This morning's text is taken from 2 Corinthians, the 12th chapter,

verses 11 through 21. I have been a fool. You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you,

for I was not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience with signs and wonders and mighty works.

For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches,

except that I myself did not burden you.

Forgive me this wrong. Here for the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children not not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children, I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less? But granting

that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by guile did I take

advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you I urged Titus to go and sent

the brother with him.

Did Titus take advantage of you?

Did we not act in the same spirit?

Did we not take the same steps?

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before

you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ and all fear of

building, beloved.

For I fear that perhaps I may come and find not what I wish, and that you may find me not

what you wish, that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip,

conceit and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you and I may

have to mourn over many of those who sinned before and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and licentiousness which they have practiced.

A few weeks ago I spent four days up at Shalom House at our conference camp and the text that probably gripped me

most firmly and soaked through all of my prayers most completely was the

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