Sermon Central
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Follow Me As I Follow Christ - A Journey With Paul
Contributed by David Owens on Apr 11, 2016 (message contributor)
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1. Surprise Beginnings
Contributed on Apr 11, 2016
This is the first sermon in a series on the life of the apostle Paul. We will be looking to become like Jesus by following Paul's example. The primary resource for the series is Charles Swindoll's book Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit.
A. Once a five-year-old named Brian was impressed by the story of Simeon the Stylite, a Syrian hermit who lived in the 5th century. 1. Simeon the Stylite was admired as a saint because he lived for more than 35 years on a platform atop a high pillar. 2. Determined to follow Simeon’s ...read more
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2. The Pleasure Of Partnership
Contributed on May 30, 2016
This sermon is based on Charles Swindoll's book Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit, Chapters 6 & 8. It covers the great revival that took place in Antioch and how when Barnabas needed help he teamed up with Paul.
Introduction: A. The story is told of an elderly woman who had moved to the United States from Europe when she was a child. 1. After living all these years in the United States, she finally decided to become an official citizen of our country. 2. After months of going through all the necessary ...read more
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3. Following God's Lead
Contributed on Jun 5, 2016
This sermon is based on Chapter 9 of Charles Swindoll's book, Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit, by Charles Swindoll. We discuss the fact that like Saul and Barnabas, we need to be ready to obey when God calls for the changes in our lives and ministries.
Introduction: A. I want to begin this sermon with a statement from Peter T. Forsythe. 1. I believe he was right on when he said, “The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom, but its Master.” (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Pub., 1991, p. ...read more
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4. Leading Like Paul Led
Contributed on Jul 25, 2016
In this sermon, we look at two passages that describe Paul's leadership, and then we glean leadership principles from them.
Introduction: A. The story is told of a tribe of Native Americans who came to their Chief one autumn and asked him if the winter was going to be cold or not. 1. Not really knowing for sure how cold the winter would be, the chief replied that the winter was going to be cold and that the members ...read more
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5. The Mission Begins
Contributed on Jun 12, 2016
This sermon draws material from Chapters 10 and 11 in Charles Swindoll's book, Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit. This sermon draws lessons for our lives and ministry from the first part of Paul's first missionary journey.
Introduction: A. Preaching, ministry and missionary work are very interesting and challenging adventures. 1. I read about one preacher who gave a very unusual sermon one day – He used a peanut to make several important points about the wisdom of God displayed in nature. 2. After the ...read more
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6. Witnessing Like Paul Witnessed
Contributed on Aug 8, 2016
In this sermon, we review the times Paul was on trial and how he was a good witness during those opportunities.
Introduction: A. One day a small town prosecuting attorney called his first witness to the stand in a trial. 1. The witness was a grandmotherly, elderly woman. 2. He approached her and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know me?” 3. The elderly woman responded, “Why, yes, I do know ...read more
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7. Closed Doors And Open Hearts
Contributed on Jul 13, 2016
This sermon is a brief survey of Paul's Second Missionary Journey. I try to draw lessons from Paul's experiences that can apply to our journey with God.
Introduction: A. Many years ago, a certain mountain man, by the name of Shorthorn Bill, had become a noted guide in the Montana Territories, but he decided to move to Colorado. 1. Having settled outside Denver, he again began working his trade as a trail guide, principally with wealthy ...read more
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8. The Day Two Missionaries Disagreed
Contributed on Jul 5, 2016
This sermon relies heavily on Charles Swindoll's Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit, Word Publishing, 2002, Chapters 12. The sermon covers the part of Acts 15 when Paul and Barnabas parted company. From their situation, we draw lessons about handling conflict.
