stewardship and strategy

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (20)devotional post # 2206

2 Corinthians 11:7-12

2Co 11:7 Or did I commit a sin in lowering myself so that you might be lifted up, because I preached God’s gospel to you for nothing?
2Co 11:8  I robbed other churches by taking wages from them in order to serve among you.
2Co 11:9  And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, because the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. So I refrained and will refrain from being a burden to you in any way.
2Co 11:10  As the truth of Christ is in me, this bragging of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
2Co 11:11  And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
2Co 11:12  And I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity to those who would like to claim that in the mission they brag about, they work on an equal basis as us.

stewardship and strategy

Paul draws on a well‑established biblical principle: those who serve God’s people should be supported by God’s people. The law about not muzzling an ox while it treads out the grain was more than agricultural instruction. It revealed God’s concern that laborers receive sustenance from the very work they perform. Paul himself had taught this principle, and the early church recognized it as a pattern for supporting ministers, missionaries, and teachers.

Yet in Corinth, this principle was twisted into a weapon against him. His opponents argued that because Paul did not receive financial support from the Corinthians, he must not be a legitimate apostle. They used his tentmaking and his reliance on outside support as evidence that he lacked authority or confidence in his own ministry. In their minds, a true leader would demand honor, resources, and visible signs of status. Paul’s refusal to do so made him look small.

Paul responds by defending not his ego but his strategy. His decision to refuse Corinthian support was intentional. He wanted to remove every possible obstacle to the gospel. In a city filled with patron‑client relationships, where financial support often implied control, Paul chose independence so that no one could claim ownership over his ministry. He would not allow wealthy Corinthians to use their giving as leverage. He would not allow critics to reshape his calling. He answered to God alone.

Paul’s approach was not a rejection of the stewardship principle. He affirmed it clearly in other churches. But in Corinth, the situation required a different posture. His freedom in Christ allowed him to receive support or to refuse it, depending on what best served the gospel. His opponents misunderstood this freedom. They saw inconsistency; Paul saw obedience. They saw weakness; Paul saw protection of the mission.

By defending his strategy, Paul teaches a larger truth: ministry methods may vary, but faithfulness to God’s calling must remain constant. No critic, no cultural expectation, no pressure from within the church can dictate the shape of a servant’s obedience. Paul’s confidence rested not in human approval but in the God who assigned him his work and sustained him in it.

Holy Spirit, keep us from changing due to the criticism of others, when you have designed our ministries.

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not an idiot

Posted on November 19, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (19)devotional post # 2206

2 Corinthians 11:4-6

2Co 11:4  Because if someone comes and announces another Jesus than the one we announced, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it okay.
2Co 11:5  Because I do not think that I come short compared to any of these super-missionaries.
2Co 11:6  Even if I am “unskilled in the word”, I am not so in knowledge of it; in every way we have certainly made this plain to you in all circumstances.

not an idiot

Change is a constant reality in the life of any congregation. Churches shift in size, structure, leadership, and ministry focus. Some changes are simply new ways of expressing the same gospel. Others stretch the church in healthy directions, forcing growth and adaptation. But not all change is neutral. Some changes signal a deeper spiritual drift, and that is what happened in Corinth. The shift there was not about music style, leadership rotation, or ministry programs. It was a shift of focus—from Christ to human personalities—and that kind of change is never harmless.

In Corinth, certain leaders gained influence by elevating themselves and diminishing Paul. They questioned his authority, mocked his gentleness, and portrayed him as inadequate. Their aim was not the advancement of the gospel but the advancement of their own status. As the congregation began to admire these figures, the center of gravity moved. The church’s attention drifted from the crucified and risen Christ to the charisma and rhetoric of its leaders. That is the moment when change becomes dangerous. A church can survive many adjustments, but it cannot survive losing sight of its Lord.

