What comes to your mind when you think of the Apostle Paul? Great preacher and apologist. Courageous missionary to the Gentiles. Unflinching defender of the Christian faith. A.W. Tozer went so far as to call him, “the world’s most successful Christian.” I’m not sure about that but he had to be pretty close to the top of the pile.Nevertheless, it occurs to me that we don’t always stop to consider the forces that made him into the person he became. What are the factors that account for his astonishing influence during the decades he faithfully served Jesus?

This week, as we look at the early weeks, months and years after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, we’re going to find out. But it’s probably not what you would expect. See you on Sunday.