1 Timothy 1:15
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NLT)
9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. 10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles . . .
Mark 11:24-25
Acts 7:57-58
57 . . . they (The Sanhedrin) all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Acts 8:3
. . . Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
- Paul’s conversion story. (Acts 9:1-19)
- How Paul spent his early days as a Christian. (Acts 9:20-31)
How God Develops a Church Filled with Champions
- True champions HONOR
Acts 20:17-19
17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing . . .
- True champions HONOR CHRIST’S GREAT
Acts 20:22-24
22“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
- True champions HONOR CHRIST’S COMMUNITY – HIS
Acts 20:25, 28-31
25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again . . . 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Revelation 2:4