My name is Sandi Asker. and one of the pastors here. If you're relatively new here. I have been, I have the privilege of preaching the last few Sundays. Brian and I normally take turns, and we have guest preachers, and so you will meet some of our preaching team later this month. When I left for college, which was a few years ago, my dad is a pastor, and he was the only pastor, and so my move-in day was a Sunday, and when I left, my mom and I took off, my dad gave me a letter, I still have it. He said all sorts of nice things. And our eldest is about to graduate and head off to school in a few days, we don't quite have a countdown, but it's getting there. And I am starting to think about what are the last things I'm going to say to her? In this world of text messaging and cell phones, it's a little different than when I went to college, and definitely very different than Bible times. We've been in 2nd Corinthians and Paul has visited those in Corinth. He's also sent them letters. You may know them as 1st and 2nd Corinthians. And we are at the end of our 2nd Corinthian study. We've been here for a few weeks, and chapter 13 is his are his last words.

Last words have power. Maybe you can think back to some of the last words, maybe a loved one passed away, or maybe some people gave you some last words before you went to college. We're going to be in 2nd Corinthians chapter 13. So if you want to open up a Bible with me or it will be on the screen, starting in verse one, Paul says this will be my 3rd visit to you. Every matter must be established by the testimony or 2 or 3 witnesses he mentions. So, Paul has visited them. He has planted this church, he has had some issues, shall we say? And in 2 Corinthians, we see his issues popping up again and again. His issue is that he is under pressure from the church to perform, in a sense, to provide success for them, to have a good reputation because there are some rival leaders, and the Bible calls them super apostles, and every time I see that super apostle, I think of like those with maybe a cape, probably red, right? And so they're these super apostles that have swept into Corinth and looked really good. They're like smooth talkers. Maybe they like have the latest hairstyles. They floof. And I'm not sure what all happens there, but Paul starts to be criticized because he does not measure up. And so he's under pressure to smooth out his rough edges. Paul decides to boast about his own established leadership by bragging on his weaknesses. And so we see this theme throughout the whole letter.

At the very beginning of chapter 13, however, he starts this like, okay, I'm coming, again, it's going to be my 3rd visit. And by the way, every matter must be established by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses. So I got to be honest, I was tempted just to skip this part because I thought this doesn't really fit in the theme. And I don't know. It's just easier to pick and choose, frankly, when you're preaching, okay? It's just the honest truth. But then I thought, well, maybe the Lord has a word for us here. And so I decided to address what this verse is talking about. In court, if you have one person, right, with eyewitness testimony, but everybody else says, I didn't see it that way, not great, right? So when there are 2 or 3 witnesses, There's more gravity or there's more weight given to that, right? Well, there is an accountability issue that has been raised earlier in 2nd Corinthians, and Paul has said, hey, you dealt with it. Now let's kind of get over it. The guy was rebuked and he's feeling real bad, like, move on. And so Paul is apparently referencing this. And I thought it was helpful to think about times where perhaps we think about accountability, and this is for Christians, okay? We're not holding everybody accountable to the same standards. This is like within the church or even maybe within your small group, your congregation, okay? If you have a suspicion about something, but nobody else has seen evidence of it, you know, maybe just keep that to yourself, right? But when a few other people are like, gosh, have you noticed so-and-so or I'm kind of concerned about and you realize like, oh, it's not just me?

Anybody have ever had this happen? Something quite serious happened in my life a few years ago, and I was very concerned. And I addressed it individually and nothing happened. And then years later, someone else came to me with the same concern. And my suspicion was confirmed, and so we addressed it. Unfortunately, I wish I could tell you that the story went really well in this person, received the accountability and repented, and we all lived happily over after. That did not happen. However, I am grateful that I never talked anymore, and actually none of us knew that the other thought about this suspicion. We all kind of kept our mouths shut. But after a few of us, were made aware of it, we addressed it. And it was much more valuable, in my mind, that process than if I had just individually kind of gone off and dealt with it. Does that make sense? I think that that's what Paul is calling to us here. He also mentions it because some of the criticism about Paul is that he's weak. And Paul, I think, is raising this to say, there is a weak, meek, gentle nature to being a Christian leader. And there are times to put your foot down, and to point things out and to say, that is not okay. Paul is about to continue to do that. Verse two, Paul says, I already gave you a warning when I was with you the 2nd time, the 2nd visit. I now repeat it while I'm absent. On my return, I will not spare those.

