Paul » renew.org

Who Were the Twelve Apostles?

During Jesus’ ministry, great crowds of people gathered around him to listen to his teaching. Some of those in the crowds committed themselves to him and became his disciples. Then, […]

Do We Really Need to Be Saved?

In his work The Republic, Plato relates a discussion between his brother Glaucon and his teacher Socrates. The discussion was about the question of human nature. Glaucon argues that, were […]

Will the Real Saul of Tarsus Please Stand Up?

Updated October 24, 2025. One of the most important figures in the New Testament is the apostle Paul. Once a zealous persecutor of Christians, Jesus came to him in a […]

Spiritual Blessings: Seeing the Gifts We’ve Already Received

From AD 54-68, the Roman emperor was Nero. Here are some of the hallmarks of his reign: He married five people (three women and two men), having one of his […]

Paul the Missionary: How Suffering Propelled His Mission

*Author’s Note: Paul’s encounter with Christ led him to a greater understanding of the faith, and from that encounter, Paul developed a theology of mission that affected everything about him, […]

Paul the Missionary: How Contextualization Influenced His Mission

Has Worry Replaced Wonder?

Sometimes fear crushes our imagination. Nearly 130 years ago, two young dreamers named Wilbur and Orville Wright ran a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. They came from an influential and […]

Paul the Missionary: How Paul’s Conversion Activated His Mission

Two thousand years ago, one single individual dedicated his life to traveling around the Roman Empire, making disciples, planting churches, appointing leaders, writing letters. He established doctrine and theology for […]

Who Was Barnabas in the Bible? Reflections on Being a Man of Encouragement

“A personal relationship with Jesus Christ” has been a popular catchphrase in Western Christian circles for over a century. Theologically, there is merit in the phrase as we all must […]

Good News for the City

We know that gospel means good news, but what does that mean? The gospel has too often been reduced, personalized, and spiritualized so that it’s merely about acknowledging sin, accepting Christ, and […]

Summary of 2 Timothy: Understanding the Basics of 2 Timothy in the Bible

Here is a short summary of 2 Timothy: 2 Timothy is a personal letter from the apostle Paul to his friend and colleague-in-ministry Timothy, and it’s the last letter from […]

Summary of Titus: Understanding the Basics of Titus in the Bible

Here is a short summary of the book of Titus: Titus is a personal letter from Paul to Titus, a long-time partner in ministry. Paul and Titus had begun making […]

Renewing a Focus on Unreached Peoples

Very few laborers are going to the unreached and unharvested parts of the world. This means we must rethink why, how, and where are we sending our people. If we […]

Paul and Timothy: 7 Steps of Apprenticeship

The American church today is facing a pastoral succession crisis. The vast majority of church leaders struggle to find mature emerging leaders. But what if the problem isn’t a leadership […]

Summary of 1-2 Thessalonians: Understanding the Basics of 1-2 Thessalonians in the Bible

Here is a short summary of 1-2 Thessalonians: Paul wrote these two letters to a brand new church in the city of Thessalonica, the largest city in Macedonia. After starting […]

Knowing Christ: The Goal That Makes Other Obsessions Look Like Garbage

Being a disciple is not just about attending church once a week, or on the “special” times throughout the year, like Christmas and Easter, putting some surplus cash in the […]

Stumbling Blocks: What They Are and How to Avoid Becoming One

What are stumbling blocks? The metaphor of “stumbling block” is used in various ways throughout Scripture, but it often depicts an obstacle along the path of life that makes us […]

The Breastplate of Righteousness: 3 Ways Righteousness Guards Our Hearts

In describing spiritual “armor” which protect followers of Jesus, the apostle Paul includes the “breastplate of righteousness.” But what is it about righteousness that protects us? How does righteousness, as […]

What Is the Glory of God in the Bible? A Q&A with Donnie Berry, PhD

Editor’s Note: What is the glory of God in the Bible, and why does it matter to learn about? Far from being a peripheral concept, God’s glory is actually central […]

Summary of Ephesians: Understanding the Basics of Ephesians in the Bible

Here’s a short summary of Ephesians: Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus and the churches in the neighboring cities to help them see all […]

How to Avoid Dancing Off a Cliff

God redeems the seemingly unredeemable. Taking that hope as my cue, I’m going to try to redeem some time I accidentally spent absorbed in a Paw Patrol episode my kids were watching. […]

Walk by Faith, Not Sight: What It Means, What It Doesn’t

What does it mean to walk by faith, not sight (2 Cor. 5:7)? It’s common to think that, as inspiring as the phrase sounds, walking by faith would make a […]

Who Was Mark in the Bible? A Quitter Who Finished Well.

Who was Mark in the Bible? He’s an early Christian and Gospel writer who was friends with Peter, Paul, and Barnabas. He was called Mark (Acts 15:39) and John (Acts […]

Discipling the Next Generation by Inviting Them into God’s Mission

Discipling the next generation may seem daunting. But it’s in the church’s DNA. We see Jesus disciple and launch young men who changed the world with his gospel. We see […]

Summary of Colossians: Understanding the Basics of Colossians in the Bible

Here’s a short summary of Colossians: Colossians was written by the apostle Paul to teach the Colossian church that Jesus is all they need to experience the fullness of God. […]

What Does It Mean to Repent?

Repentance: What It Means to Truly Turn to Jesus Genuine repentance shows up as a change in heart and behavior, not just an apology without follow-through. Paul’s dramatic turnaround and […]

There Are Two Crosses in the Life of a Christian

Life of a Christian – Walking the Path of Two Crosses Carrying the two crosses reveals true discipleship. Christ’s cross brings salvation, while our cross calls us to die to […]

The Historical Evidence for the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus – Evidence for Easter (Part 3)

Historical Evidence for Easter—Death, Burial, Resurrection Scholars from skeptical to believing affirm Jesus’ crucifixion, with ancient sources and archaeology detailing the practice and its brutality. In Jerusalem, the empty-tomb claim […]

Church, It’s Time to Bring Back Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships that Shape Ministry Readiness Rooted in Scripture, Apprenticeships mirror Jesus with the Twelve, Moses and Joshua, and Paul with Timothy to form leaders through life-on-life mentoring. Beyond classrooms, they […]

Disciples of Jesus Choose Hope – Q&A with Michael Patterson

Disciples of Jesus Choose Hope — Practicing It When Life Feels Heavy Rooted in Scripture, biblical hope is a confident expectation in God’s promises, seen in Abraham’s trust (Romans 4:18) […]

Peter, Paul, and Race

Peter, Paul, and Race — Gospel Unity Lived at the Table Grounded in Galatians 2:14, the piece insists racial unity is a core gospel conviction, not an optional add-on. From […]

Church, You Can’t Lose on Tuesday

You Can’t Lose on Tuesday — Hope that Outlasts Politics Grounded in Joseph’s foresight, the church prepares in seasons of plenty and provides in famine, trusting God’s mercy in both. […]

A Fatal Misstep in Addiction Recovery

Addiction Recovery in Daily Dependence Overconfidence invites relapse since neuroplasticity keeps learned cravings, leaving former addicts permanently vulnerable. Ongoing community—AA, NA, Celebrate Recovery—and steady habits sustain sobriety and resist isolation. […]

Category: Paul