Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit: Profiles in Character

I ordered matching Great Lives from God's Word series books by Charles Swindoll. Paul, volume 6 does not match the other series. I am disappointed...

Swindoll's book on the Apostle Paul is the 6th in a series of Bible characters and in my humble opinion, the best character study so far.Among the important points Swindoll covers include:1. Biblical examples of people who waited long period of time before being used greatly by God.2. An independent spirit does not please God - He much prefers the humble and broken-hearted.3. Exceptional work is preceded by extended waiting and 4 principles for trusting God while waiting in the shadows (this alone was worth the price of the book).4. While boasting about our weakness is not popular in today's culture, life is about God, not us!5. 3 perspectives to have when in a strong disagreement.6. Sometimes turnmoil, hardship, and persecution means you are in the middle of God's will.7. 4 excellent points to consider for powerful preaching.8. Be careful of letting your subjective experiences be your ultimate guide in life - God's Word is much more reliable!9. Effective ministry and opposition go hand in hand.10. Patterns of behavior and observations about heroes who stand up while everyone sits down.11. 4 anchors to hold on to during stormy times.12. 7 exhortations for faithful service.The points above are only a few of the many encouragements you will get from this gem of a book! Having read several of Swindoll's books, this one may be my personal favorite!Read and be encouraged in the Lord and hang tough like the Apostle Paul did!Highly recommended.

Charles Swindoll presents not just a biography of Paul, but also gives practical examples and applications of the principles that guided Paul's life so that the reader can also examine his or her own life, and apply these principles. Paul is introduced as a brutal persecutor and enemy of Christ. Yet by Grace he was redeemed and became the gentle apostle. This shows that no matter how dark our past is, how wretched we are, we are not outside the reach of God's wonderful and amazing grace. No one is beyond hope and no matter what you've done you can have a new beginning in Christ. Swindoll also tells of the seemingly insignificant people in Paul's life, the Ananias who was called to go to Paul while he was blinded, and the unnamed disciples who helped him escape Damascus in a basket, Aquila and Priscilla, two tentmakers who shared Paul's trade as he made his way on his journeys. Each of these people are part of the fabric of God's plan and purpose making a difference in someone else's life. God can use the most humble, broken vessels and do great things with them because it is His work and purpose. Therefore a lesson is that you never know whether the little act you did had a place in a much larger purpose, such as lowering Paul over a wall in the basket resulting in bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles and to the uttermost parts of the world. Be faithful in the little things and let God work the big picture.These and other examples, such as leadership, contentment, facing extreme circumstances, leaning on God's strength, etc., can all be gleaned out of Paul's life. Charles Swindoll does a wonderful job of weaving the biography with these insights. The best way to read this book is alongside your Bible. Before you're done with this book, you'd also be through the book of Acts, parts of each epistle, and end with 2nd Timothy, as you'll appreciate what was going through Paul's heart as he is waiting for his homecoming. 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:From a self-righteous persecutor to the humble apostle, Paul's life shows how anyone can be redeemed by grace, and fight the good fight through grit, where God's strength is made perfect in our weakness.2nd Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

The Bible IS applicable to our life today, and Charles Swindoll, once again, shows us how. His book, Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit, is more than a storytelling of Paul's life. These pages are much more than an interesting biography of a converted tyrant. Swindoll examines and retells of the conversion and missionary journies, yes, but he uses the principles from them to show you and me how to model such passion for Christ. An added bonus was the ability of this book to cause a great deal of the New Testament to come alive on a go-forward basis. Getting to know the author of almost 50% of the NT has helped me to understand and appreciate the books he has written.

Charles Swindoll's Paul: A man of grace and grit is a fascinating look at one of the New Testament's biggestcontributors. Saul of Tarusus or better known as Paul the apostle is truly a man of grit. Born in a Jewish family.A devout follower of Judaism. A man devoted to Jewish law and persecuting Christians. Swindoll fleshes out Saul from the book of Actsin great detail. Saul persecuted Christians as Hitler persecuted Jews during the 1940's. Saul was a man who violentlyopposed to Christ, his teachings, and his followers. He hunted them down. Tried them, and stoned them.Odd that such a man would end up not only worshipping Jesus, but also writing some of the most beautiful words in the New Testament and spreading the gospel.How strange that such a man who spewed forth such hate toward Christians would turn around and write such a beautifultestament to love (Letter to Corinthians).Swindoll's Paul is presented in 22 chapters, that cover everything from Paul's beginnings, meeting with Christ risen, to his ministry, and finally his death. Each chapter refers and reflects to appropriate bible passages, mostly those from Acts.What was surprising was that each chapter also ended in a reflection. For example, chapter 2: The violent capture of a rebel will, covers Saul's encounter with Christ. Here a violent man is converted into a spokes person for the very person Saul hates the most. Amazing really.Swindolls refers to this change as "Kicking against God's goads". "To kick against the goads" was a common expression found in both Greek and Latin literature, which rose from the practice of farmers goading their oxen in the fields. Goads were typically made from slender pieces of timber, blunt on one end and pointed on the other. Farmers used the pointed end to urge a stubborn ox into motion. Occasionally, the beast would kick at the goad. The more the ox kicked, the more likely it would stab into the flesh of it leg, causing pain.Saul's conversion may not have been quick, but with Saul's previous violent lifestyle and Christ haunting words, those words mayhave been the "goad" that pushed Saul into Paul and a past of hate into a future of preaching the gospel. Swindoll ends the chapter on a wonderful reflection on what "goads" you? Is God goading you perhaps?Are you holding onto some rebellious attitude that perhaps the Lord is goading you to let go of?Each chapter has a reflection like this. Each chapter not only brings us closer to how Paul lived, but also asks us to examine our relationship with God, our loved ones, and even ourselves.This book is # 6 in the series. I'll have to pick up the previous books, and sincerely hope that Charles Swindoll adds a #7 in the series.

This is a wonderful book. I found myself staying up late so I could read "just one more chapter."I have to admit that in the past I have had trouble with some of Paul's writings, while at the same time, his letters to the churches never fail to deepen my relationship with Christ. But,I always tended to think of Paul as the "saint of saints" and this was very intimidating.This book has helped me to see Paul as a real human being. I am still overwhelmed by his total faith in the grace of God, but I now have a deeper understanding of the journey he took and how he let God use him. I no longer feel that this type of faith is reserved for "the chosen few."I appreciated Mr. Swindoll's way of showing how Paul's experiences could be applied in my life. This book is not just a traditional biography of a great man, but it has helped me see how to let God increase my faith.