Weekly Sermons

Part 2 of Dr. Danny Campbell's "Facing Life's Challenges with the Apostle Paul" series.  This is Dr. Danny Campbell's sermon from the 10:15 a.m. service.

 

Sermon Notes:

Saul grows in Christ

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.-Matt. 13:20-21 

Read Galatians 1:11-24                     

But the Lord said to him (Ananias), “Go, for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”       -Acts 9:16

Saul spends three years in God’s schoolroom                                  -Gal. 1:16-18

Saul spends some time with the Jerusalem church                         -Gal. 1:18-20

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. -Acts 9:26

Saul may have had to go right back to Damascus or his hometown of Tarsus if it were not for what comes next.

Read Acts 9:27            -           Underline But Barnabas…

And as they heard Saul describe about how Jesus had come into his heart, the Spirit of Jesus inside Peter and James’ hearts leapt and they put out the right hand of fellowship.

Folks, we would be missing 100 chapters in our Bible if Barnabas hadn’t built a bridge between Paul and Peter and James!

Paul continued to serve Christ away from Jerusalem                      -Gal. 1:21-24

And they glorified God in me.             -Galatians 1:24

Every bit of that growth and serving during Paul’s first 15 years after salvation were meaningful, but God was also preparing Paul for even greater usefulness. The same is true for you and I!

Four takeaways from Paul’s life for Christian growth:

There is no substitute for time spent with Jesus and in His word

It sure does help to have bridgebuilders like Ananias and Barnabas in your life.

We are called to be faithful even when we are “unknown”

Growth is a process that involves perseverance through tough things

Not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the Devil.        -I Timothy 3:6