt began last week about the distinction between the church and the kingdom. In this message, we see how useful the Dispensational approach to the Bible is. It explains the differences between the church and Israel, how in earlier ages less was known about God and His ways than in our present era, how future events are going to unfold and thus how we should conduct ourselves today in light of them. Dispensationalism explains how not every promise in the Bible belongs to us today in a direct fashion, and it gives us a framework for interpreting the whole Bible, not just the parts that have to do with future events.

Paul gives the church three more reasons to accept his apostolic authority and teaching. They center on God and God’s work in Paul, not in Paul himself. He explains that God gave him a heavenly vision, that God gave him a thorn to keep him humble, and God also permitted him to exercise apostolic signs. His emphasis is on weakness because God's power is very evident in human weakness. For these reasons, the Corinthians should give Paul a good hearing.

The book of Proverbs offers us many incentives to be truthful, and to put away lying lips. The idea of "truth" in Proverbs--and all of Scripture-- is not relative to one's opinion, circumstances, or culture. Truth is what is revealed in God's Word. We learn that God delights in the truth, and so do those who are recipients of truthful speech. Truth is also irrefutable and necessary for upholding the testimony of the who are just and innocent. Truthfulness arises from a heart that is pure and undefiled. Lying, on the other hand, exposes the sinful and evil intents of the heart. Those who lie are detestable in the sight of others and will only bring shame and ruin upon themselves.

For our Lord's Table service, we thought through how our love for God should be a warm, close love, like that of the Lord for His people. If our love is cold and distant with little conversation (prayer) and time spent in worship, then we really need to ask God's help.

We continued the morning's service sermon in 2 Corinthians 12 by completing the discussion of Paul's hesitancy to visit, particularly with regard to how the Corinthians are not going to like how Paul has to handle things. We then jumped into chapter 13 verses 1-4 and saw how the apostle Paul resolved that he will powerfully deal with the sin in the Corinthian church, for the sake of the church. Despite the apostle’s misgivings about his upcoming visit, he has to carry through for the good of the church. He does not seem inclined to give up on them!

The book of Proverbs addresses an issue highly relevant to adolescents and young adults: anxiety and depression. Proverbs 12:25 explains that prolonged anxiety leads to depression. COVID-19 caused many young people to plummet into depression. Relationship problems, broken marriages, college debt, and a demanding job—all these have caused many an anxious feeling in a person. Proverbs 12:25 also tells us that a "good word" can cheer the heart and make it glad. That is the antidote to anxiety. As Christians, we ought to offer encouraging words to those who are despondent. What better word than the Word of God, which is able to restore joy and hope in the heart of a person!

Pastor Postiff briefly discussed the matter of doctrine unites. He gave a number of reasons why this is true in rebuttal to some in evangelical circles who content that doctrine divides. He also spoke on the topic of Christian character, particularly the virtue of faithfulness. The idea of faithfulness is a critical one in Christian theology and practice. The purpose of this lesson is to encourage us to be faithful in the things God wants us to do. Without faithfulness, we will not have a functional family or church family.

Paul wraps up the defense he has been offering, in which we see that Paul is not merely defending himself as if he is irked that his name has been run through the mud. His personal reputation is by far secondary to the apostolic office invested in him by Jesus Christ and the gospel message that comes with it. His defense is of the Lord’s work in and through him. He has made his whole appeal to the church “before God” and “in Christ” with the purpose to build them up. And even though Paul was an apostle, he was willing to sacrifice himself for the spiritual benefit of the Corinthians.