June 25, 2025
2 Corinthians 6:1-13 presents a powerful message about the Christian life, emphasizing the urgency of
receiving God’s grace and living a life worthy of it. Paul urges the Corinthians not to receive God’s grace in vain, highlighting the importance of perseverance and integrity in their faith. He uses a series of contrasts to illustrate the nature of his ministry and the challenges faced by believers, ultimately calling for a life of faithfulness and service to God.
Key Themes and Reflections:
Not Receiving Grace in Vain:
Paul warns against receiving God’s grace superficially or externally, emphasizing that it should lead to
a transformed life that reflects the gospel. This could mean a life that is not consistent with the
gospel message, or a life that rejects Paul’s apostleship.
Urgency and Opportunity:
The passage highlights the urgency of responding to God’s grace, emphasizing that now is the time
for salvation. Paul reminds them that they don’t know how many days they have left to respond to
the gospel.
Servants of God:
Paul describes himself and his co-workers as “servants of God,” highlighting their dedication and
endurance in ministry despite facing hardships and opposition.
Endurance and Integrity:
The passage emphasizes the importance of endurance in the face of trials and persecution and
maintaining integrity in one’s conduct.
Contrasts in Ministry:
Paul uses a series of contrasts, or antitheses, to describe the nature of his ministry, showing how
believers can face both positive and negative reports, joy and sorrow, and material poverty while
being rich in spiritual blessings.
Open Hearts:
Paul calls for open hearts and a willingness to reconcile with others, particularly within the Christian
community. He urges the Corinthians to imitate his own example of frankness and vulnerability in
seeking reconciliation.
Living for God’s Glory:
The passage emphasizes that believers are saved for a purpose – to be servants of God and to display
His glory to the world. This involves living a life of faithfulness, integrity, and joy, even in the midst of
suffering.
In essence, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 encourages believers to:
Embrace the grace of God fully and allow it to transform their lives.
Persevere in faith, even when facing trials and opposition.
Live with integrity and compassion, reflecting God’s love to the world.
Seek reconciliation and unity within the Christian community.
Recognize the urgency of responding to God’s call and living a life that honors Him. according to 2
Corinthians 6:1-13
Worship Calendar
June 29 Do Not Feel Like It 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Rev. Eric Lee
July 6 Sent Luke 10:1-11 Rev. Eric Lee
A Summer Devotional Update (Updated June 17, 2025):
A new edition of These Days (July/August/September), as well as a new edition of Our Daily Bread (June/July/August) are available on the table in the church vestibule and in the devotional box on
the church porch.
Lemonade
Lemonade will now be served (self-served that is) after worship during June, July and August. Please join us in the Adamson Lounge for a refreshing glass of lemonade and some cookies.
Music Announcement
Glen would like to start a New Bell Ringers Choir. Anyone can join between the ages of 10 and 110 years. No music knowledge or experience is needed. Rehearsals will be once a month, every third Sunday for 20 minutes after church. The first performance will be Thanksgiving Sunday. The first rehearsal of the Graceview Bell Ringers will be on July 20.
A Feel-Good Story about Perseverance
When 79-year-old George retired, he didn’t buy a golf club or a hammock. He hung a handmade sign in his garage window: “Broken things? Bring ’em here. No charge. Just tea and talk.”
His neighbors in the faded mill town of Maple Grove thought he’d lost it. “Who fixes stuff for free?” grumbled the barber. But George had a reason. His wife, Ruth, had spent decades repairing torn coats and cracked picture frames for anyone who knocked. “Waste is a habit,” she’d say. “Kindness is the cure.” She’d died the year before, and George’s hands itched to mend what she’d left behind.
The first visitor was 8-year-old Mia, dragging a plastic toy truck with a missing wheel. “Dad says we can’t
afford a new one,” she mumbled. George rummaged through his toolbox, humming. An hour later, the truck rolled again—this time with a bottle cap for a wheel and a stripe of silver duct tape. “Now it’s custom,” he winked. Mia left smiling, but her mother lingered. “Can you… fix a résumé?” she asked. “I’ve been stuck on the couch since the factory closed.”
By noon, George’s garage buzzed. A widow brought a shattered clock (“My husband wound it every Sunday”).
A teen carried a leaky backpack. George fixed them all, but he didn’t work alone. Retired teachers proofread résumés. A former seamstress stitched torn backpacks. Even Mia returned, handing him a jar of jam: “Mom says thanks for the job interview.”
Then came the complaint. “Unlicensed business,” snapped the city inspector. “You’re violating zoning laws.” Maple Grove’s mayor, a man with a spreadsheet heart, demanded George shut down. The next morning, 40 townsfolk stood on George’s lawn, holding broken toasters, torn quilts, and protest signs: “Fix the law, not just stuff!” A local reporter filmed a segment: “Is kindness illegal?”
The mayor caved. Sort of.
“If you want to ‘fix’ things, do it downtown,” he said. “Rent the old firehouse. But no guarantees.”
The firehouse became a hive. Volunteers gutted it, painted it sunshine yellow, and dubbed it “Ruth’s Hub.”
Plumbers taught plumbing. Teenagers learned to darn socks. A baker swapped muffins for repaired
microwaves. The town’s waste dropped by 30%.
But the real magic? Conversations. A lonely widow fixed a lamp while a single dad patched a bike
tire. They talked about Ruth. About loss. About hope.
Last week, George found a note in his mailbox. It was from Mia, now 16, interning at a robotics lab. “You
taught me to see value in broken things. I’m building a solar-powered prosthetic arm. PS: The truck still runs!”
Today, 12 towns across the state have “Fix-It Hubs.” None charge money. All serve tea.
Funny, isn’t it? How a man with a screwdriver can rebuild a world.”