Transformed by Grace: The Preacher's Journey

 

Summary

In this exploration of the Apostle Paul's journey, we delve into the profound transformation that marks the making of a preacher. The focus is on the divine calling and the unexpected nature of those chosen to proclaim the Gospel. Paul, once a blasphemer and persecutor, becomes a testament to God's grace and mercy, illustrating that no one is beyond redemption. This transformation is not merely a change in behavior but a deep, personal encounter with the grace of God, which is essential for any true preacher. The preacher is not just an advocate of a cause but a living witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Paul's experience on the road to Damascus is a pivotal moment, highlighting the necessity of a personal encounter with Christ. This encounter leads to a profound understanding of sin, not just as a series of actions but as a condition of the heart. The preacher must grasp this truth to effectively communicate the Gospel. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that sin is a state of unbelief, a condition that blinds individuals to the truth of the Gospel. This blindness is not due to a lack of intellect or knowledge but is a spiritual condition that only the grace of God can remedy.

The preacher's task is to bring people to a conviction of sin, helping them see their need for a Savior. This involves understanding the true nature of sin and the law, which is not merely about external adherence but about a heart fully devoted to God. The law's purpose is to reveal our need for God's grace, leading us to the realization that our righteousness is as filthy rags without Christ.

Ultimately, the preacher is someone who has experienced God's mercy and is compelled to share this with others. The Apostle Paul's life is a testament to the power of God's grace to transform even the most unlikely individuals into vessels of His message. This transformation is the foundation of the preacher's calling, enabling them to proclaim the Gospel with authenticity and power.

Key Takeaways:

- The making of a preacher begins with a divine calling, often from the most unexpected backgrounds, as exemplified by the Apostle Paul. This calling is a testament to God's grace, showing that no one is beyond redemption. [03:21]

- A true preacher must have a personal encounter with Christ, leading to a profound understanding of sin as a condition of the heart, not just a series of actions. This understanding is essential for effectively communicating the Gospel. [07:37]

- Sin is a state of unbelief, a spiritual condition that blinds individuals to the truth of the Gospel. This blindness is not due to a lack of intellect or knowledge but is a condition that only God's grace can remedy. [22:00]

- The preacher's task is to bring people to a conviction of sin, helping them see their need for a Savior. This involves understanding the true nature of sin and the law, which is about a heart fully devoted to God. [36:11]

- The preacher is someone who has experienced God's mercy and is compelled to share this with others. The Apostle Paul's life is a testament to the power of God's grace to transform even the most unlikely individuals into vessels of His message. [47:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Dr. Campbell Morgan
- [00:34] - Focus on the Preacher
- [01:10] - Apostle Paul: The Greatest Preacher
- [02:04] - Paul's Calling and Transformation
- [03:21] - The Making of a Preacher
- [04:17] - Unexpected Vessels of God's Message
- [06:07] - Essential Prerequisite for Preachers
- [07:37] - Personal Encounter with Christ
- [09:13] - Understanding Sin and Salvation
- [12:00] - Sin as a State of Unbelief
- [15:09] - Intellect and Faith
- [19:09] - Misconceptions About Christianity
- [22:00] - Spiritual Blindness and Prejudice
- [27:24] - Prejudice and Dogmatism
- [36:11] - The True Nature of the Law
- [47:33] - Experiencing God's Mercy
- [49:26] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1 Timothy 1:12-16

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the Apostle Paul's life like before his transformation, and how does he describe his past actions? ([02:22])
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Paul's encounter on the road to Damascus? ([07:37])
3. How does the Apostle Paul describe the state of unbelief, and what does he say is the only remedy for it? ([22:00])
4. What does the sermon suggest is the primary task of a preacher concerning sin and the law? ([36:11])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Paul's transformation illustrate the concept of divine calling, and what does this suggest about the nature of God's grace? ([03:21])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a personal encounter with Christ is essential for understanding the true nature of sin? ([07:37])
3. How does the sermon explain the relationship between sin as a condition of the heart and the role of the law in revealing our need for God's grace? ([36:11])
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of a preacher as a living witness to the transformative power of the Gospel? ([47:33])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of God's calling. How does Paul's story encourage you to see God's grace in your own life? ([03:21])
2. Have you experienced a personal encounter with Christ that changed your understanding of sin? How did it affect your faith journey? ([07:37])
3. In what ways can you help others recognize their spiritual blindness and need for a Savior in your daily interactions? ([22:00])
4. How can you deepen your understanding of the law and its purpose in revealing your need for God's grace? What steps can you take this week to study this further? ([36:11])
5. Consider how you can be a living witness to God's mercy in your community. What specific actions can you take to share your testimony with others? ([47:33])
6. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with unbelief. How can you seek God's grace to overcome this spiritual condition? ([22:00])
7. Think about someone in your life who may feel beyond redemption. How can you share the message of God's transformative grace with them this week? ([03:21])

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Calling from Unexpected Backgrounds
The journey of the Apostle Paul is a powerful testament to the transformative power of God's grace. Once a blasphemer and persecutor, Paul was chosen by God to become a preacher of the Gospel, illustrating that no one is beyond redemption. This divine calling often comes from the most unexpected backgrounds, highlighting that God's grace can reach anyone, regardless of their past. The making of a preacher begins with this divine calling, which serves as a testament to God's grace and mercy. It is a reminder that God can use anyone, even those who seem most unlikely, to proclaim His message. [03:21]

"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are." (1 Corinthians 1:27-28, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt unworthy or unlikely to be used by God. How can you open yourself to His calling today, trusting that He can use your unique background for His purpose?


