Sermon Central
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Lessons From Paul
Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 10, 2014 (message contributor)
Summary: It was because Paul had such an obsession with Jesus that the message of Jesus Christ went forth through him to evangelize the world. Paul was a powerful preacher and he has many lessons to teach us through what he wrote.
4-6-04
Title: Lessons from Paul
Text: “Declared to be the Son of God with power
...by the resurrection from the dead.”
(Romans 1:3-4).
Bible Reading: Romans 1:1–4, 4:24–25, and 8:11
Introduction:
The subject of today’s lesson is one of the most well-known people in human history.
It’s been said that other than the life of Jesus no other life is worthy of study than that of Paul.
His conversion to Christianity proved that the power of Christianity could overcome the strongest of prejudices.
He would eventually write more books of the New Testament than anyone else; He would start lots of churches and (leed) many to faith in the Lord.
The leading topic of Paul’s thinking and preaching was to explain, in an understandable way, why Jesus died.
Paul wrote 13 letters, or epistles, that clearly show his focus on the plan of salvation.
It was Jesus who revealed to him the lessons he taught and the sermons he preached.
It was because Paul had such an obsession with Jesus that the message of Jesus Christ went forth through him to evangelize the world.
Paul was a powerful preacher and he has many lessons to teach us through what he wrote in his letters to individuals and churches.
His testimony before King Agrippa is a clear witness from one who knows what Jesus did for him.
I will read our text to you, and as I do listen for the lessons that are there.
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”
So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,
3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews.
Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.
7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’
And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
LESSON NO. 1: THERE IS MORE TO PLEASING GOD THAN BEING RELIGIOUS.
There are a lot of religious people around today, but many of them have never had a personal experience with Jesus.
They are good people and they do good things, but they are not saved.
Paul was like that.
He was a very religious man.
We (red) in our text that Paul said this about himself, “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
