HOW WE MUST AND MUST NOT PREACH THE GOSPEL: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

2 Corinthians 4:1-6
"1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

I. AS YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL, YOU WILL NOT LOSE HEART IF YOU KEEP THE EYES OF OUR HEART FIRMLY FIXED ON JESUS (v. 1)

II. AS YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL, YOU MUST NOT PRACTICE DISGRACEFUL, UNDERHANDED WAYS (v. 2a)

III. AS YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL, YOU MUST REFUSE TO PRACTICE CUNNING (v. 2b)

IV. AS YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL, YOU MUST REFUSE TO TAMPER WITH GOD’S WORD (v. 2c)

V. AS YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL, YOU MUST OPENLY STATE THE TRUTH (v. 2d)

VI. AS YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL, REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE IN THEIR NATURAL STATE IS SPIRITUALLY BLIND (vv. 3-4)

VII. AS YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL, YOU MUST PREACH CHRIST AND NOT YOURSELF (v. 5)

VIII. AS YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL, REMEMBER THAT IF ANYONE IS SAVED OR SANCTIFIED, IT IS BECAUSE GOD HAS SHINED LIGHT IN THEIR DARKNESS (v. 6)

IX. AS YOU PREACH THE GOSPEL, YOU MUST PREACH FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE (v. 6)