No matter where a person is involved in ministry, there will be tough times. While some in Corinth may have believed that a 'good' minister of the gospel would rarely (if ever) suffer, Paul cannot agree. He had suffered. The proof of genuine ministry is not avoidance of suffering but persistence in the midst of suffering.

In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul gives us the key to persistence in ministry. We'll learn how to make sure we make it through ministry's inevitable tough times.