Introduction: A. The story is told of a little boy who got into an argument with some boys twice his size. 1. He drew a line in the dirt and dared the bigger boys to cross the line. 2. The bigger boys accepted the challenge and crossed the line. 3. Immediately, the little boy smiled and ...read more
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9. An Unhindered Life
Contributed on Sep 5, 2016
Paul lived an unhindered life and had an unhindered ministry, but that doesn't mean he didn't have many obstacles and challenges. The secret to Paul being unhindered was his attitude of contentment and commitment.
Introduction: A. How many of you like the story “The Little Engine that Could”? 1. The Little Engine That Could is an illustrated children’s book that was first published in the United States in 1930. 2. The story is used to teach children the value of optimism and hard work. ...read more
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10. The Mission Becomes Difficult
Contributed on Jun 19, 2016
In this sermon, we finish the first missionary journey and make important lesson applications.
Introduction: A. The classic joke or dig that preachers often endure is the one on this cartoon where the young man says, “When I grow up, I wanna be a preacher too…cuz you only work 1 day a week…” 1. Usually the preacher and the person laugh, because they both know it ...read more
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11. The Turning Point
Contributed on Apr 18, 2016
In this second sermon on the life of Paul, I continue to use Charles Swindoll's book, Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit. This sermon is about Saul's conversion.
Introduction: A. Once there was a woman who testified to the conversion and transformation in her life that had resulted from becoming a Christian. 1. She declared, “I’m so glad I became a Christian. Before I became a Christian I used to hate my uncle so much I vowed I’d never ...read more
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12. Understanding What Paul Understood
Contributed on Aug 8, 2016
In this sermon, we look at some of the difficulties that Paul faced and how he endured them by trusting in God. He understood that God would always be with him, and that although God would not remove the difficulties, God would enable him to overcome.
Introduction: A. M. Scott Peck’s 1978 best-selling book, The Road Less Traveled, opens with these words: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is ...read more
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13. Training In The Desert
Contributed on May 2, 2016
This sermon is based on Charles Swindoll's book, Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit, chapter 4. In this sermon, we explore the need to grow deep with God through time spent with God in solitude, silence and service.
A. How many of you saw the movie Castaway staring Tom Hanks? 1. Many people found the movie a little slow and boring because of lack of action and dialog. 2. Tom Hanks plays the part of Chuck Nowland, an executive with FedEx, whose fast-paced work took him on flights all over the ...read more
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14. Learning Humble Dependence
Contributed on May 16, 2016
This sermon is based on Chapter 5 of Charles Swindoll's book, Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit. It follows the events of Paul's life in Acts 9:20-31.
Introduction: A. A certain Boy Scout master was determined that his Scouts would be ready for the next Court of Honor. 1. So he ordered that each of them be ready to report about a good deed they had done before the next meeting. 2. When they gathered at the next meeting, the Scout master asked ...read more
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15. The Helps Of Our Hurts
Contributed on May 23, 2016
This sermon is based on Chapter 7 in Charles Swindoll's book: Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit. The sermon addresses Paul's thorn in the flesh and the role of suffering in our lives.
A. One day a teacher was getting her Wednesday night children’s class started. 1. She asked if anyone had any prayer requests. 2. One girl asked that they pray for her because school would soon start and she was going to a new school this year. 3. Another girl asked that they pray for her ...read more
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16. How To Handle A Shipwreck
Contributed on Aug 29, 2016
In this sermon, we explore Paul's shipwreck and learn lessons for our life about the anchors God provides in the storms of life.
Introduction: A. When I was growing up, one of my favorite TV shows was the silly comedy “Gilligan’s Island.” 1. Every episode opened with the catchy theme song that introduced the plight of the group. 2. “Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful ...read more
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17. Preaching Like Paul Preached
Contributed on Jul 25, 2016
In this sermon, we explore Paul's preaching and teaching by looking at his sermon in Acts 17.
Introduction: A. The story is told of a preacher, who one day at the end of the worship service was shaking the hands of the congregation as they departed. 1. A very old lady went past him with a big smile on her face. 2. Following her was her middle-aged, adult son, who said to the preacher: ...read more