Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit

In this biographical study, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the life of the most influential figure in the early church, next to Jesus Himself. From his origins as a “rebel” named Saul of Tarsus to his final days in a Roman dungeon, this series highlights the grit required to endure hardship and the grace that transformed a persecutor into a tireless apostle.

Message 1: May I Introduce to You Saul of Tarsus

• Overview: Before he was the Apostle of Grace, he was Saul—a brilliant, zealous, and violent Pharisee. Chuck explores Paul’s background, education under Gamaliel, and his initial mission to destroy the early church.
• Key Fact: Saul’s pedigree as a Roman citizen and a Hebrew of Hebrews provided the unique cultural and intellectual framework God would later use to reach the Gentile world.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 7:58–8:3; Philippians 3:4–6

Message 2: The Violent Capture of a Rebel Will

• Overview: A look at the most famous conversion in history. On the road to Damascus, Jesus intercepts Saul’s rebellion with a blinding light and a direct confrontation.
• Key Fact: Conversion is not a result of human search but divine pursuit; Saul was “apprehended” by Christ while he was in the midst of active opposition to God.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 9:1–9

Message 3: The Memorable Faith of a Forgotten Hero

• Overview: Focuses on Ananias, the man God called to minister to the newly blinded Saul. Chuck discusses the courage required to obey God when it involves dealing with a known enemy.
• Key Fact: Ananias’ obedience serves as a crucial link in the chain of church history, demonstrating that God often uses “lesser-known” individuals to launch great ministries.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 9:10–19

Message 4: The Necessity of Solitude, Quietness, and Obscurity

• Overview: After his conversion, Paul disappeared into Arabia for three years. Chuck highlights the importance of the “silent years” for spiritual formation before public ministry begins.
• Key Fact: Time in the “desert” allowed Paul to unlearn his legalism and receive the revelation of the Gospel directly from the risen Christ.
• Scripture Reference: Galatians 1:11–24

Message 5: Mission Underway . . . Thanks to the Lesser-Known

• Overview: As Saul attempts to join the disciples in Jerusalem, they are rightfully afraid. Barnabas—the “Son of Encouragement”—steps in to vouch for him and facilitate his entry into ministry.
• Key Fact: Without the advocacy of Barnabas, the Apostle Paul might have remained in obscurity; every leader needs a friend who is willing to risk their reputation for them.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 9:26–30; 11:22–26

Message 6: Out of the Shadows

• Overview: Saul and Barnabas are commissioned by the church at Antioch for the first missionary journey. This message marks the shift where Saul begins to be called Paul.
• Key Fact: The transition from the Hebrew name “Saul” to the Roman name “Paul” signifies his specific calling to the Gentile world.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 13:1–13

Message 7: Finding Contentment in God’s Sufficient Grace

• Overview: Paul discusses his “thorn in the flesh.” Chuck explores how God uses personal physical or emotional weakness to keep His servants humble and dependent on His power.
• Key Fact: God’s refusal to remove the thorn was a greater act of grace than its removal would have been, as it perfected God’s strength in Paul’s weakness.
• Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 12:7–10

Message 8: The Pleasure of Being in Ministry Together

• Overview: Paul was never a “lone ranger.” This message explores the deep joy and necessity of teamwork, as seen in the list of fellow workers Paul mentions in his letters.
• Key Fact: Healthy ministry is collaborative; Paul’s success was tied to a network of loyal friends like Timothy, Silas, Luke, and Priscilla.
• Scripture Reference: Romans 16:1–16; Colossians 4:7–14

Message 9: Released in Order to Obey

• Overview: Paul receives the “Macedonian Call”—a vision of a man asking for help—leading him to take the Gospel into Europe for the first time.
• Key Fact: God often closes one door (Asia and Bithynia) to open another, requiring the believer to be sensitive to the “restraints” of the Holy Spirit.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 16:6–10

Message 10: The Jagged Edge of Authentic Ministry

• Overview: A reality check on the cost of followship. Chuck lists the beatings, shipwrecks, and betrayals Paul endured, showing that grit is the byproduct of grace.
• Key Fact: Authentic ministry is often messy and painful; the “jagged edges” of life do not mean we are out of God’s will, but rather that we are in a spiritual battle.
• Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 11:23–28