Who sinned earlier, or any of the others. Since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you. but is powerful among you. For to be sure, Jesus was crucified in weakness. Yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power, we will live with him in our dealing with you.

Paul is going to take a stand, and he is going to be quite firm, perhaps even severe, on certain issues. Now, I could walk us through all of the sermons in all of the chapters that we've just walked through, but a few things that came to mind as I was reviewing in my own mind. He urges them to forgive one another in chapter 2.

He says such confidence we have through Christ before God, meaning salvation. They can be strong and firm on that. He also tells them that because we fear the Lord, we no longer look at other people from a human point of view, and we are compelled by Christ's love to urge people to be reconciled to God. He also spoke to them about not having a scarcity mindset, but instead to be generous. He covers that in a few chapters.

However, he continues to remind them that Christ took on flesh, took on weakness, took on hands that can be injured. He took on flesh, and he was crucified in weakness. We all know, if we believe in God, that God is bigger than what happened to Jesus on the grass. God could have stepped in and stopped the soldiers. God could have somehow made it so that Jesus appeared to have suffered, but really on the inside was fine, but that is not what happened.

Jesus was raised from the dead, however, revealing God's power. In 1st Corinthians, chapter one, verse 18. So literally like some of the 1st words that Paul has with Corinth in this letter, he says the message of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing. And I think that means to those people who do not yet believe.

But to those of us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Paul continues to flip the script when it comes to what true strength is. And I think the cross is an example of that. For some people back then, the cross was simply a torture symbol. I've heard it said that it would be, you know, we wear crosses around our neck. If we wore the electric chair, or a noose around our necks.

That's what it was like for them back then. Now it's a symbol of hope for us. When you see a cross, doesn't something like ting in your head, you know, you see someone wearing it, it kind of symbolizes to you like, oh, I wonder what, you know? But for other people, it was foolish. Can you imagine having an electric chair around your neck? That's foolish, right? That is the same for those who are perishing.

Paul is calling upon, and I would say, living under the power of God when then he says in verse 5, Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. If you didn't hear it the 1st time, he's going to repeat it. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you, unless, of course, you failed the test.

Okay, so context again, imagine you cannot read this. And you are only listening to my voice. I have taken Paul's letter from him, some sort of like waterproof deal. I have traveled. I have the dirt under my sandals to prove it, and we have gathered, not with air conditioning, or fresh water, but we have gathered, and I have said to you, I have a new letter from Paul. Now, for some of you, maybe you came into church a little bit like, all right. For them, this is, oh my gosh, there's a letter from Paul. Um, I am expecting a very important email today and you better be darn sure that I'm going to check my email about every 7 minutes. except while I'm preaching. I am eager to get that message. That is what is happening for them when they get this letter from Paul. And they hear, test yourselves. Examine yourselves. Do you perk up perhaps a little bit, even though this is chapter 13 and Paul's gone very long in this letter.

He's essentially asking them, after chapters of writing. Are you living in the faith? In Sandi Shelton Asker verbiage, it would be, where are you out with Jesus? Or as the covenant, our denomination would say, how goes your walk? Examine yourselves. Part of that word comes from the word pierce. It is meant to make you pay attention.

and look within. I heard it said in a commentary, I read it this week. When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see someone who's following Jesus? Perhaps when you look in your bank account, your private moments, what goes through your mind? When you're going to sleep at night, as you're driving, as you look at your calendar?

There will be, I think, a sense of piercing. It says that scripture divides bone from marrow. I think that is the kind of piercing and examination that Paul is talking about. He says, Jesus Christ is in you. if you are following in the faith. But if you have failed the test, that word can also mean if you are unaccepted by God, then you don't have Christ within you.

Verse 6 Paul says, and I trust that you will discover that we, meaning the leaders that have established the church, the people who are working with Paul, to share the gospel. that we have not failed the test. We haven't been unaccepted. Yeah, maybe we don't look as cool as that church down the street. We don't dress the same. Yeah, I've been shipwrecked a few times. Oh, yep, and maybe I have a concussion from that last beating.

