This fall I am going through the stories and letters of Paul in chronological order with some our network leaders at Gateway. We are trying to determine the characteristics that made him so catalytic so that we might grow in this as well. Here is the order we are reading through and discussing:
- Week One – Acts 7-16
- Week Two – Galatians
- Week Three – Acts 17, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians
- Week Four – Acts 18, 1 Corinthians
- Week Five – 2 Corinthians
- Week Six – Romans
- Week Seven – Acts 19-20, Ephesians
- Week Eight – Acts 21-28 & Colossians, Philemon
- Week Nine – Philippians, 1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy
Here are the passages that make up the Roman Road for helping people understand the message of Jesus:
- Paul attempts to show his people and the Gentiles that they need God. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23)
- Paul communicates the gift God offers to all of us. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23)
- Paul emphasizes our need for Jesus. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”(Rom. 5:8)
- Paul describes how to connect with God through following Jesus. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10)
- Paul communicates the message of God to all without shame. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Rom. 1:16)
Here are some other highlights of Paul’s message:
- Paul emphasized the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as the power for people to change, and he connected baptism as a powerful symbol of the transformation. (Rom. 6:3-4)
- Paul clearly communicated that God is just and our actions will be judged by Him (although we should not judge others) (Rom. 2)
- Paul communicated that God revealed Himself through creation. (Rom. 1:20)
- Paul emphasized God revealed Himself through His love. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… ” (Rom. 8:1)
- Paul emphasized God’s desire to include others we do not (Gentiles included even if religious Judaizers did not want that). “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” (Romans 9:15)
Here are some questions to apply to our lives as leaders:
- How can we apply what we see in Paul’s life to our own life and leadership?
