Oak Hollow church of Christ

Collection

Lessons from the Life of Paul

Steve Bookout

1 Sermon

About

In this series, Steve Bookout walks verse-by-verse through the biblical record of Paul’s life, highlighting the challenges he faced, the changes he made, the obstacles he overcame, and the lessons we can apply to our own lives today. Whether you are new to the Bible or a long-time student of Scripture, this series will strengthen your faith and challenge you to live more fully for the Lord.
  • MAY 06, 2026
    Saul (Pre-Conversion)
    Steve Bookout
    In the first lesson of the series *"Lessons from the Life of Paul"* (delivered May 6, 2026), Steve Bookout introduces a study focused primarily on the *life* of Paul/Saul rather than just his teachings. The lesson examines the pre-conversion Saul as a violent, zealous persecutor of the church. Steve walks through the biblical text (primarily Acts 7:54–8:3 and Acts 9:1-2), detailing Stephen’s martyrdom, Saul’s approval of it, and his aggressive campaign to destroy the church by dragging believers to prison and consenting to their deaths. The lesson highlights Saul’s sincere but misguided zeal (acting “in good conscience” according to the Law as he understood it) and draws practical applications: God can sovereignly use even the evil actions of men for good (the persecution scattered believers who then spread the gospel), the necessity of bold proclamation of Christ even under pressure, and the danger of misplaced religious zeal. The class ends with encouragement to learn from Saul’s transformation and to actively teach Jesus so the church can grow.