PRESENTATION OUTLINE
"He must increase
but I must decrease"
"Humans were not built to withstand the weight of celebrity."
-Ta-Nehisi Coates
“And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem...But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” Acts 8:1–3
“Now as he went on his way...
Acts 9:3
God's calling of Paul
- To bring the gospel to Jews, Gentiles, Kings
- To suffer for the sake of Jesus
“though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent..."
1Timothy 1:13
Weakness and suffering were part of his calling
Acts 9:15-16
He confessed that he was not good apart from Christ
Romans 7:18
Philippians 3:12
He relied more on God’s Spirit and power than on his own abilities
2 Corinthians 10:10
1 Corinthians 2:1–5
1 Thessalonians 2:5,13
He was willing to look foolish to encourage others in Christ
1Corinthians 4:10
He considered even God’s gifts as nothing compared to Christ himself
Philippians 3:4-8
1Corinthians 15:8–10
2 Corinthians 3:4–6
2 Corinthians 4:5
2 Corinthians 10:17–18
Colossians 1:29
He considered challenges and weakness as gifts of God’s grace to point to God’s sufficiency and not his
2 Corinthians 1:8–9
2 Corinthians 11:24–30
2 Corinthians 12:10
Colossians 1:24
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7
Do you believe God can completely transform the worst of sinners - even you?
Do you believe your circumstances and weaknesses aren't a mistake?
Are you focused on making much of you or on making much of God?