Day 2: Personal Encounter with Christ
A true preacher must have a personal encounter with Christ, leading to a profound understanding of sin as a condition of the heart, not just a series of actions. This encounter is essential for effectively communicating the Gospel, as it transforms the preacher into a living witness of the Gospel's power. The Apostle Paul's experience on the road to Damascus is a pivotal moment that underscores the necessity of this personal encounter. It is through this encounter that one gains a deep understanding of sin and the need for a Savior, enabling them to communicate the Gospel with authenticity and power. [07:37]

"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'" (1 Corinthians 11:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your personal encounter with Christ. How has this encounter shaped your understanding of sin and your relationship with God?


Day 3: Sin as a State of Unbelief
Sin is not merely a series of actions but a state of unbelief, a spiritual condition that blinds individuals to the truth of the Gospel. This blindness is not due to a lack of intellect or knowledge but is a condition that only God's grace can remedy. Understanding this truth is crucial for preachers, as it allows them to effectively communicate the Gospel and bring people to a conviction of sin. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that this spiritual blindness can only be overcome through a personal encounter with Christ and the transformative power of God's grace. [22:00]

"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:21, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you may be experiencing spiritual blindness. How can you invite God's grace to open your eyes to the truth of the Gospel today?


Day 4: The True Nature of the Law
The preacher's task is to bring people to a conviction of sin, helping them see their need for a Savior. This involves understanding the true nature of sin and the law, which is not merely about external adherence but about a heart fully devoted to God. The law's purpose is to reveal our need for God's grace, leading us to the realization that our righteousness is as filthy rags without Christ. This understanding is essential for preachers, as it enables them to communicate the Gospel with authenticity and power, helping others see their need for a Savior. [36:11]

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of the law and its purpose. How can you shift your focus from external adherence to cultivating a heart fully devoted to God?


Day 5: Experiencing God's Mercy
The preacher is someone who has experienced God's mercy and is compelled to share this with others. The Apostle Paul's life is a testament to the power of God's grace to transform even the most unlikely individuals into vessels of His message. This transformation is the foundation of the preacher's calling, enabling them to proclaim the Gospel with authenticity and power. Experiencing God's mercy is not just a personal blessing but a call to action, compelling the preacher to share the transformative power of the Gospel with others. [47:33]

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a moment when you experienced God's mercy in your life. How can you share this experience with someone who needs to hear about God's grace today?

Quotes


Now here we are directed to what we may well describe as the making of the preacher and the first thing that we find about him is that he is one who has been called by God to this task and to this work there's that great statement in the 12th verse putting me into the ministry. [00:03:15]

He is a man who is primarily a witness he's one who Bears Testament he's not an advocate he's not just a man like a lawyer taking up a brief and handling and presenting a case he does that but he there's something more profound than that he he's a man who's witnessing to something he's experienced this he is known it in his own life. [00:06:33]

The preacher's first business is to do what the Puritans used to call a law work and the law work is to bring men and women to a conviction of sin and the Apostle therefore tells us that we must be quite clear as to the truth concerning sin and he tells us two main things about it here. [00:11:35]

The first thing he tells us is that sin is a state or a condition you notice he puts it I did it ignorant in unbelief my whole trouble he says was due to the fact that I was in this condition of unbelief so I start by laying down this first proposition that sin is primarily and essential a state and a condition. [00:12:00]

Men tell us today that they are not Christians because they don't accept these term our and that what decides whether a man is a Christian or not is not that he's in this condition of unbelief as the Apostle calls it but they say it's entirely due to a matter of intellect statement is that they are not Christians because of their brain and their understanding. [00:12:47]

The facts concerning the Christian Gospel perfectly clear it's not a philosophy this is the account of something that has happened historically that God has done in this world and as has been said these things were not done in a corner and the Saul of tsus knew about these things he'd heard of Jesus of Nazareth as everybody had heard about him. [00:22:26]

The main reason why people in Christian is that they're prejudiced against it it was the whole trouble with the Apostle Paul he says preaching there before a gria and festers I verily thought with myself of course and he was unanimous that's Prejudice and Prejudice means that you determined the verdict before you've heard the evidence. [00:27:24]

The whole object of the law as our Lord sumed it up is this Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul and all thy mind and all thy strength Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself these are the things the details are but indications of how you do that but if you are only looking at the details and are not loving God with the whole of your being you know nothing about the law. [00:36:11]

The most terrible ignorance of all of course was his ignorance of the mercy of God who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious but I obtained Mercy he'd never known anything about mer why not because he'd never seen any need of he was like the Pharisee depicted by our Lord in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. [00:45:05]

In this great Act of conversion in this illumination produced by the Holy Spirit his eyes are open to see the mercy and the grace of God and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith which is in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus and so his eyes were open and he was given to see this blessed truth which he then proceeded to preach. [00:46:33]

The preacher he's a man who seen those things who knows those things in his own experience and who feels constrained to go and tell others about these things in order that they may be delivered out of the same St in condition of unbelief that they may be enlightened in their ignorance that was the very commission that was given to Paul by the Lord. [00:48:03]

Delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee to open their eyes to turn them from Darkness to light and from from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are Sanctified by faith that is in me that's what makes a preure. [00:48:47]

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Transcript
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