Paul understood that this was not a matter of personal rivalry. It was a theological crisis. When leaders become the focus, the gospel becomes secondary. When the energy of the church is spent defending personalities rather than proclaiming Christ, the mission is compromised. The Corinthians were not merely experimenting with a new leadership style; they were adopting a pattern in which human authority overshadowed divine truth. That is why Paul’s tone becomes urgent. The gospel itself was being eclipsed.

The danger lies in how quietly such drift occurs. A congregation may still gather faithfully, still speak Christian vocabulary, still engage in ministry, yet slowly become shaped more by the charisma of leaders than by the message of Christ. When that happens, pride grows, factions form, and spiritual clarity fades. The Corinthians had begun to measure success by eloquence, strength, and public image—values drawn from their culture rather than from the cross.

Paul’s response calls the church back to its center. The gospel must remain the gravitational force around which everything else orbits. Leadership, programs, traditions, and innovations all have their place, but none can replace Christ. Change is not the enemy. But change that displaces Christ is. The Corinthians needed to recover their focus, not for Paul’s sake, but for the sake of the gospel that had given them life.

LORD, give us the courage to stand for truth, and against falsehood, no matter who is speaking it.

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different or dangerous?

Posted on November 18, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (18)devotional post # 2204

2 Corinthians 11:1-3

2Co 11:1  I wish you would put up with me as I display a little nonsense. Do put up with me!
2Co 11:2  Because I am jealous with God’s jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
2Co 11:3  But I am afraid that just like the serpent deceived Eve by his skill, your thoughts will be corrupted from being simply focused on Christ.

different or dangerous?

Change is always present in the life of the church. Congregations grow, shrink, shift, and adapt. Leadership styles evolve. New ministries emerge. Old patterns fade. Not every change is harmful; many are simply different expressions of the same gospel. But the Corinthians faced a kind of change that was not merely stylistic. It was spiritual drift. Their attention had shifted away from Christ and toward the personalities of their leaders. That shift was subtle at first, but it carried dangerous implications.

In Corinth, certain leaders had risen to prominence by criticizing Paul. They questioned his authority, mocked his gentleness, and portrayed themselves as superior. Their goal was not the gospel but influence. As the congregation began to admire these figures, the focus of the church moved from Christ to human personalities. That is the moment when change becomes dangerous. A church can survive many adjustments, but it cannot survive losing sight of its center.

Paul recognized that the issue was not personal rivalry. It was theological. When leaders become the focus, the gospel becomes secondary. When the church’s energy is spent defending personalities rather than proclaiming Christ, the mission is compromised. The Corinthians were not simply adopting a new leadership style; they were drifting into a pattern where human authority overshadowed divine truth. That is why Paul spoke so urgently. The gospel itself was at stake.

The danger lies in the subtlety of the shift. A congregation may still use Christian language, still gather for worship, still engage in ministry, yet slowly become shaped more by the charisma of leaders than by the message of Christ. When that happens, the church becomes vulnerable to pride, division, and spiritual blindness. The Corinthians were beginning to measure success by eloquence, strength, and public image—values drawn from their culture rather than from the cross.

Paul’s response reminds that the gospel must remain the gravitational center of the church. Everything else—leadership, programs, traditions, innovations—must orbit around Christ. When the focus moves away from him, even slightly, the church begins to lose its way. Change is not the enemy. But change that displaces Christ is. The Corinthians needed to recover their focus, not because Paul’s reputation mattered, but because the gospel did.

LORD, you are jealous when your people are distracted from their focus on Christ. Keep us focused on what really matters.

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intensified influence

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (17)devotional post # 2203

2 Corinthians 10:15-18

2Co 10:15  We do not brag excessively about the hard work of others. But we do expect that as your faith increases, our degree of influence among you may be intensified,
2Co 10:16  so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without bragging of work already done in another’s area of influence.
2Co 10:17  “Let the one who brags, brag about the Lord.”
2Co 10:18  Because it is not the one who promotes himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord promotes.

intensified influence

Paul’s vision for ministry was always outward‑moving. He never saw Corinth as the endpoint of his work but as a launching pad for the gospel to reach still‑unreached regions. His calling was apostolic in the truest sense—pioneering, boundary‑crossing, always pressing into new territory. That is why the opposition he faced in Corinth troubled him so deeply. It was not merely a personal irritation or a challenge to his reputation. It was a threat to the larger mission of God.

