[Sermon notes / 설교노트 ]
"The Mystery of Weakness: God's Faithful Hand That Lifts Us Up Again"”
(Proverbs 24:16 / 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
"연약함의 신비: 다시 일어서게 하는 하나님의 신실한 손"
(잠언 24:16 / 고린도 후서 12:9-10)
1.성경본문 / Biblical scripture(Proverbs 24:16)
“for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
(Psalm 103:13-14, NIV11)
[13] As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;[14] for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
[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.
(잠언 24:16)
의인은 일곱 번을 넘어지더라도 다시 일어나지만, 악인은 재앙을 만나면 망한다.
(시편 103:13-14, 새번역)
[13] 부모가 자식을 가엾게 여기듯이, 주님께서는 주님을 두려워하는 사람을 가엾게 여기신다.[14] 주님께서는 우리가 어떻게 창조되었음을 알고 계시기 때문이며, 우리가 한갓 티끌임을 알고 계시기 때문이다.
(고린도후서 12:9-10)
[9] 그러나 주님께서는 내게 이렇게 말씀하셨습니다. "내 은혜가 네게 족하다. 내 능력은 약한 데서 완전하게 된다." 그러므로 그리스도의 능력이 내게 머무르게 하기 위하여 나는 더욱더 기쁜 마음으로 내 약점들을 자랑하려고 합니다.
[10] 그러므로 나는 그리스도를 위하여 병약함과 모욕과 궁핍과 박해와 곤란을 겪는 것을 기뻐합니다. 내가 약할 그 때에, 오히려 내가 강하기 때문입니다.
2. Live Notes / 설교 노트
Fill in a few blanks as you listen. After the sermon, tap Copy to save/share.
이 노트는 설교를 듣는 동안 빈칸에 짧게 적어보신 후, 자신의 노트에 옮겨 보세요
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The Mystery of Weakness: God's Faithful Hand That Lifts Us Up
Scripture: Proverbs 24:16, Psalm 103:13-14
(Pr 24:16)
“for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
[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.
1. Introduction: Reviewing the Journey of January
Beloved young adults, the last Sunday of January 2026 is already upon us. A month ago, we eagerly set new year's resolutions and strove to establish spiritual order in our lives. But how are we doing? We still stumble, and sometimes we find ourselves collapsing before the very goals we set.
We live under the pressure of needing to be "perfect." We blame ourselves for small mistakes, compare ourselves to others, and diminish our own worth. However, the Bible's definition of a righteous person is not a 'superhero' who never falls. Proverbs 24:16 tells us: "For though the righteous [ fall ] seven times, they rise again..." The greatness of the righteous isn't in their physical 'strength,' but in their 'relationship' with God, as they rise again by taking the [ Lord's hand ] every time they fall. Even amidst the trials of January, our ability to take courage (Psalm 31:24) comes from the certainty that God is with us.
2. Body 1: Definition of the Righteous – The Faithful Hand That Never Gives Up (C-1)
Friends, a righteous person isn't someone who stands by their own strength, but someone held by God's faithful hand. Look at Peter. He denied Jesus three times, crumbling in utter despair. Yet, the Lord did not abandon him. He sought Peter out again, asking, "Do you love me?" and lifted him up to become a pillar of the early church.
Consider Jonah. He fled from God's presence, plummeting to the lowest point imaginable – the belly of a fish. But God did not give up on him. He brought Jonah back to dry land, guiding him back to his mission. As our Q.T. passage (Psalm 103:13) reminds us, the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him, just as a father has compassion on his children. The Lord's faithful hand will never [ give up ] on us.
Key Sentence: I fall, but the Lord holds me.
3. Body 2: The Mystery of Weakness – The Perfect Stage for God's Power (C-2)
We often perceive weakness as a shameful thing to hide. Yet, in the spiritual realm, weakness becomes the most perfect [ stage ] for God's power to dwell. The Apostle Paul pleaded three times for his thorn in the flesh (his weakness) to be removed. But the Lord responded: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Look at Moses. When he confessed his inability, saying, "I am slow of speech and tongue," his weakness at the burning bush became the very channel through which God's staff brought deliverance to a nation. Your weakness is not a curse; it is a conduit for God's strength. When God sees our failures, He remembers Christ's mercy, not condemnation.
Key Sentence: Weakness is the venue for God's power.
4. Body 3: Steps of Faith – Abba's Embrace and Divine Insight (C-3)
So, how should we respond to our weakness? By shedding our filters and embracing [ Abba's arms ], just like a child. Consider the Samaritan woman. When she honestly laid bare her thirst and shameful past before Jesus, her broken life was restored, becoming a channel for never-ending living water.
Think of Paul in prison. Imprisoned in utter weakness, he saw that the God who held him was far greater than the prison walls themselves. This profound insight gave him courage and joy beyond mere relief (Philippians 4:4). The Lord knows we are but dust (Psalm 103:14). He remembers our frame. When we call Him Abba, He listens, and He embraces us. As we rest in His arms, a new spiritual insight dawns: the God who embraces us becomes infinitely [ bigger ] than our problems.
The Lord is the Master of Kintsugi. He doesn't discard our broken pieces but fills the cracks with the gold of His grace, making us more precious than before. Your scars are not marks of shame but 'medals of hope' where God's touch has transformed you.
Key Sentence: In Abba's arms, God grows bigger than my wounds.
5. Conclusion: Kintsugi's Grace and the Joy of a New Beginning
To conclude, the trials of January are not a trap designed to break us, but a crucial part of the 'School of Weakness' where we learn the strength of God. God is a good Father. He knows our frame, and He knows all that we need (Matthew 6:32).
Today, this worship service is a place of Kintsugi for your brokenness. The Holy Spirit, our Comforter, is touching your unseen wounds, whispering, "I will never forget you. You are mine." As you hear this voice, the weight of comparison and perfectionism will lift, and heavenly joy will fill your soul. I pray that your steps as you leave this service will not be the same. With the confident courage that comes from seeing God's immensity, may you sing a new song of joy on the stage of your life.
[Prayer Section]
Lord, I rest in the arms of Abba Father, who remembers that I am but dust and shows me compassion. Within Your touch—knowing my name and wiping away my tears—grant me the insight to discover Your love, which is far greater than my wounds.
Lord, I experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit, who embraces and renews me today. Like Paul, who rejoiced even in prison, let me gain overflowing joy and courage through You in any circumstance, and walk the path of victory boldly as Your own.
3. Week Notes / 주중 노트
WEEK Notes is a devotional journal for reflecting on God's word throughout the week. It helps you set "This Week's Small Action" and "A One-Sentence Prayer."
Please refrain from using it during the worship service sermon.
WEEK Notes는 말씀을 한 주 동안 붙잡고 살아내기 위한 짧은 묵상 노트입니다.
“이번 주의 작은 실천”과 “한 문장 기도”를 정하도록 돕습니다.
설교 시간에는 사용하지 않기를 부탁 합니다.