Paul – Boasting in Weakness

The sermon opens with a review of the Apostle Paul's biography: born in Tarsus, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee trained by the renowned teacher Gamaliel, and an accomplice in the stoning of Stephen. On the road to Damascus to persecute believers, Jesus Christ appeared to Paul, forgiving his sins and calling him as an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:3-5, 15-16). It was precisely this experience of being forgiven much that gave Paul a deep understanding of God's love and drove him to serve wholeheartedly.

The first major section focuses on the role of time in preparing for ministry. Paul was saved in AD 33, but it was nearly 14 years before he was sent on his first missionary journey. During that period he spent three years in the Arabian desert being equipped by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 1:17-18). Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness, Joseph approximately 15 years, Abraham 25 years before Isaac was born, and Jesus himself waited 30 years before beginning his public ministry. Silence and waiting are indispensable to spiritual maturity, because virtues such as humility, gentleness, love, and patience cannot be learned in seminary but only through the refining work of the Holy Spirit over time.

The second section addresses the proper source of motivation for those in ministry. Although Paul founded the church in Corinth and stayed there 18 months, the believers still divided into factions following different leaders and criticized Paul in comparison with others (1 Corinthians 1:11-13; 2 Corinthians 10:7-12). Even at the end of his life in a Roman prison, Paul experienced abandonment by those he had taught and served (2 Timothy 1:15; 4:16). The sermon calls those in ministry not to rely on human praise, since people's affections are fickle; instead, comfort must be found in Christ, and service must be motivated by his love (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

The final section focuses on Paul's ideal of 'boasting in weakness' drawn from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Although Paul had been caught up to the third heaven and achieved remarkable results in ministry, he boasted only in his weaknesses. This reminds believers that salvation is by grace through faith, not works; that in doing God's work we must rely on him and not on personal ability; and that God often uses those who are clearly aware of their own limitations and failures. The sermon closes with a warning against the habit of comparison and factionalism in the church, while encouraging every believer to be like Timothy or Barnabas—faithful supporters who strengthen those who serve the Lord.