Thank you very much, Seumas, for writing and sharing this.
I believe part of the answer (how to be faithful when we experience decline) has to do with some of the key lessons from 2 Corinthians, that we need to learn
- that God’s grace is sufficient for us,
- that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, which may include numerical weakness,
- that we have the treasure of the gospel in jars of clay so that people might see that the power belongs to God, the power at work in our cross-like experiences, making us more and more like him.
There might be other answers, too, but the lessons from 2 Corinthians are not to be underestimated.
Yes, I suppose that is also part of the point in Philippians 1:15-18 where Paul rejoices that some people proclaim Christ, even though they are doing it out of envy and rivalry, because Christ is still proclaimed.
Thank you very much, Seumas, for writing and sharing this.
I believe part of the answer (how to be faithful when we experience decline) has to do with some of the key lessons from 2 Corinthians, that we need to learn
- that God’s grace is sufficient for us,
- that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, which may include numerical weakness,
- that we have the treasure of the gospel in jars of clay so that people might see that the power belongs to God, the power at work in our cross-like experiences, making us more and more like him.
There might be other answers, too, but the lessons from 2 Corinthians are not to be underestimated.
Thanks Alex, yes I agree that there is much from 2 Corinthians that applies to this issue!
Which is, I think, Paul's point in the Corinthian correspondence: the fact that the church "grows" despite me points to God as the one doing the work.
Yes, I suppose that is also part of the point in Philippians 1:15-18 where Paul rejoices that some people proclaim Christ, even though they are doing it out of envy and rivalry, because Christ is still proclaimed.