Ministers of a New Covenant

Wednesday, September 10, 2014
2 Corinthians 3:4-11 

4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God; 
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 
7 But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which [glory] was to be done away: 
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 
9 For if the ministration of condemnation [be] glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 
11 For if that which is done away [was] glorious, much more that which remaineth [is] glorious.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who did the Apostle Paul place his trust in and why? (v.4-5)
2) What were the apostles ministers of? (v.6a)
3) Why was the old covenant (the law) done away with? (v.6b-7)
4) Why was the new covenant more glorious than the old? (v.8-11)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Who, or what, do you trust (hope) in when facing life trials and troubles?
6) Who, or what, enables you to endure the trials of life?
7) Have you ever been continually victorious over sin,  by following rules? If not, why not?

PRINCIPLES
8) The Spirit-led life enables believers to live victorious lives.
9) Christians can never live victoriously over sin by obeying the law in our own strength (power).
10)Following God's laws leads to condemnation, but following the Spirit leads to everlasting life.