The critics who were undermining Paul were not simply damaging his credibility; they were weakening the very church that was supposed to stand behind him. Their slander and rivalry were eroding trust, dividing the congregation, and distracting them from their role in the global advance of the gospel. If the Corinthians lost confidence in Paul, they would lose interest in supporting the work beyond their borders. And if that happened, the mission would stall.

Paul therefore urges them to recognize what is at stake. His team had been entrusted with a task that extended far beyond Corinth. They had reached the Corinthians first, but they were not finished. They longed to preach Christ in the lands “beyond” Corinth—regions where the name of Jesus had not yet been proclaimed. That vision required a strong, unified, supportive sending church. It required prayer, encouragement, and practical partnership. It required the Corinthians to stand with Paul, not tear him down.

This was not the moment for the Corinthians to shrink back or allow petty rivalries to sap their strength. It was the moment to intensify their influence. Their support could propel the gospel into new territories. Their unity could strengthen Paul’s hand. Their confidence in his ministry could silence the critics and clear the way for further evangelistic work.

Paul’s appeal is therefore both pastoral and missional. He wants the Corinthians to see that their internal conflicts have external consequences. Their treatment of Paul affects not only their own church but the spread of the gospel across the world. By respecting his team and affirming their work, they would be participating in something far larger than themselves—the ongoing expansion of Christ’s kingdom into places still waiting to hear his name.

LORD, strengthen the ties between our churches and our missionaries, so that we can reach the lands beyond with the gospel.

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first team

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (16)devotional post # 2201

2 Corinthians 10:12-14

2Co 10:12  Because we do not dare categorize or compare ourselves with some of those who are promoting themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves to one another, they are without understanding.
2Co 10:13  But we will not brag beyond limits, but will brag only with regard to the boundary God assigned to us, to reach even to you.
2Co 10:14  Because we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. Because we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ.

first team

Paul answers the accusations of the Corinthian “super‑apostles” with a simplicity that exposes the weakness of their argument. They boasted in eloquence, pedigree, and public image. Paul does not counter with a résumé of miracles, sufferings, churches planted, or miles traveled—though he could have overwhelmed them with such a list. Instead, he points to one decisive fact: his team was the first to bring the gospel to Corinth. That alone establishes the authenticity of their ministry.

Paul frames this not as a personal achievement but as obedience to a divine assignment. God had given his team a sphere of ministry, a boundary line of responsibility, and Corinth lay within that boundary. They entered that field, preached Christ, endured hardship, and saw a church born where none had existed. Their work was not self‑appointed, nor was it an attempt to intrude on another’s territory. It was the direct result of God’s calling and empowerment. The Corinthians themselves were the living proof of that calling.

This is why Paul refuses to engage in the competitive boasting that characterized his opponents. Their authority was self‑constructed; his was God‑given. They built influence by criticizing others; he built churches by proclaiming Christ. They sought prominence; he sought faithfulness. For Paul, the only credential that mattered was that God had entrusted him with the gospel and that he had fulfilled that trust among the Corinthians.

By reminding them of this, Paul redirects the conversation away from personality contests and back to the work of God. The Corinthians did not come to faith because of rhetorical brilliance or human charisma. They came to faith because God sent messengers who preached Christ crucified. That foundational reality cannot be undone by later critics seeking to elevate themselves.

Paul’s defense, therefore, is not defensive at all. It is a quiet assertion of truth. His ministry stands because God established it. His team’s authenticity is confirmed by the very existence of the Corinthian church. And his confidence rests not in human approval but in the knowledge that he completed the task God assigned within the boundaries God set.

LORD, give us the wisdom to know that we do not have to do everything, but the courage to do what you have assigned us to do.

