PAUL: THE LEADING CHOLERIC

Two things come to end today. First, we end our week-long study of the Apostle Paul. But second, we end our month-long post-series, “Leaders Are Everywhere: God can use anyone, from anywhere, to do anything.“

To recap, we looked at 4 Biblical leaders over 4 weeks:

• MOSES: The Analytical Melancholy
• ABRAHAM: The Dependable Phlegmatic
• PETER: The Expressive Sanguine
• PAUL: The Leading Choleric

After studying Paul’s life and leadership all week, we dovetail into this week’s Opportunities To Influence, to unpack a few take-aways to help us live and lead.

Much like last week, where Peter’s letters to the church highlight the lessons learned, Paul’s letters to the church do much of the same. Time for some application.

Inflexibility To Grace

Paul, who once may have struggled with inflexibility, became a man who understood grace.

“For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Cor. 15:9-10)

Furthermore, Paul became a man who championed showing grace.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Col. 4:6)

And so in light of these truths, I must be willing to ask myself some difficult questions:

• Am I a person who shows grace?
• Who will I influence this week, by showing grace?

Stubbornness To Compassion

Paul, who once showed signs of stubbornness, became a man who understood and showed compassion.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col. 3:12)

In light of this truth, I must ask myself,

• Am I a person who shows compassion?
• Who will I influence this week, by showing compassion?

Legalism To Freedom

Paul left a life of legalism and experience the freedom that comes with knowing Jesus Christ. In Galatians 5, God leads Paul to encapsulate the freedom of Christ that we have into a single verse.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1)

And so we end our entire series with this opportunity to influence:

• Am I a Christian who is free?
• Who am I influencing, by showing them my freedom in Christ?

Freedom In Christ

Do I look like every other religious person out in the world today? Do I appear like a person who just follows Christian rules or do I appear like a person who is freely following Jesus Christ?

Do I go to church out of guilt or obligation? Because if I am, than I’m headed down the slippery slope to legalism. And according to Scripture, legalism is slavery and bondage.

Make A Conscious Choice

Today, may we make a conscious choice and effort to serve as people who are free. May our worship flow from that grace, compassion and freedom that has been bestowed upon us by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus.

We’ll end this post-series with a few words from Paul, to the church in Ephesus:

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Eph. 3:14-17)

Can I get your feedback?

Paul learned to embrace grace, compassion and freedom. How have these three words changed your life? How have you used them to influence others this week?

Please comment below or share your answer on Facebook or Twitter.