What causes our drive for the gospel to wane? Join the Hit the Mark panels as they discuss Sabbath School Lesson 9 – Love-driven Ministry. It’s the fastest hour of the week! Get this week’s keyword workbook HERE.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/9-love-driven-ministry-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=9-love-driven-ministry-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school

Daily Lesson for Monday 24th of August 2026

Yesterday, we learned that Paul’s love for the Corinthians was made manifest in that he comforted them in their hardships, just as he received comfort from God in his (2 Corinthians 1:1-11). Today, we will see that his love for them was also displayed through the integrity that he and his fellow workers manifested toward the church members in Corinth.

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

2 Corinthians 1:12-14 introduces the thesis Paul will develop in the rest of the letter. His integrity and apostleship have been questioned by some in Corinth. They thought Paul had a vacillating and indecisive character, which was not fitting for the apostolic ministry. In response, Paul stresses that he and his colleagues behaved with the utmost integrity toward them.

Two words portray the conduct of Paul and his associates: simplicity and sincerity (2 Corinthians 1:12). The term “simplicity” comes from the Greek word haplotēs. It is applied here to express personal integrity in speech or behavior; in short, it reveals the purity of motives (Ephesians 6:5, Colossians 3:22). In turn, the term “sincerity” (from the Greek eilikrineia) also points to integrity and purity of motives.

The Corinthians should not have doubted the clarity of Paul’s intentions. He makes it clear that his simplicity and sincerity have their origin in God. This idea is well captured by the New English Translation Bible, which mentions “pure motives and sincerity which are from God” (2 Corinthians 1:12, emphasis supplied). In the same verse, Paul further asserts that these ministerial qualities are given to us “by the grace of God.”

It seems Paul’s opponents misinterpreted his words, in previous written communications (2 Corinthians 1:13-14). Paul guarantees that his intentions were clear and understandable. He was sure that the uprightness of his words, intentions, and actions would be made clear “in the day of the Lord Jesus” (2 Corinthians 1:14, NKJV).

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-09-simplicity-and-sincerity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-09-simplicity-and-sincerity

1. Read the memory text (2 Cor 2:4). There is clearly a conflict between Paul and the Corinthians, and Paul repeatedly says that the context of the conflict is his deep love for the Corinthian church. Why is conflict an inevitable feature of true love between people? 
2. Can you share an example of a time you were involved in a conflict that was driven by love for the other?
3. Paul is hurt because the Corinthians accused him of lacking integrity after he changed his plans regarding a visit to the Corinthians. In psychology, the fundamental attribution error refers to our tendency to explain the negative actions of others by their character, but the negative actions of ourselves by situational factors, e.g., “She did not call me back because she’s rude and inconsiderate,” but “I did not call you back yet because I’ve been so busy.” To what extent should a Christian fight against this tendency and instead “assume good intent” in our relationships? Why? Explain your answer.
4. Second Corinthians shows us what Paul decided to do about his hurt. How would you describe his response?
5. Paul recounts that he was flogged 5 times, beaten 3, stoned once, shipwrecked 3 times, and in danger constantly, to bring the gospel to people such as the Corinthians. Their response? “Yeah, but you cancelled a pastoral visit with us.” What must this have been like for Paul? To what extent have you seen church members holding leaders to impossible standards, or only judging them through the lens of the member’s pet axes to grind? Have you ever lost a good leader this way?
6. Paul digs deep into his own God-redeemed sufferings to express patient empathy to the Corinthians and try to comfort them. Ellen White, speaking of the best Christian “comforters,” makes the same point, writing that  “such ones have been chastened and sweetened by their afflictions.” How has your personality been “chastened and sweetened” by God-redeemed sufferings? Can you share a specific example of how you’ve been changed?
7. Paul often writes about the Christian concept of “winning” and how it differs from the worldly concept of “winning.” For example, when Titus tells him the Corinthian church is back on track, Paul is overjoyed at this  “win” for Christ (2 Cor 7:7). Similarly, in multiple places Paul inverts the image of the Roman triumphal procession (Roman generals paraded their conquered prisoners through the city) and says it is Christ who leads a truly triumphal procession, and the disciples are his “captives” (2 Cor 2:14; 1 Cor 4:9). Where do you see the contrast between a worldly understanding of “winning” and an authentically Christian understanding of “winning” in today’s world?