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square in the face

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (15)devotional post # 2201

2 Corinthians 10:7-11

2Co 10:7  Look at us square in the face. If anyone is confident that his ministry comes from Christ, let him remind himself that just as he is from Christ, so also are we.
2Co 10:8  Because even if I were to brag a bit more of what we have the right to do, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I would not be ashamed to do so.
2Co 10:9  I do not want you to think that I am just using my letters to frighten you.
2Co 10:10  Because they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his actual presence is weak, and his word is not worth listening to.”
2Co 10:11  Let a person like that understand that what we say by word when absent, we intend to put in practice when present.

square in the face

Some members of the Corinthian churches had been quietly undermining Paul ever since he moved on to plant churches elsewhere. Their ambition for prominence pushed them to chip away at his credibility. The easiest way to elevate themselves was to diminish him. Their chief accusation was that Paul was inconsistent—bold and weighty in his letters, but unimpressive and mild when present in person. They painted him as someone hiding behind written words, someone who projected strength only from a distance.

Paul addresses this directly. He refuses to let whispered criticism shape the life of the church. He calls out the behavior for what it is: gossip. Those who were spreading these accusations were doing so in the shadows, hoping to influence others without ever confronting Paul openly. Paul challenges them to step into the light. If there is a genuine complaint, it should be spoken plainly, face to face, not circulated in back rooms and private conversations.

This is not Paul defending his ego. It is Paul protecting the integrity of the church. Gossip corrodes trust. It fractures fellowship. It creates suspicion where there should be unity. Paul knows that unresolved accusations, left to circulate unchecked, can poison an entire congregation. By urging his critics to speak directly to him, he is calling them to maturity. Honest confrontation, though uncomfortable, is far healthier than whispered slander.

Paul also knows that his ministry has been transparent. He has lived among them, suffered among them, taught them, and loved them. There is nothing hidden, nothing double‑faced. His letters and his presence come from the same heart. His gentleness in person is not a contradiction of his boldness in writing; it is the same pastoral concern expressed in different ways. His firmness in letters is meant to correct; his gentleness in person is meant to restore.

By confronting the gossip, Paul is not escalating conflict. He is inviting clarity. If the critics truly believe their accusations, they should be willing to voice them openly. If they are unwilling, then their motives are exposed. Paul’s aim is not to silence dissent but to bring truth into the open, where it can be examined honestly and resolved in the light of Christ.

LORD, rid us of our baseless criticism.

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the force of truth

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (14)devotional post # 2200

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

2Co 10:4  Because we do not use material weapons for our combat, but those divinely enabled to destroy strongholds.
2Co 10:5  We demolish worldviews and every highly polished theory raised against the knowledge of God, and take every idea captive to obey Christ,
2Co 10:6  being prepared to appropriately respond to every disobedience, once you have completely obeyed.

the force of truth

Paul’s critics in Corinth had built their reputation on dominance. The so‑called “super‑apostles” projected strength, demanded loyalty, and carried themselves with the swagger expected of influential leaders in the Greco‑Roman world. Their authority rested on presence, charisma, and the ability to impress. By comparison, Paul’s ministry seemed understated. He did not command the room. He did not overwhelm opponents with force of personality. He did not assert himself with the sharp elbows of a political or philosophical leader. To those who valued outward power, Paul looked weak.

But Paul’s approach was not accidental. It was theological. He trusted the inherent force of the truth. He believed that the gospel, when spoken plainly and lived faithfully, possessed a power that no human technique could rival. The message of Christ crucified dismantles arguments, exposes false worldviews, and brings every thought captive to obedience. It does not need embellishment. It does not need theatrics. It does not need a domineering personality to push it forward. The gospel carries its own weight.

Paul understood that spiritual transformation does not come through intimidation or manipulation. It comes through illumination. His task was not to overpower but to teach. He aimed to reshape minds, not subdue them. He knew that ideas, philosophies, and cultural assumptions could tempt believers away from obedience, but he also knew that the gospel could neutralize those influences. Truth, once grasped, has a way of dissolving the illusions that oppose it.

