That said, let's get into the Word of God. On Sunday mornings, we're going now through

2 Corinthians chapter by chapter and verse by verse. We had just completed 1 Corinthians,

and so now we're in Paul's second letter to the church there in Corinth. Our text today

will be verses 5 and 6 in chapter 1.

I'll both start back in verse 1 for the sake of context.

But once you find your way there, if you're able, I'll ask you to stand.

You can follow along as I read.

Again beginning back in verse 1.

Pardon me? The Apostle Paul writes verse 1, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus,

by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother, to the Church of God in Corinth Corinth together with all his holy people throughout

Akai. Grace and peace, verse 2, to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father

of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us, verse 4 in all our troubles so

that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive

from God. For verse 5, just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort

abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comfortressed, it is for your comfort and salvation.

If we are comforted, it is for your comfort which produces in you patient endurance of the same

sufferings we suffer.

Let's pray.

We'll ask God to bless this to our understanding if you would, join

with me. Loving Heavenly Father, will you at this time by your Holy Spirit settle our hearts

and enable us to focus our attention on you and your word in this portion

...