This lesson's objective: to expand the students' awareness that Christian stewardship encompasses the Christian's entire life.
Suggestion to teacher: most Christians limit their study of Paul's life to his Christian life and work. They rarely consider what an evil man Paul was prior to his conversion to Christ. His evil came from his zealous devotion to a religious system, but his evil resulted in the imprisonment and death of harmless people whose only "crime" was to place faith in Jesus.
In this lesson, you want the students to see three things clearly: (1) Paul as a hostile enemy of Christianity; (2) Paul's stewardship that came from Jesus; and (3) the impact of his stewardship on his total existence.
By seeing and understanding the impact of stewardship on Paul, we begin to grasp the meaning and impact of stewardship in a Christian's life.
The order of this lesson is deliberately reversed. In most lessons, we first establish a perspective. Then we go to scripture, see that perspective in scripture, and reinforce it. This lesson first allows scripture to establish the perspective. This perspective is so foreign to our thinking and our lives that scripture must reveal it. After we see the perspective in scripture, we will reinforce it.
Paul's life as a devout Jew prior to conversion to Christ:
Paul's credentials as a zealous, devout Jew who was certain that Jesus was an impostor:
He was circumcised eight days after birth (Genesis 17:12). He was an Israelite. He was a member of the tribe of Benjamin. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews (that probably meant that he spoke the Aramaic language of the Jews who lived in Palestine). He was a Pharisee (Pharisees were known for their devotion to the scripture and the law). His zeal in Judaism was verified by his persecution of Christians. He kept the customs and rites of the Jews. He lived what he believed.
He was born in the city of Tarsus in the province of Cilicia, but received his early training in Jerusalem. He was a student of Gamaliel, one of the greatest rabbis in Israel's history. He strictly observed the ancestral law. He was zealous for the God of Israel.
He was one of the leading students in Israel because he was "more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions."
Paul's religious zeal and commitment to Judaism when he believed Jesus was not the Christ:
The men who stoned Stephen took off their robes to throw the stones. They placed their clothing in Paul's (Saul's) care.
He was in "hearty agreement" with the execution of Stephen.
He made a house-to-house search for Jewish men or women (or proselytes) who believed in Jesus. When he found a believer, he dragged him or her out of the house and placed him or her in prison.
He persecuted Christians to the point of killing them. Some he bound and placed in prison.
He was "furiously enraged" against Christians. He locked them up in prisons. He voted for their deaths. He abused them in synagogues in an attempt to force them to blaspheme.
Before becoming a Christian, his treatment of Christians and rejection of Jesus as the Christ occurred in ways that made Paul a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent aggressor.
Paul's life as a devout Christian:
Jesus Christ's statements to Paul:
Jesus said that he was sending Paul to the Gentiles. Any person who was not an Israelite (who did not have a Jewish mother, father, or both) was a Gentile. A Gentile was any person who was not a Jew or a proselyte (a convert to Judaism).
Paul would be a witness for Jesus in Rome just as he had been in Jerusalem.
Paul would be delivered from hostile Jewish people and Gentiles who rejected Jesus.
Jesus sent Paul to the Gentiles (to people who were not Jews).
(1) Paul would open their eyes so they would turn from darkness to light, from the rule and kingdom of Satan to the rule and kingdom of God. (2) Through this turning, they would receive the forgiveness of sins. (3) Through this turning, they would receive the inheritance for those who were sanctified by faith in Jesus.
Jesus Christ's statement to Ananias in Acts 9:15,16:
Jesus explained that Paul was a chosen vessel (chosen instrument).
He would be Jesus' witness to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites (Jews).
Jesus would show Paul how much he must suffer because of Jesus' name.
The Christian Paul acknowledged his stewardship:
They were servants and stewards of the mysteries of God, and they must be faithful (trustworthy) to their stewardship. A mystery was something that had not been known but was now revealed. God's plan and intent in the Christ had not been known. God revealed the plan and intent in Jesus. Paul, who opposed God's plan and intent by persecuting Christians, understood God's mystery in Jesus Christ. God gave Paul that understanding. He had to share this understanding because he was a reliable, trustworthy steward. See Galatians 1:11-16.