This is why Paul refused to imitate the leadership style of the super‑apostles. Their dominance belonged to the realm of kata sarka—leadership according to the flesh. Paul operated kata pneuma—according to the Spirit. His ministry relied on prayer, patient instruction, and the quiet but decisive work of God. He did not need to dominate because the gospel itself was dominant. He did not need to assert himself because Christ was already Lord.

Paul’s critics mistook gentleness for weakness. In reality, his restraint was strength. He could confront boldly when necessary, but he preferred to persuade rather than coerce. His confidence rested not in his presence but in the truth he proclaimed. His ministry was shaped by the conviction that the gospel, faithfully taught, would accomplish what human force never could: the obedience of hearts and the transformation of lives.

LORD, give us the confidence to speak your truth, and let its force be enough.

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milk toast

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (13)devotional post # 2199

2 Corinthians 10:1-3

2Co 10:1  I, Paul, myself am encouraging you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ– I who am humble when looking you in the face, but bold toward you when I am away!–
2Co 10:2  When I am present, please do not make me have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.
2Co 10:3  Because although we walk in the flesh, we are not engaging in combat according to the flesh.

milk toast

Paul’s critics in Corinth had drawn a sharp contrast between the forcefulness of his letters and the gentleness of his personal presence. When someone else read his words aloud, they sounded weighty and authoritative. But when Paul himself arrived—thin, travel-worn, soft-spoken, marked by suffering—they dismissed him as unimpressive, even weak. To them, leadership meant projecting dominance, asserting one’s status, and commanding respect through visible strength. By those standards, Paul seemed to fall short.

What they failed to grasp was that Paul’s gentleness was not weakness but intentional Christlikeness. His demeanor reflected the meekness of the Lord who came “lowly and riding on a donkey,” not the swagger of Gentile rulers who loved to flaunt their authority. Paul understood that true spiritual leadership does not operate kata sarka—according to the flesh, using worldly tactics of intimidation, manipulation, or self-promotion. Instead, it operates kata pneuma—according to the Spirit. The weapons of this warfare are prayer, truth, patience, and the quiet but unstoppable power of God.

Paul’s ministry was shaped by this conviction. He prayed rather than pressured. He spoke God’s truth rather than resorting to rhetorical theatrics. He trusted the Holy Spirit to vindicate his work rather than defending himself with clever arguments. His goal was not to impress but to build up. His authority was real, but it was exercised with restraint, because he wanted the Corinthians to respond out of conviction, not fear.

Still, Paul was no pushover. He makes it clear that if the situation requires bold confrontation, he is fully prepared to act. His gentleness is not the gentleness of timidity but of strength under control. He would rather appeal than command, rather persuade than rebuke, but he will not hesitate to confront those who undermine the gospel or harm the church. His hope is that his next visit will be marked by joy, not conflict; by restoration, not discipline.

In this tension—gentleness paired with readiness to act—Paul reveals the heart of true spiritual leadership. It does not mirror the world’s hunger for dominance. It mirrors Christ, who leads with humility, speaks with truth, and relies on the Spirit to accomplish what human force never can.

LORD, give us the courage to fight our battles on our knees.

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beyond words

Posted on November 12, 2017 by Jefferson Vann
marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (12)


devotional post # 2198

2 Corinthians 9:13-15

2Co 9:13  When they see the evidence of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission and your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
2Co 9:14  while their prayers will express a strong affection for you, because of the overwhelming grace of God evidenced by you.
2Co 9:15  Thanks be to God for his gift which is beyond words!

beyond words

Paul envisions a deeply moving scene in Jerusalem. The believers there—already worn down by poverty, persecution, and uncertainty—suddenly receive a substantial offering from Gentile Christians hundreds of miles away. These are people they have never met, people from a different culture, people once considered outsiders. Yet here is a gift sent in love, gathered coin by coin from hearts transformed by the grace of Christ. Paul imagines the response not as polite acknowledgment but as overflowing prayer, gratitude rising like incense. Their suffering had made them tender; their need had made them attentive. Such generosity would strike them as nothing less than the work of God.