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/9-love-driven-ministry-discussion-starters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=9-love-driven-ministry-discussion-starters

Photograph by William Earnhardt

Prepared for Sabbath School class on August 29.

Key Text: “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you” (2 Corinthians 2:4, NKJV).

Read in Class: 2 Corinthians 1:3-14.

Study: Why does Paul have an attitude of thanksgiving, and what exactly is he thankful for?

Apply: How has God comforted you, and even made you thankful during some of the worst storms of your life? How have these experiences helped you to comfort others?

Share: Share a time when your well-meaning motives were misunderstood and misjudged by others. Share how this has taught you to be careful about judging the motives of others.

Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 16:5-7 and 2 Corinthians 1:15-2:4.

Study: What were Paul’s original travel plans, and how did they change? How did some of the people interpret his change of plans?

Apply: When he could not visit as planned, Paul wrote to the Corinthians out of much love, but some thought he was writing instead of visiting, because he did not care enough to visit. When making your own plans, how far out of your way do you go to avoid letting people misconstrue or be offended by your choices? How can considering the feelings of others be wise, and how can it be foolish?

Share: Share a time when you thought a teacher or parent was out to get you, only to realize later that they had your best interest in mind.

Read in Class: 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 and 2 Corinthians 7:5-13.

Study: Why did Paul write to the Corinthians, and how did the Corinthians respond? What was Paul’s reaction to their response?

Apply: The church in Corinth could love the offender (2 Cor. 2:8) because he was the object of God’s love through Paul’s love. What does this teach us about love?

Share: Your friend says that she has noticed a trend of disciplining children without making them feel shame, fear, or any negative feelings. How can this be good? How could it be bad? How do you respond to your friend’s observation?

Read in Class: 2 Corinthians 2:12-15.

Study: Where did Paul go after writing “the severe letter” to them? What did he do there? What was Paul’s reaction upon meeting Titus in Macedonia and hearing about the positive response of the Corinthians?

Apply: What motivates you in all that you do, especially when you do it in the name of Jesus?

Share: Your friend asks, How can we be sure our ministry is motivated by love and not selfish motives? What do you tell your friend?

Mission: Can you take a few moments this week to write a thoughtful letter to someone thanking them for correcting your out of love?

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/9-love-driven-ministry-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=9-love-driven-ministry-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Sunday 23rd of August 2026

Paul’s thankfulness focuses on the comfort that God provides for those who are suffering. In this passage, the verb parakaleō (to comfort) and the noun paraklēsis (comfort) occur together ten times. This represents one third of all occurrences of these words in 2 Corinthians (29 times). God is portrayed as the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NKJV).

“Come Unto Me” Image ©Lars Justinen by Lars Justinen of GoodSalt.com

The comfort one receives from God is not to be kept for oneself (2 Corinthians 1:4-5). Only the afflicted heart that became the recipient of God’s consolation is able to impart comfort effectively to those in affliction, too.

Paul could comfort others because he himself, in his sufferings, received comfort from God. “If we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation. . . . Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation” (2 Corinthians 1:6, NKJV; emphasis supplied). This is love!

Paul speaks of trouble “beyond measure, above strength” that made him and his fellow workers fear that the end had come to them (2 Corinthians 1:8). For a moment, they thought the resurrection was their only hope. However, God delivered them, and the scenario changed (2 Corinthians 1:10). From the fear of death (2 Corinthians 1:8), they rise to an implicit hope that God would deliver them once again (2 Corinthians 1:10). God’s victories in the past give us confidence that He will do the same in the future. God uses afflictions to teach us to trust in Him. Hardships can lead us to spiritual maturity, at least to the extent that we allow them to draw us closer to God. Paul’s thanksgiving also displays the power of intercessory prayer and the gratitude we experience because of God’s deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:11).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-09-thanksgiving/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-09-thanksgiving