But we have pointed you to Jesus. Now, we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong, verse seven. Not so that people will see that we have stood the test, but so that you will do what is right, even though we may seem to have failed. Paul cares so much about them, that he wants them to pass the test, not so his resume would look better, although it would. You have a good, strong church that's not, you know, fallen by the wayside. That looks good to a church planter. That looks good for a pastor. Paul says, that's not what this is about. We want you to be accepted. We want you to live in the faith. That is the point.

Verse 8 says, for we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. I am sure that Paul meant for them to do individual introspection. How am I doing? Stand in front of that mirror. And I think he also wanted them to look at themselves corporately. As a church. Examine yourselves. How are you doing?

The kids in kids' ministry this summer have been in the fruit of the spirit. This is not kids. Be more peaceful. Kids work on your love. This is, we're trying to teach them, that as you follow Jesus and you receive Jesus. The Holy Spirit lives in you. And the fruit of the Spirit is a way that you can measure yourselves. You can see how you're doing.

And ask the Lord for help. This isn't about try better and produce fruit. This is, these are, the markers. So, love, joy, peace, patience. Anybody know this? Kindness. Goodness, faithfulness, and the one I oftentimes forget is gentleness, and then the last is self-control. Every January, we give you a survey. And those are some of the markers that we offer for you to test yourselves.

It is not January. However, I think anytime. We can ask ourselves, Lord, how am I doing and producing those things? Paul says to verse 9, we are glad whenever we are weak, but you are strong. Again, this isn't about us. This is about you. Paul is trying to make it about that. And our prayer is that you might be fully restored.

Made whole. This is why I write these things when I'm absent. That when I come to you, I may not be harsh in my use of authority. The authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not tearing you down. Paul doesn't want to be harsh. And he does admit he has authority. And why does he have that power? Why does he have that authority? He wants to build them up. Not tear them down?

We've said often in the series that Jesus chose weakness to save us. Jesus also had authority. But how did Jesus use that authority? Think about the times when Jesus is just like, wow, large and in charge. He walked on water. He healed the lepers. He calmed a C. He was there at the beginning. Jesus was there, all things were created through him.

Think about how Jesus uses his authority, his control and his power. Was it ever for himself? I was thinking about John 4. Jesus is sitting at the well. He's exhausted. He is thirsty. Couldn't Jesus have just been like, water. Right? Jesus. He did not use his own power even for a drink of water, but waited till a woman came and said, would you give me a drink of water?

He raised Jesus from the dead. He trashed the temple when they were using it for their own marketing and commerce purposes. He did challenge the religious elite. Part makes me really nervous. Lord, what would you say to those of us who think that we have kind of the basics, figure it out? Jesus never, ever used his power for himself, even think about when he was being tempted by the enemy. If you're not familiar with that story, the enemy appeared 3 times to Jesus.

Jesus could have been like to the enemy. I don't know. He could have figured out, raised up some army or something, and he did not. Instead, Jesus chose to go to the cross for us. Paul then says, this is the lifestyle that I'm calling you to. And I myself, when I have authority, I'm not going to use it for my own benefit.

I'm hopefully going to use it for you. Paul wants them to become whole perfect, he says. fit, sound, and complete. He wants them to be equipped because he knows that the world. The same pressures that Paul is under, they also are under. And we have a secret. In the Christian world, we have a secret. It's to flip the script and to choose what nobody else would see coming. in weakness.

Paul says finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Strive for full restoration. Encourage one another. Be of one mind, live in peace. And then he promises the God of love and peace will be with you. So this word, restoration, strive for full restoration is wholeness or completeness. It's the same when we talked about earlier. My grace is sufficient for you.

My strength is made perfect in your weakness, that word perfect is the same. So how do we strive for full restoration? Well, y'all, you just have to like lose it. You have to break it down. You need to get vulnerable. You need to admit it. You need to address it. You need to be real about it. You need to let the mirror talk to you. Maybe ask other people to talk to you. Seeking full restoration, God said, in your weakness, God's power is made complete.

