SERIES SUMMARY
At Fellowship Greenville, we desire to reintroduce people to Jesus and the life that He offers. We realize that each of us growing as disciples of Jesus is imperative to us being about God’s mission of redemption in our circle of influence. Therefore, as we continue to grow with more and more people joining us, we want to take several Sundays this summer and articulate our discipleship values, while also inviting everyone to the discipleship pathway available to them here at Fellowship Greenville.
PASSAGE GUIDE | Mission: Our lives are engaged in the redemptive work of God.
2 Corinthians 5:14–6:2 offers a deeply missional vision of Paul’s ministry, centered on the reconciling love of Christ. Paul begins by grounding all of his work in the overwhelming, motivating force of Christ’s love shown through His sacrificial death. This is not a generic affection but a specific, historical act—Christ dying in our place—that now redefines the lives of all who live in Him. From a missional lens, this becomes the compelling reason why Paul preaches: because he has been caught up in the love of Christ and must now act. The death of Christ was not simply for personal salvation but was meant to spark a complete redirection of life: from self-centeredness to living for Jesus, who died and rose again.
This redirection also reshapes how believers see others. Paul no longer views people “according to the flesh,” that is, by worldly status or surface-level distinctions. Instead, all people are seen through the cross, either as those needing reconciliation or as those already made new in Christ. To be “in Christ” is to be part of a new creation, which is both an individual transformation and a communal reality. The old ways of judgment and division no longer define our vision; love compels a new, grace-filled outlook.
The heart of the missional call is reconciliation. Paul emphasizes that God has already initiated reconciliation with the world through Christ—not counting people’s sins against them—and has entrusted believers with the message of reconciliation. This dual movement is vital: God acts first, but His people are commissioned to carry that act to others. We become ambassadors—sent with divine authority, not only to announce forgiveness but to implore others to receive it. Missional living, then, is not optional; it is the result of having been reconciled ourselves.
Paul’s astonishing claim in verse 21—that God made the sinless Christ to “be sin” for us so that we might become God’s righteousness—lies at the core of the gospel message. When we understand the weight of this exchange, it compels us to actively extend the invitation to others. Missions is not simply about moral improvement or social aid; it is about announcing and embodying the divine reversal secured on the cross.
Finally, Paul’s urgency in chapter 6 reminds us that mission is not just a possibility—it is a present necessity. “Now is the favorable time; now is the day of salvation.” Paul warns the Corinthians not to receive God’s grace in vain, knowing how easily distractions, opposition, or complacency can dilute gospel effectiveness. This same urgency applies today. As ambassadors of Christ, the church must live and speak with clarity, compassion, and courage, seizing the opportunity of the present to invite all people to be reconciled to God. Missions is, at its heart, the faithful proclamation that the door of salvation is wide open—now.
*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace, passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Remember, these are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. You do not need to listen to both sermons at both campuses to participate in the discussion.
OPENING PRAYER
Start by thanking God for reconciliation. Remember, as you pray that Christ died so that you would experience eternity reconciled to the Father, and because of this, we get to live in the mission of grace and forgiveness now.
READ THE TEXT
Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What big aha’s or takeaways did you have from the message or text?
- In what ways can we feel compelled by God? What does that look like?
- How does being a new creation in Christ affect the way you live, serve, and share your faith?
- How does understanding Christ’s substitutionary death (he was made sin so we might become righteousness) deepen your sense of mission?
- In what ways are you tempted to view people according to the flesh, and how does this hinder gospel ministry?
- What does it mean for you to daily live as an ambassador for Christ?
- What might it look like to receive God’s grace in vain, and how can you guard against that in your life and community?
- Why is Paul’s declaration, “Now is the day of salvation” so important for missional urgency?
- Who is it difficult to share the gospel message of reconciliation with in your life right now? What obstacles might be in the way?
- How can we practically live a life that pursues reconciliation within our families, our workspaces, and our circles of influence?
PRACTICE OPTIONS
Life in Community: Lean into relational tension rather than running from it or suppressing it. Actively pray that God would help you see people with His eyes and His forgiveness. Remember the opportunity of reconciliation you’ve been given and share it with those around you.
Life with Jesus: Take time this week to meditate on verse 17 from 2 Corinthians 5, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Praise the Lord for making you new and giving you the gift of reconciliation.
Life on Mission: Use the Scripture from 2 Corinthians to share about the gospel with someone in your sphere of influence. You never know who could be searching for newness or a fresh start, and Jesus is the answer.
CLOSING PRAYER
As you process this passage, ask that God show you how to seek His will more readily in your daily life. Ask that the Spirit would open you to the possibility and reality of reconciliation with others because of what He did for you.