Message 11: A Game Plan for Facing Extreme Circumstances

• Overview: Written from a Roman prison, Paul discusses the secret of contentment. Chuck explores how Paul maintained joy regardless of whether he had “plenty” or was “in want.”
• Key Fact: Contentment is not a natural trait but a “learned” discipline that comes from a total reliance on Christ’s internal strength.
• Scripture Reference: Philippians 4:10–13

Message 12: The Day Two Missionaries Duked It Out

• Overview: Paul and Barnabas have a “sharp disagreement” over whether to take John Mark on their second journey. Chuck offers wisdom on handling conflict between godly people.
• Key Fact: God can use even the disagreements of His servants to multiply ministry; in this case, one team became two.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 15:36–41

Message 13: Traveling as Paul Traveled

• Overview: A look at the itinerant life of the apostle. Chuck highlights the urgency and intentionality with which Paul traveled to strategic city centers to plant churches.
• Key Fact: Paul’s travel was driven by a desire to preach where Christ had not yet been named, moving from “the regions beyond.”
• Scripture Reference: Romans 15:20–24

Message 14: Preaching as Paul Preached

• Overview: A study of Paul’s address at Mars Hill in Athens. Chuck discusses how to communicate the unchanging Gospel to a secular, philosophically diverse culture.
• Key Fact: Paul practiced “cultural bridge-building,” using the Athenians’ own poets and altars to point them toward the one true God.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 17:16–34

Message 15: Leading as Paul Led

• Overview: Paul’s emotional farewell to the Ephesian elders at Miletus provides a masterclass in shepherd-leadership and integrity.
• Key Fact: True leadership is characterized by “tears and trials,” a clear conscience, and a commitment to the “whole counsel of God.”
• Scripture Reference: Acts 20:17–38

Message 16: Responding as Paul Responded

• Overview: When faced with false accusations and legal trials, Paul responded with respect, clarity, and a focus on the resurrection.
• Key Fact: Paul viewed his legal hearings not as threats to his life, but as opportunities to share the Gospel with kings and governors.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 24–26

Message 17: Thinking as Paul Thought

• Overview: Behind the actions of Paul was a mind renewed by the Word of God. Chuck explores the theological pillars that anchored Paul’s perspective.
• Key Fact: Paul’s “worldview” was centered on the preeminence of Christ and the reality of the unseen eternal world.
• Scripture Reference: Colossians 3:1–4; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18

Message 18: Dealing with Critics as Paul Did

• Overview: Paul was frequently attacked by the “Judaizers” and even those within the church. This message provides a roadmap for responding to criticism without becoming bitter.
• Key Fact: Paul’s defense was never about personal pride, but about protecting the purity of the Gospel he had been entrusted to preach.
• Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 10–11

Message 19: Standing Tall as Paul Stood

• Overview: Despite his small physical stature (as tradition suggests), Paul possessed a spiritual “stature” that allowed him to stand firm before the most powerful people on earth.
• Key Fact: Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conviction that God is with you even when everyone else has deserted you.
• Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 4:16–17

Message 20: How to Handle a Shipwreck

• Overview: A dramatic study of the storm and shipwreck in Acts 27. Chuck shares practical lessons for surviving the “storms” of life when you aren’t the one in control of the ship.
• Key Fact: In the midst of the storm, Paul was the most stable person on the ship because he had received a word from God.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 27:1–44

Message 21: Arrested, Confined, but Still Effective

• Overview: During his house arrest in Rome, Paul wrote the “Prison Epistles.” This message shows that physical confinement cannot stop the spread of God’s Word.
• Key Fact: Paul considered himself a “prisoner of the Lord,” recognizing that his location was part of God’s sovereign plan to reach the Roman Guard.
• Scripture Reference: Ephesians 3:1; Philippians 1:12–14

Message 22: Shackled, Deserted, but Still Undaunted

• Overview: The final message. As Paul faces execution, he writes his last letter to Timothy, expressing total confidence that he has “fought the good fight.”
• Key Fact: Paul’s final words reflect no regret; he died knowing that his life had been “poured out as a drink offering” for the glory of Christ.
• Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 4:6–8