Pain Makes You a Philosopher

Pain: The Problem, the Solution, the Big Picture.

1. Think about pain.
   
2. Is pain any good?
   
3. What can you learn about your pain?
   

What does Mr. Google say? Pain makes you…

• stronger
• feel alive
• beautiful
• grow
• human

Some lessons learned:

• You need a coach/mentor/helper (Prov 27:17).
  
• You need to train yourself to improve (1 Tim 4:8).
  
• Face your weakness, or you'll remain weak.
  
• Misc: victim, discouragement, perseverance, sin.
  
• Your attitude determines your altitude of life (Col 3:1-2; Dt 4:29; Jer 29:13).
  
• Relativity: if you're with a lovely person hours seem like seconds, but if you're with an unpleasant person seconds feel like hours.
  

Life Lessons Learned

1. The Problem--pain. Pain is good (Heb 13:7, 11; Jas 1:2-4; Rom 5:3-5). It exposes/reveals the real me—who I truly am at my core. Don't waste your pain!
2. The Solution. Meditating, contemplating God's word (Ps 1:2; 119:97) is the immediate/efficacious solution.
3. The Big Picture. God is my shepherd all my life to this day (Gen 48:15).

The Kind of Man Paul Was (Acts 20:17-38)

In Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders, Paul expresses himself and reveals the kind of man he is.

1. Transparency (Ac 20:18): You know how I live.
2. Humility (Ac 20:19). I serve God with great humility.
3. Vulnerability (Ac 20:19). I serve God with tears.
4. Tenacity (Ac 20:20, 22-23, 25). I have not hesitated to preach, despite hardships.
5. Clarity (Ac 20:21). People must turn to God.
6. Priority (Ac 20:24). Testify to the gospel of God's grace.
7. Integrity (Ac 20:26, 33). I am innocent.
8. Totality (Ac 20:27). I proclaim the whole counsel of God.
9. Responsibility (Ac 20:28, 32). Oversee and shepherd others.
10. Melancholy (Ac 20:29-31). I never stopped warning you with tears.
11. Industry (Ac 20:34-35). I showed you hard work.