God's All-Stars - Week Seven: Paul

I love football season! Each week players give All-Star performances on the field. Join me as I reveal guys in the Bible that would make God's All-Star team:

Week Seven All-Star: Paul

Vital Statistics: (see Acts Chapter 8 through Hebrews)

Early in his career, recognized as the chief adversary of the fledgling CFL (Christian Fellowship League). But following his miraculous conversion at the Damascus Road Summit, Paul abruptly changed his opinion and became the Leagues leading advocate. A powerful communicator, Paul was known to vigorously debate on behalf of the CFL. The League experienced tremendous growth during his tenure and Paul is credited with writing half of the NT rule book and for establishing numerous CFL Franchises across the Middle East including flagship teams in cities like Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and Galatia.

Physical Description:

As his career progressed, Paul bore the scars of numerous difficult encounters with those who opposed the expansion of the CFL (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-27)

Nicknames:

Saul, Saul of Tarsus, The Persecutor, Paul, The Apostle Paul, the ‘Chiefest of Sinners’ (his own description), God’s chosen instrument

Strengths:

High IQ, Well-Educated in the Finest Institutions, Incredible understanding of the game, Excellent & Effective Writer/Communicator, Courageous, Committed

Weaknesses:

Pride (especially early in his career), bull-headed

Famous Quotes: (Too many to list!)

“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Greatest All-Star Performances:

•Teamed up with Barnabas, and later Silas, Paul fearlessly preached the Gospel across the Middle East and Roman Empire, risking his life again and again for the League he loved and represented.

•Supernaturally released after being wrongly imprisoned in Philippi. Event led to the conversion of the Head Jailer’s entire family, who joined the CFL (Acts 16:16-34)

Summary

Saul was convinced that the fledgling CFL and its leader, Jesus Christ, were a threat to the ‘purity’ of the Jewish league, whose standards and age-old rules he considered superior and ‘the only way to play the game’. Saul made it his personal business to search out and shut down every member of the CFL and was known to use controversial violent methods to win. But Saul underwent what he described as a ‘radical conversion’ when he had an unexpected encounter with Jesus Christ, leader of the CFL, at the Damascus Road Summit. He changed his name from Saul to Paul and abruptly went from being the CFL’s biggest opponent to its greatest advocate. Paul’s leadership and influence helped establish and expand the influence of the CFL throughout the Roman Empire. Today, in fulfillment of its CEO’s words (see Matthew 28:19), you can find CFL franchises on every continent.

All-Star Impact

•Early in his career, Paul was violently opposed to Christianity. But when he finally met Christ face-to-face, he became a believer. Can you think of a time when you were convinced you were right but later came to realize you were wrong?

•What happened that changed your mind?

•Is there anything that you are arguing with God about right now?

•Many people are convinced that God isn’t real or that you can get to heaven or have a relationship with Him by following any religion or by simply ‘being a good person.’ Arguing over beliefs rarely produces change. If you are willing to be a friend to skeptics and unbelievers, they just might have an encounter with Jesus because you made Him real. Is there someone hard-headed or hard-hearted that God is calling you to love?

God wants to make a spiritual all-star out of YOU! “You were…created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:24 (GWT)