Encourage one another because when you're a hot mess, you need someone to tell you it's going to be okay and you are still loved. We need one of the one another. I think that one of the joys of vulnerability, and I talked about this, I think, just last week. With me in my stage of life is finding other mommies on social media, talking about this stage of life.

This word encourage one another isn't just about feeling good, but it's about what Paul was talking about in the 1st chapter of 2 Corinthians. I'm sure some of you remember this. When we talked about comfort. God's comfort comes to us and we get to share that with other people so that they can be comforted. That word is paracaleo, which is also used for the Holy Spirit.

That's the kind of comfort that Paul wants us to give one another. He also tells us to be of one mind and live at peace. Don't worry about who's following who's super apostular Paul. Does it really matter? Let's talk about Jesus. Are we following Jesus? One commentary put it this way. It's the responsibility of each believer. So if you consider yourself a follower of Jesus, this is you. To make Christian community a reality.

If you're frustrated with the church, great. Let's make it better. Paul gives them a promise. The God of love and peace will be with you, and then chapter, I'm sorry, verse 12. I know you've heard this verse before some of you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. What? Okay. Where are we going now? Last week we talked about menopause. Now we're talking about kissing, what's next here? And then Paul says, less we miss it, and all God's people here send their greetings. I don't know if he's like, they give you kisses too, like, do you ever talk to children on FaceTime or whatever and they're really tiny blow kisses? Right? I got one of those for my nephew last night.

So this kiss is important. It's not just like, okay, give a handshake, this is really a thing. They probably did it on the lips too. Not saying, suggesting this is where we're going today, okay? Just everybody. But it would have been a symbol for each other in this listening of the letter that they were in agreement with what Paul said.

They were on board. They wanted to be a part of it. They wanted it to be true. It was a commitment that they made, that they wanted to be reconciled to one another, made whole through Jesus, moving forward. Thomas de Kempis lived a long time ago, 15th century, in his book, The Imitation of Christ, he writes, Jesus has many lovers of his kingdom of the heaven.

But he has few bearers of his cross. He finds many comrades in eating and drinking, but he finds few who will be with him in abstinence and fasting. If we want to be unified, it comes through the cross. and the weakness. There is power, and the resurrection is good news, but the only way that happens is because Jesus identified with us and suffered.

He says in verse 14. This blessing or a benediction of sorts. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all. Jesus, I believe, is asking us to be who God is community. God by definition is Trinitarian, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By definition, God is community.

We cannot exist on our own. We need each other, whether we like it or not. We have authority, through the power of God and the power of the resurrection, but that is for our good, to build up and not tear down. Verse 4, it says, for to be sure. Darn Teuton. Jesus was crucified in weakness. Yet he lives by God's power.

What do you think about sealing this idea with a kiss today? Well, my husband's giggling nervously, I think. What would it look like for our congregation here? July 26, 2026, right? Did I say that right? Jesus invites us to receive him as weak, suffering servant, who was raised from the dead. and invites us not just to the cross as a means to salvation, but a way of life.

In a world that is being bombarded with messages to be under pressure to perform and to be strong, and to win. And instead, would we use the authority that God has given us to build one another up. and to live a life of service. If you would like to seal it with a kiss, I have an option for you, online and in person. If you are online, you're going to love this. You know the kiss emoji, it's like lips, right? You can put it in the chat.

If you are here in person, I have something a titch better. I have, yes, I do, Hershey kisses. Now, in order for us to commit to this, I do think we need God's power. And in a minute, and the worship team can come up. We will have communion as usual. And we often talk about communion is a symbol of salvation. There is nothing you can do to earn what Jesus has done for us. It is receiving. It is a moment of weakness. It is vulnerability because you got to receive whatever it is the servers are going to give you.

And you take it, you receive it, you eat it, you drink it. I will be at the back of the room with a bowl of kisses. There's no judgment here. Some of you are not even a part of our congregation. Thank you for coming anyway. This can be a moment of like the global church, okay? But if you would like to seal it with a kiss today. Come on in the back.

as a moment of committing to Christian community. Not giving out under the pressures, all of the pressures, but instead following Jesus, in the weight of weakness and God's strength. Amen.