And with that, get into our study of God's Word on Sunday mornings. We're going through

2 Corinthians chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And today our text will be chapter 11

verses 7 through 12. What I'll have you do if you're able is stand. You can follow along

as I read. If not, that's all right. We'll begin in verse 7, where the Apostle Paul is writing to

the Corinthian Church and by the Holy Spirit rhetorically asks in verse 7, was it a sin for

me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge,

I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.

And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone for the brothers

who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden

to you in any way and will continue to do so. As surely, verse 10, as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions

of Achaea will stop this boasting of mine. Why? Because I do not love you. God knows I do.

And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

Wow. Let's pray. We'll ask God's blessing on our understanding.

Loving Heavenly Father, will you at this time, by the Holy Spirit, just settle our hearts and quiet our minds so that we can hear you speak into our lives in and through your word.

Lord as you speak in that still small voice of the Holy Spirit, we want to give you ears that

hear and hearts that receive and eyes that see that which you desire to show to us in this text

that is open before us today.

So Lord, minister to us we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

You can be seated. Thank you.

Today's teaching is going to be part two of a series I've titled Marks of a True Leader.

What we're seeing in this chapter is a very blunt Apostle Paul who once again finds himself needing to rebuke the Corinthian Church.

I don't get the impression that Paul took great pleasure in doing this, but he sort of

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