Keswick Evenings - 2 Corinthians - 1

This year, during week 2 of the Keswick Convention the evening celebrations included studies of 2 Corinthians, at least up to 6:11. The speakers were:
Jonathan Lamb - Sat
Liam Goligher - Sun and Tue
Derek Tidball - Mon and Thu
Joe Stowell - Wed and Fri

On Sat Jonathan Lamb opened this series with an address on 2 Cor 1:1-11 - Valuable Troubles

Many contemporary spiritualities can be characterised as "what's in it for me!"
On the contrary these verses display for us the value of trials and sufferings.
1) We share in Christ's life (verse 5)
Since we enter into union with Christ we cannot aviod the weakness of the crucified One.
2) We experience God's comfort (verses 3-4, 5b)
There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper.
3) We help God's people (verses 4-7, 11)
The church is not a community of the strong and powerful, but a community of the suffering.
4) We trust God's purpose (verses 8-11)
Note especially v. 9b, where we trust in the God who raises the dead.
We are to recognise our helplessness and God's powerful faithfulness. In this we can share in a present experience of resurrection, the new life of Jesus breaking out among us today.

A challenging start to the week and helpful perspective on the troubles we all face as something not to be avoided, but something we can know God in.