The Life and Journey of St. Paul

OBJECTIVE

The Objective of this series is to delve deeply into the many important theological and practical topics presented by St. Paul in the Pauline Epistles. The students will gain a better understanding of how St. Paul's writings greatly influenced the creation of the church and of Christianity as they exist today. This lesson is an overview on the life of St. Paul. In the lesson, students should be able to understand how the life of St. Paul relates to their own lives.

INTRODUCTION - 5 Minutes

Assess what your students know about St. Paul and/or his writing.

Questions:

What do you know about St. Paul?
1. Ex. What was his name before he was known as Paul?
Can you name some of the epistles he wrote?
Are there times in church where we read from the writings of St. Paul?
Do you ever have trouble understanding the Pauline Epistles? Can you remember any lesson you have learned from the writings of St. Paul?

HOLY SCRIPTURE

We will be reading scripture from:

Galatians 1
Philippians 3
Acts 8-9
2 Corinthians 11

As you progress through the lesson, meditate on these scripture with your students. Have them read along and ask questions when they do not understand.

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 30 Minutes

Conversion

Before he became Paul, he was named Saul
- Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.**
Before Saul became an apostle, he persecuted "The Way" (explain that at this time the word "Christianity" had not been invented)
- Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
The reason why he so adamantly persecuted the church was because he was a devout Pharisee. He believed that "The Way" (Christianity) was a wrong teaching that was against his Jewish beliefs. He was just like other Pharisee's who did not believe in Jesus when they met him, although Saul never actually met Jesus before the resurrection.
- Philippians 3:4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Saul gave his whole life to being a Pharisee. He believed he was a good person and that he was doing the right thing. But after he was converted, he realized that he would trade everything for our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
While on the road to Damanscus, the Lord appears to Saul.
- Acts 9: Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. aIt is hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
- From here, Saul becomes Paul and believes in Jesus Christ

Journey

After Paul converted, he quickly started to use his zeal to preach Christ. He made 4 grueling trips throughout the rest of his life spreading "The Way" and establishing new churches.
If possible, please share the following link with your students and talk through the Journey with them
- Paul's Journeys
During these Journeys, St. Paul suffered a great deal. He gave everything of himself to his new life.
- 2 Corinthians 11: 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?---I speak as a fool---I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--- 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak?

Martyrdom

Although not explicitly recorded in the New Testament, it is believed that St. Paul was martyred in Rome. Many of the early church fathers corroborate this in their writings.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

What can we learn from the conversion of St. Paul?
- Examples
  - Try not to stubbornly hold on to your own opinion.
  - Listen for the voice of God.
  - When God calls us, we should answer with all our strength and all our heart.
  - God can take the most unlikely people (people we may even label as "bad") and use them to carry out His will.
What can we learn from the Journey of St. Paul?
- Examples
  - Spreading the word of God comes with a lot of hardship
  - The Christian life is rewarding, but very difficult

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Use the link provided and the attached map below to track St. Paul throughout his journey. For each journey, have students look at a current map and see what modern-day countries St. Paul was going through.