Paul had two responsibilities working in him. (1) He was indebted to God for the love and the grace that forgave him (a) for his blasphemy against Jesus and (b) for persecuting Christians. (2) Whether he wanted the responsibility or not, he was entrusted by God with the stewardship of sharing Jesus and the meaning of Christianity. If he responded to his responsibility voluntarily because he loved God, he would be rewarded. Even if he rejected that motivation, he still had the responsibility of a steward.
God entrusted Paul with the good news about Jesus just as God entrusted Peter with the good news for the Jews (Israelites). Paul's stewardship responsibility was to share this good news with people who were not Jews.
Paul told the Ephesian Christians that he was entrusted with "the stewardship of God's grace." Few people, perhaps no one, ever understood God's grace as did Paul. God's grace saved him even though he had been a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent aggressor. If God's goodness could extend salvation to Paul, God's goodness can extend salvation to anyone. See 1 Timothy 1:15,16.
He was given the responsibility to preach God's riches in Christ, riches that exceed comprehension. Paul's stewardship responsibility was to teach people who were not Jews. He was to help them understand the mystery of Christ that had been hidden in God for ages. That mystery was now understandable. Paul was responsible to share the light that would reveal the meaning of God's plan and purpose.
God made Paul a minister to share the preaching of God's word to people who were not Jews. He was to help them understand God's mystery that had been hidden in the past, but now was clear to Christians. Christians understood that God wanted people who were not Jews to be saved just as certainly as He wanted Jews to be saved. The key to salvation for both was the same truth: the hope of glory is Christ living in the person. So Paul and his mission team proclaimed Christ. They urged every person to be spiritually complete by allowing Christ to live in him or her. It was this stewardship that motivated Paul to give himself completely to the task God gave him.
Focus on Paul's situation clearly. Do not "chase" distracting questions and issues. Paul was a committed, aggressive enemy of the resurrected Jesus and all Jews who believed in Jesus. He arrested and voted for the deaths of his own people if they believed in Jesus! His religious behavior was governed by contempt, anger, and hostility. This all happened because he did not understand (1) who Jesus was, (2) God's plans through Abraham, (3) God's desire to save all people (see 1 Timothy 1:15,16). He had a lot of knowledge and no understanding!
Jesus appeared to Paul. Jesus proved his resurrection; his relationship to God; and his position as Christ. That encounter totally redirected Paul's life. Beginning with that encounter, Jesus gave Paul stewardship responsibilities to be honored in his mission to people who were not Jews. From that time forward, Paul's actions were motivated by two things: (1) God's incredible grace in forgiving Paul; and (2) Paul's stewardship. Paul's stewardship resulted in suffering, hardship, and sacrifice. It produced hostile rejections, misrepresentation, and becoming the object of hatred, imprisonment, and execution. As a good steward, regardless of current hardship, Paul consistently presented the God of grace, the Jesus who was the Christ, and the new humanity God created in Christ Jesus. See 2 Corinthians 11:22-33.
Teacher, have a clear understanding of what you share about Paul's stewardship and the manner that this stewardship controlled Paul's life. If your understanding is sharp and clear, what you share with your students will be simple and understandable. That is important. It is by understanding Paul's stewardship that they will understand their own.
In Jesus, God entrusted us with His reputation and image, His greatest accomplishment (salvation in Jesus), Jesus Christ's name, Jesus Christ's gifts (forgiveness, redemption, atonement, justification, sanctification, propitiation, purification, etc.), the spiritual kingdom, spiritual existence, the new humanity, material possessions, and opportunity. The gifts God entrusts to each Christian staggers human comprehension.
What did Peter admonish all Christians to do in 1 Peter 4:10? Read Jesus' statement in Matthew 11:21-24. What will Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom say to us in the judgment?
Peter urged us to use our gifts to serve each other as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.
What will those condemned in ages past say to the society who has affordable Bibles in print that we can own, the best Bible study aids in the world's history, the most comfortable church buildings and most convenient facilities that ever existed, the best lifestyle of any society, the greatest peace of any society, the greatest number of human rights and freedoms ever experienced by a people, and incredible opportunities and prosperity? What kind of stewards should we be?
Link to Student Guide Quarter 4, Lesson 4