Hello, and thanks for being here for today’s Something Good Radio message with Dr. Ron Jones. In Acts chapter twenty-six, we find one of the Apostle Paul’s longest recorded speeches. Appearing before King Agrippa, he defends not only his words and actions, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And as usual, the Apostle’s presentation was truthful, but cheerful, gritty but gracious. Ron takes us to this dramatic confrontation next, as he moves ahead in his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

In Acts chapter nine, God said the Apostle Paul would one day appear before Gentile governors and kings. More than a quarter century later, that day was finally here. Today Ron takes us to Acts chapter twenty-five, and to the Apostle Paul’s appearance before King Agrippa. It’s all part of our continuing series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace,” and it comes your way next.  

In Philippians three, verse ten, the Apostle Paul expresses a desire to share in the suffering of Jesus Christ. And for most of his thirty-five-year ministry, suffering is exactly what Paul endured. Coming up next, Ron takes us to Paul’s appearance before the Jewish Supreme Court. His life is on the line, but rather than defend himself, he defends the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

If you were on trial for being a Christian, what would you say? How would you defend yourself? In Acts chapter twenty-two, the Apostle Paul appears before the Jewish Supreme Court, also known as the Sanhedrin. But rather than defend himself, he defends the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And he does it, surprisingly enough, with a cheerful attitude. Stay with us now as Ron moves ahead in his series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who faced more pressure during his life and ministry than the Apostle Paul. How did Paul handle outside pressure? What practical lessons can we learn from his response to adversity? Stay with us now to find out, as Ron continues his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

Anxiety seems to be at an all-time high today. Pressures at work, pressures at home, the pressures of failure, and of success. But few people have endured the kind of pressure the Apostle Paul had to face. As Paul neared the end of his ministry, he made his way to Jerusalem to preach the Gospel. Shortly after Paul arrived, he was threatened by the Jews, beaten by the Romans, and finally--after declaring his Roman citizenship--he was allowed to appear before the Sanhedrin. That’s where Ron takes us today, as he continues his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

Here’s what God said about the Apostle Paul in Acts chapter nine:  “I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” During his thirty-five-year ministry, the Apostle Paul suffered greatly for the cause of Christ. Today, Ron reminds us that we, too, may be asked to make sacrifices, maybe even to endure suffering, for the glory of God and for the advancement of the Gospel. Stay with us now as Ron continues his series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

Through the years there have been thousands of books written on self-improvement, but very few on self-denial. Salvation is a free gift from God. But followership, walking in the will of God day by day here on Earth, that’s going to cost you something. Today, Ron takes us once again to the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul, a man who suffered greatly for the cause of Christ. Stay with us now as Ron moves ahead with his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.” 

“But I do not count my life of any value, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” The Apostle Paul said those words to the Ephesian elders in the book of Acts, chapter twenty. It was a farewell address, as many of those present would never see him again. Today, Ron takes us to some of Paul’s final words as he continues his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

Grace is more than what God gives us. It’s who He is. If anyone understood the grace of God, it was the Apostle Paul. He experienced it on the road to Damascus, he witnessed it during his ministry, and he wrote about it extensively in his New Testament letters. How does Paul define grace? What’s so amazing about it? Find out next, as Ron continues his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

Coming up next, Ron takes us to the Apostle Paul’s third and final missionary journey. It was a season in which Paul took a bold stand for Christ in the midst of heavy opposition. But it was also a time when the power of God was on full display. Stay with us now as Ron continues in his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” The Apostle Paul wrote those words to the church in Rome, a few years before he made it there in person. He penned the letter from Corinth, either during or shortly after his third missionary journey, when God’s power was on full display. Ron gives us an in-depth look at Paul’s third and final mission trip today, as he moves ahead in his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

Jesus called His church the light of the world.  And He called us to pierce this present darkness, not to avoid it. The Apostle Paul spent eighteen months getting the Corinthian church up and running. That means he didn’t just turn the light on, he left the light on. Today, Ron shares three key lessons from Paul’s time in Corinth, as he continues his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”  

Before America had Las Vegas, ancient Greece had a Sin City of its own. During his thirty-five-year ministry, the Apostle Paul shined the light of Jesus Christ in some very dark places. But none was darker than the city of Corinth. Idolatry, immorality and sexual sin ran rampant. And yet, Paul not only took the Gospel to this den of depravity, he stayed for eighteen months in spite of heavy opposition. It’s a testimony of great faith and perseverance, and Ron takes shares it with you today in his continuing series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”