Bethesda Chapel 2001
SG Bible Study #9

Living Letters (2 Cor 3:1-18)

Warm up songs (7 min)
Select songs with words with one or two of these words: glory, Spirit, life, new covenant, transform, Christ-likeness

Quiet Contemplation (3 min)
Allow a short time of quiet contemplation and private confession of known sins, a willingness to listen to each other share the Word of God and to His Spirit’s leading and conviction.

Warm-up discussion and homework for sharing (not all need to share) (10 min)
Look for a citation and an epitaph of a person.
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/mohsom.htm
http://www.alsirat.com/epitaphs/

Q1   What is the difference between a citation and an epitaph?

 

Q2   From the words in the citation or epitaph, what can you learn about that person?

 

Q3   Is there a link between one’s living testimony and the citation or an epitaph?

 

Read the selected passage 
Text: 2 Cor 3:1-18; 
cf Exod 34:29-35; Heb 8:6-13; 13:20
Key words
Commend/commendation/recommendation
Letters (epistles)
Sufficient/sufficiency or competent/competence
Minister/ministry (servants/service)
Glory/glorious
Veiled/unveiled
Spirit 
Transformed
Structure
Vv 1-3             A letter of Christ 
Vv 4-6             Competent to serve
Vv 7-11           A glorious ministry of the Spirit
Vv 12-18         Reflecting Christ and being transforming into His likeness

Discussion questions (answer two questions unless time permits) (20 min)

Q1       Which is more complimentary and more transparent?  Discuss why.
a)      A commendatory letter written by human authority about your credentials to be read in public, or 
b)      men and women whose living testimonies for Christ become like an open letter to be known and read by everybody?

 

Q2       The new covenant was rectified by the shedding of Christ’s blood (Heb 13:20) and is symbolized in the communion cup (Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25).  In the new covenant there is a vitalizing Spirit who quickens God’s Word which is written internally in the hearts of the believers.  The old covenant is externally written “the book of the covenant” (Exod 24:7) and is powerless to change lives.
Why is there an essential difference between the new and old covenants when both come from God and are meant to set apart God’s people? (see Heb 8:6-13).

 

Q3      The ministry of the old covenant brought by Moses is glorious (see Exod 34:29-35) but the ministry of the Spirit is more glorious.  Why is that so? (see v 9-11).

 

Q4      The veil in the  hearts of the Jews prevents them from seeing the impermanence of the fading glory of the old covenant.  When a person turns to Christ the veil is taken away.  Why is that so? (Rom 10:4).

 

 Quiet Time - Personal Reflections and prayer (break up for individual QT) (10 min)

  1. Who are the people around me who look at my life in my waking hours?  

 

  1. What would they see in me that is Christ-like?

 

  1.  Am I aware of my attitudes, habits, thoughts, deeds and words that are unchristian?  Am I willing to ask God to change them?

 

  1. How do the people in contact with see me in my daily interaction with them (2 Cor 3:2)?

 

Unlike Moses who wore a veil before men and reflected a fading glory, Christians with unveiled faces behold Christ and display the glory inwardly in their character, not losing the intensity, but are being transformed by the power of God progressively into the likeness of Christ.

Personal prayers, petitions, confession and thanksgiving before the Lord.  Ask the Spirit of God to minister to you.  Dismiss quietly.
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