Trust

Title: Trust – 2 Corinthians 5:11–21

Main Idea:
Everyone is influenced by someone—make sure those who influence you are Christ-like, fearing the Lord, motivated by His love, and committed to reconciling people to God.

I. The Call to Discern Influence (vv.11–15)

• Everyone tries to persuade—motives matter.

• Fear of the Lord should shape who we listen to.

• Example: Paul’s integrity vs. worldly influencers.

• Christ’s love compels us to live for Him who died and rose for us.

II. Seeing with Spiritual Eyes (vv.16–17)

• Stop evaluating people by worldly standards.

• In Christ, we are new creations—old has gone, new has come.

• Spiritual vision reshapes who we admire, follow, and imitate.

III. Our Role as Christ’s Ambassadors (vv.18–21)

• God reconciled us to Himself through Christ.

• Entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.

• Ambassadors speak and live on behalf of Jesus.

• The message: “Be reconciled to God.”

Key Applications:

• Examine who influences you—do they fear the Lord and love like Jesus?

• Reject worldly measures of value—embrace spiritual priorities.

• Live as a visible, persuasive witness of Christ’s love.

• Be willing to look “crazy” for the sake of the gospel.