What makes the moment even more powerful is the source of the generosity. Paul emphasizes that these gifts do not originate in human goodwill alone. They spring from the grace of God revealed in Christ—a grace so vast that Paul can only describe it as “beyond words.” The Corinthians’ giving becomes a visible echo of the indescribable gift of Jesus himself. The Jerusalem believers, seeing this, would not merely thank Corinth; they would thank God for touching Corinthian hearts with divine generosity.

This dynamic is not theoretical. It is something witnessed in real ministry. During deputation, a visit to a small congregation—mostly elderly, modest in size, limited in resources—revealed a community whose giving far exceeded expectation. Year after year, they supported the mission with remarkable generosity. There was no fanfare, no self-promotion, no attempt to impress. It was simply the overflow of hearts shaped by grace. When so many give sparingly or with hesitation, encountering such openhandedness feels like a breath of fresh air. It is a reminder that the Spirit still forms people who give as Christ gave.

Their generosity mirrors the very heart of the gospel. God gave Christ freely, fully, without calculation or reserve. No response of gratitude can ever match that gift, yet every act of giving becomes a small reflection of it. When believers give sacrificially, they participate in the same divine generosity that brought salvation into the world. They become living testimonies to the grace that cannot be adequately described, only received—and then shared.

LORD, thank you for your loving grace, and for those who reflect your generosity in their giving.

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what good it does

Posted on November 11, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky devotions pics November 2017 (11)devotional post # 2197

2 Corinthians 9:10-12

2Co 9:10  The one supplying seed to the planter and bread for food will supply and inrease your seed for planting and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
2Co 9:11  You will be enriched in every way so you can be generous in every way, which will produce thanksgiving to God by means of us.
2Co 9:12  Because the purpose this ministry serves is not only supplying the needs of the saints but it also overflows, bringing many thanksgivings to God.

what good it does

Paul anticipates a question that may have been circulating quietly in Corinth: What benefit is there in sending money to believers far away in Jerusalem? His answer is both pastoral and profoundly theological. He identifies two outcomes that flow directly from generous giving, and both are rooted in the character of God.

First, God increases the giver’s “harvest.” Paul is not promising material prosperity as a mechanical return on investment. Instead, he is drawing from the agricultural metaphor he has already used: seed sown produces a harvest. Generosity sown produces a harvest of righteousness. God enlarges the capacity to do good, strengthens the heart in grace, and multiplies the spiritual fruit that flows from a life aligned with his purposes. The Corinthians’ gift would not diminish them; it would enlarge them. Their resources would not shrink; their spiritual influence would grow.

Second, Paul says that their generosity will overflow in thanksgiving to God. The believers in Jerusalem, upon receiving this unexpected help from distant brothers and sisters, will lift their voices in gratitude—not to Corinth, but to God. The Corinthians’ act of giving becomes a catalyst for worship. Their generosity becomes a doxology. In this way, the gift accomplishes two things at once: it blesses the needy and magnifies the name of God. Paul wants them to see that generosity is never wasted; it reverberates in heaven.

Paul also chooses his vocabulary carefully. He uses terms associated with priestly service, sacrifice, and worship. This is not accidental. Some Corinthians were likely searching for ways to express devotion, longing for spiritual experiences or impressive rituals. Paul redirects that impulse. The truest expression of devotion is not found in dramatic displays or mystical practices but in practical love. The offering sent to Jerusalem is, in Paul’s framing, a liturgy. It is worship enacted in daily life. It is a sacrifice that pleases God.

By speaking this way, Paul gently teaches that love for God and love for neighbor are not separate paths. They are one path. The offering is not merely charity; it is worship. It is not merely meeting a need; it is honoring God. In giving generously, the Corinthians would be doing the very thing that reveals genuine devotion—reflecting the generous heart of the God they serve.

LORD, show us ways to express our devotion to you, by our are for others.

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