Introduction

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1

Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Lessons from Paul—there’s so much to learn!

What’s your impression of the Apostle to the Gentiles? Positive? Negative? Perhaps you think of him as stern and strong, a force to be reckoned with.

When I taught an earlier edition of this study in 2009, a number of people in that group told me that their attitudes toward Paul changed from negative to positive as we dug into his life. It made me sad that somewhere along the way the church has missed teaching the breadth and depth of the great apostle, a true giant of the faith.

I’ve been revising this study as the world deals with COVID-19 and now the United States struggles with racial tension after the unjust death of George Floyd.

The pandemic has been a challenging time that requires many people, perhaps for the first time, to really face their mortality. It may bring opportunities to share the gospel with both our actions and our words. There’s much Paul can teach us about meeting any challenge by living with a focus on God’s kingdom.

Our racial injustices draw me to Paul’s example of speaking boldly for gospel truth by not allowing division within the church between Jew and Greek.

Through this study of Paul’s life, I pray that we will be overwhelmed by the gospel message and the God whom Paul faithfully served.

Kay Daigle
June 2020