This is the audio (35:53, 32.8MB) of a sermon delivered at Preakness Valley United Reformed Church on June 28 entitled, “The Wrong Kind of Glory.” The text is 2 Corinthians 11:16-33. I should cite N.T. Wright’s The Resurrection of the Son of God as the source of the notion of the corona muralis parody in verses 30-33.

Here is an excerpt of the sermon:

Paul speaks to the Corinthian church about this impulse to gain the respect and admiration of others, and to have that respect live on beyond our earthly days. He speaks to them harshly but playfully, even sarcastically, because their idea of glory and respect is so skewed away from what it should be. He shows them how absurd their expectations are, but points them instead to his own example as an apostle, and to the example of the Messiah who laid down his life to rescue them.

Audio and text: ©2015 by Benjamin D. Giffone. Reproduction and distribution are permitted, providing that the author is properly credited and that no fee is charged.