Saturday 14 March 2026
For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. (v. 18)
Background
In my younger days there were certain celebrated preachers who would attract large congregations often from considerable distances who had come to hear them preach. Donald Soper, famous for his open air preaching at Speakers’ Corner in London's Hyde Park, Leslie Weatherhead and WE Sangster are names that readily come to mind for people of my generation.
‘Celebrated preachers' tend not to be celebrated these days, except for one sermon, preached in Southwark Cathedral last October which received a standing ovation in the Cathedral, and immediately went viral on social media.
That was a one off. Today, few people would travel far to hear an outstanding preacher. In Paul’s day he declined to be seen as in competition with others (10:12-13). He had a very clear sense of vocation, he knew what he had been called by God to do: to proclaim ‘the good news of Christ’ far and wide.
What is disappointing to me is that this is a very egocentric letter – letters often are. There is a lot more about Paul in 2 Corinthians than there is about Christ. One hopes that this is perhaps intentional to clear the air before he visits them again, so they are not querying his authority as a preacher called by God, so that he and they can concentrate on the message rather than the messenger.
Fortunately Paul has far more to say about the message he is bringing in his earlier letter. It is in 1 Corinthians that he tells of the implication of Christ’s last command to his disciples before his crucifixion (1 Corinthians 11:23-32). In the next chapter he speaks of spiritual gifts, and in chapter 13 we have his glorious hymn to the nature of Christian love.
It would have been good to have had something like that in the letter we are currently studying.
To Ponder:
- Imagine you are a celebrated preacher (or perhaps you are!). What would be your text if you knew this was to be your last sermon?
- The hymn suggested for today (Singing the Faith 402) begins ‘Go to the world! Go into all the earth’ and urges us to live the word of God and to seek his presence wherever we are. What opportunities can you find for doing that today?
Prayer
We pray today for all who use the ‘Word in Time’ commentaries and prayers. Help them as they seek to grow in faith. Amen.
Bible notes author: Alan Sharp
Alan Sharp lives in St Albans where he is a member of both his local Methodist church and his parish church. He has been a local preacher and a church organist and choirmaster for over 60 years. He writes a monthly article on hymn tunes for The Methodist Recorder.