preaching like paul so, as much as is in me, i am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in rome...

Preaching Like Paul

So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

(Romans 1:15-16)

1 Corinthians 11:1Imitate me, just as I also imitate

Christ.

When so much criticism is leveled against preaching that convicts the sinner, and declares without apology the Christ and His church, it is important to remember the type of preaching that was done by our Lord and His apostles.

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)

Acts 13:7-10…This man [Sergius Paulus] called

for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)

Galatians 2:15-16We who are Jews by nature, and

not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)•Preached what was Needed (Acts 24:25)

Acts 24:25Now as he reasoned about

righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

Note: Paul’s words were exactly what were needed to convict Felix of his sin.

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)•Preached what was Needed (Acts 24:25)•Declared Whole Counsel of God (Acts 20:27)

Acts 20:27For I have not shunned to declare

to you the whole counsel of God.

Paul to Ephesians elders, to equip them as overseers in shepherding the church of God

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)•Preached what was Needed (Acts 24:25)•Declared Whole Counsel of God (Acts 20:27)•Not Averse to Calling Names (2 Tim. 2:17-18;

4:10,14)

2 timothy 2:17-18And their message will spread like

cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

2 Timothy 4:10,14(10), For Demas has forsaken

me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica--Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.

(14), Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)•Preached what was Needed (Acts 24:25)•Declared Whole Counsel of God (Acts 20:27)•Not Averse to Calling Names (2 Tim. 2:17-18;

4:10,14)•Passionate in Defense of Truth (Acts 15:2; Gal.

2:3-5)

Acts 15:2Therefore, when Paul and

Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

Galatians 2:3-5Yet not even Titus who was with

me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)•Preached what was Needed (Acts 24:25)•Declared Whole Counsel of God (Acts 20:27)•Not Averse to Calling Names (2 Tim. 2:17-18;

4:10,14)•Passionate in Defense of Truth (Acts 15:2; Gal.

2:3-5)•Concerned about Purity of Church (1 Cor. 5:5-

6)

1 Corinthians 5:5-6Deliver such a one to Satan for the

destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Call to discipline the sexually immoral

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)•Preached what was Needed (Acts 24:25)•Declared Whole Counsel of God (Acts 20:27)•Not Averse to Calling Names (2 Tim. 2:17-18;

4:10,14)•Passionate in Defense of Truth (Acts 15:2; Gal.

2:3-5)•Concerned about Purity of Church (1 Cor. 5:5-

6)•Was Humble (1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians

2:2)

1 Timothy 1:15This is a faithful saying and

worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

1 Corinthians 2:2For I determined not to know

anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The important thing is the message, not the messenger.

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)•Preached what was Needed (Acts 24:25)•Declared Whole Counsel of God (Acts 20:27)•Not Averse to Calling Names (2 Tim. 2:17-18;

4:10,14)•Passionate in Defense of Truth (Acts 15:2; Gal.

2:3-5)•Concerned about Purity of Church (1 Cor. 5:5-6)•Was Humble (1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians 2:2)•Preached Regardless of Support or Lack (1

Thess. 2:9)

1 Thessalonians 2:9For you remember, brethren, our

labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)•Preached what was Needed (Acts 24:25)•Declared Whole Counsel of God (Acts 20:27)•Not Averse to Calling Names (2 Tim. 2:17-18;

4:10,14)•Passionate in Defense of Truth (Acts 15:2; Gal. 2:3-

5)•Concerned about Purity of Church (1 Cor. 5:5-6)•Was Humble (1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians 2:2)•Preached Regardless of Support or Lack (1 Thess.

2:9)•Never Quit (Philippians 3:13-14)

Philippians 3:13-14Brethren, I do not count myself to

have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul as a Preacher•Bold in Speech (Acts 13:7-10)•Rightly Divided the Word (Gal. 2:15-16)•Preached what was Needed (Acts 24:25)•Declared Whole Counsel of God (Acts 20:27)•Not Averse to Calling Names (2 Tim. 2:17-18;

4:10,14)•Passionate in Defense of Truth (Acts 15:2; Gal. 2:3-5)•Concerned about Purity of Church (1 Cor. 5:5-6)•Was Humble (1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians 2:2)•Preached Regardless of Support or Lack (1 Thess.

2:9)•Never Quit (Philippians 3:13-14)•Constantly in Trouble (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:22-ff)

ConclusionThough constantly suffering trials and tribulations because of the path he chose to take, Paul was nevertheless truly happy in his life.

Philippians 4:11-13

Philippians 4:11-13Not that I speak in regard to need,

for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.