Paul: A Thorn in the Flesh is a Good Thing
The Apostle Paul went through some seriously traumatic experiences - yet he went out lifting up the name of the Lord.

GROUP READING: 1 Cor. 4:8-11, 2 Cor. 12:7-9

GROUP DISCUSSION:

1. Paul was the baddest of the bad. He was more zealous than any other religious leader and ordered more executions of christians than anyone before or during his time. Does this give you hope?! If the Creator can turn Paul’s life completely around, what can He do for you?

2. What is so mind blowing to you about Paul’s conversion? Is there anything that sticks out to you the most?

3. Paul definitely dealt with guilt and shame after his conversion and we see that several times he asked for his thorn in the flesh to be taken away. How did Paul deal with this guilt and shame? What are we told was God’s response to his request?

4. What can be learned through the example of Paul? What can we learn about the grace of God from this narrative?

GROUP PRAYER:
Pray that we would be men who FEEL the grace of God. The same grace that Paul experienced. Also pray that we would be men that even when we don’t feel it, we learn to rest on the fact that it will never leave us. Paul understood that nothing can separate us from the love of God. May we be men who understand this as well. And pray that we would be men who experience the same turn around that Paul did - that no matter what we’ve done, God will never leave us or forsake us. Amen and a thousand more amens.