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Suggestions for leading a study:

Familiarize yourself with the passage in context, including the book itself. Who wrote it to whom, and why?
Read through the study guide a couple times to get the “big idea” as well as the flow of the argument
Have the group read through the passage in it’s entirety before beginning the study. One of the goals is to try to get your members to learn how to study Scripture methodically, and this is an important step.
Be prayed up
Have fun!

Weak Strength

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10(NIV)

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Discussion Questions

-The term “thorn in my flesh” has become proverbial for any kind of constant irritation or difficulty we experience. Is there something in your life that would qualify?

-According to verse 7, why did Paul receive his “thorn in the flesh”? Do you think that is a good enough reason to have something that “torments” him?

-Paul calls his affliction a “messenger of Satan”. Do you think Satan would really be interested in keeping him from becoming conceited (v.7)? Can God use afflictions given us by Satan for our benefit?

-in verse 9 Christ assures Paul that his grace is sufficient for him, but it obviously did not remove the problem. What do you think it was sufficient for? Are there other options that God has other than “fixing our problem”?

-Paul began by pleading with the Lord to remove his problem, and ends with “boasting gladly” about them, and “delighting” in them. When God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want, is that our natural response?

-Verse 9 says that God’s power is made perfect (or completed) in Paul’s weakness. At the end of verse 10, he says, when I am weak, then I am strong. How can God’s power be transferred to us when we feel weakened by our difficulties? (hint: see verse 9)

Leaders' Guide

This lesson explores what Paul means when he says "When I am weak, then I am strong" and how to access God's power in situations that make us feel helpless.

-The term “thorn in my flesh” has become proverbial for any kind of constant irritation or difficulty we experience. Is there something in your life that would qualify?

This is a discussion starter for the group. No-one knows for sure what exactly Paul is talking about it, but he clearly wishes it would go away. Any number of issues can qualify for that same attitude in our own lives.

-According to verse 7, why did Paul receive his “thorn in the flesh”? Do you think that is a good enough reason to have something that “torments” him?

Verse 7 says that the reason was to keep Paul from becoming conceited. The question is meant to address the issue of whether physical pain is worth putting up with to accomplish our growth in character. You can even re-phrase the question that way if it helps clarify the discussion. Most of the time we believe that the avoidance of physical pain is the ultimate goal for our lives, but clearly God doesn’t think that way.

Commentators are unclear what exactly Paul means by this. It could be literally sent by the enemy, or he could just be using extreme language to illustrate how much he despises his affliction. In any event, Satan would surely not be interested in growing our character. Whether or not this is an example, there are surely calamities that befall us that are the result of Satan’s work in this world, or simply because we live in a world marred by sin, but God is able to work through them to bring about good things.

It could be that God’s grace was sufficient merely to be able to put up with the problem, but the remainder of the verse seems to imply much more than just being able to “deal” with it. Have the group read the remainder of the verse after initial discussion. It seems to be sufficient as a means to demonstrate, even perfect, God’s power in Paul’s life. This passage speaks of much more than just the capacity to cope with problems, but sees problems as incredible opportunities to tap into the fullness of God’s strength.

Hopefully as the group works through this passage, they will notice the incredible change in attitude exhibited by Paul. This question is meant to make sure of that. It also points out how different his response is from what we typically have when our prayers aren’t answered according to our desires. If the group can come up with any particular examples, it might make for interesting discussion.

This passage begins with acknowledging that God’s power is made perfect in Paul’s weakness, but by the end Paul is talking about being strong, even though he is still weak. He still has his “thorn”, but nevertheless is experiencing God’s strength in the midst of it. Re-read verse 9 for a specific suggestion: “I will boast all the more about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Apparently, just the act of admitting that we are weak becomes a conduit for God’s power. Ask the group if they think that our egos get in the way of God’s work in our lives. If we are unable to even admit that we can’t manage by ourselves, how could we ever turn to God for help? Once Paul understands that concept, he is willing to not only admit, but to brag about how weak he is if that is what it takes to get some more of God’s power working in his life.