2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians: The Gospel in all of Life: 7-Session Bible Study
By: Gary Millar
The Good Book Company has a whole series of little devotionals like this one that go through entire book of the Bible in 6-8 sessions. They have companion books with more commentary if you want deeper study as you go along.
I did this book on my own and was happy with my experience, but I it is more geared for small groups.
Each session covers 1-2 chapters with ten questions. There’s always an icebreaker type of question first about personal experience (related to the content). Then there are some ‘investigate’ questions that seek to understand what is happening in the passage, and ‘apply’ questions that take what we learn from the passage and see how that affects the way we are living and thinking.
There are some ‘getting personal’ optional sections that are self-reflection questions and opportunities to be more vulnerable about what we may struggle with or be susceptible to.
Each session ends with prayer.
I’ve only done one so far (at the moment I also have the Psalms one to do) but I think these would be great small group options. It seems challenging to find something to study in small group because you have varying preferences on homework or reading or worrying about how to lead a discussion, etc.
At the back of this book is a leader guide that provides answers and suggestions for every question with a few other group exercises thrown in that would definitely help someone facilitate a group discussion.
I don’t think everyone in the group would even need their own copy of the book, but if they wanted their own they’re only like $8. You could have them read the two chapters of Scripture ahead of time but there really wouldn’t be much prep and the questions are conducive for discussion.
Depending on the leader and the type of group, I think it might be beneficial for the leader to have the corresponding commentary and read it on their own in case there are certain things that stick out to them they want to bring to the group. But even without that, I felt like I got a better understanding of 2 Corinthians just in this little book.
I’m a bit notorious for doing solo devotionals and really kind of skimming the questions. I think I answer them in my head but in reality I think my answers trail off and I move on without forcing myself to really think through them. This time around I forced myself to write down my answers to the questions and that was a good exercise for me even if I didn’t have a group to talk about it with.
Now, why 2 Corinthians?
“… this letter is the place to go in the New Testament for a description and embodiment of what gospel ministry is all about. For Paul, gospel ministry is what we all do. It is walking with, speaking for, and serving Jesus in all of life… 2 Corinthians takes us through how to live by faith in our broken world. It’s the key to embracing our weakness and living in the strength which God himself supplies.”
In this second letter to the Corinthian church that Paul first established, you see the messiness and complexity of church in a pagan society. False teachers stirring trouble and leading people astray, Paul having to remind them of what they were first taught, having to remind them of his own God-given authority as an apostle, the loving rebuke from a man who sacrifices his own health and body for the spread of the gospel and the ministry of reconciliation for others to God, and the charge to boast in weakness, allowing God to be our strength.
The tone of this letter was interesting to read because you sense the frustration and sarcasm regarding things we aren’t given specifics about but can imply by the way Paul is responding to what must have been said. It’s a side of church no one likes to talk about, but if we really love people and see them with an eternal mindset, an eternal soul, then it should matter to us if they are adhering to false doctrine or living in unrepentant sin.
My one critique is that because they only have 10 questions in each section, there are parts of the Bible passage that aren’t necessarily covered. I was disappointed that we largely skipped over 2 Corinthians 10. Of course, in a group you can do what you want and spend time there in your discussion, but I would have liked that to be included in that session’s guide. There’s a lot in that chapter about spiritual warfare and destroying arguments and taking our thoughts captive that I think are important things for us today.
Recommendation
I definitely recommend this devotional— for personal or group use— and also recommend checking out their entire collection to see if there is a different book of the Bible you or your group are interested in studying.
I’ve read lots of Good Book Company books and so far I have not taken issue with any of their theology— they have been very gospel-centered and uphold the Bible as our ultimate authority. (Their statement of faith can be found HERE if you want more specifics.)
**Received a copy via The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review**
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