For an educated man, Paul cites his credentials in relative obscurity. Picture someone today using these as their platform to be commissioned or ordained. Of course there would be an “and”, to say the least. Tens of thousands of dollars would be required to purchase the formal education and at the end of it all, you’d be discreetly categorized according to your “potential”.

Paul never refers to his personal achievements as a basis for his call. As a matter of fact, he seems to have discounted all that was to his credit, counting it as loss. (Ph. 3)

Our titles are far too important to us today.

They are restrictive and they reinforce the idea that real ministry is executed by professionals. Jim Collins, in “Good to Great”, would refer to this model as the “genius with a thousand helpers”.

Far too many people mistakenly believe that they are unqualified to do ministry other than the more obscure tasks required to keep the church running.

The truth is that the pews are full of preachers, teachers, etc. The real sermons are lived out every day in homes, workplaces, communities … and if the world is to be changed it will be through these messages. This is where church goes to the people. If we wait for people to come to a church meeting to find Christ, it may never happen. When we find Christ, we become the Church.

You can’t find Christ without finding the Church but you can find the church without finding Christ.

So let’s concentrate on helping them find Christ.