Rick Burke – 2 Corinthians 6
This week’s lesson is taught by Rick Burke, co-author of Heartwork: How god Can Mend Your Heart and Change Your Story, and pastor of Cedar Point Church in Claremore.
Our relationship with Jesus determines has an impact on how we respond to hardship. As Rick points out, hardships don’t vanish when we become Christians, but the influence of Jesus is seen in how we respond to the difficulties of life.
Paul says, regardless of hardship, “We serve God.”
“Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (NIV)