The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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    The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost | September 8th

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    2 Corinthians 3:4-12

    4 Such is the confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent by ourselves to claim that anything comes from us; rather, our competence is from God. 6 He also made us competent as ministers of a new testament (not of letter, but of spirit). For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. 7 If the ministry that brought death (which was engraved in letters on stone) came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look directly at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (though it was fading), 8 how will the ministry of the spirit not be much more glorious? 9 For if the ministry that brought condemnation has glory, the ministry that brought righteousness has even more glory. 10 In fact, in this case, what was glorious is no longer very glorious, because of the greater glory of that which surpasses it. 11 Indeed, if what is fading away was glorious, how much more glorious is that which is permanent! 12 Therefore, since we have this kind of hope, we act with great boldness.

    The Glory of Permanent, God-given Confidence

    I. Our attempts produce nothing but faded glory and lasting condemnation

    II. Christ’s work produces permanent competence and constant confidence