FORGED: BUILT IN THE FIRE
2 Corinthians 11:22–25a (NLT)
"Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned."
Beatings didn’t break him.
Paul was punished severely for preaching Jesus. We can gloss over this list, but the reality is staggering. Here in America, we may feel social pressure for our faith, but rarely do we face prison time. That’s not the case globally. Today, ten of our church planters in India are in prison simply for sharing Jesus. Their experience mirrors what Paul faced.
The prisons Paul knew weren’t about rehabilitation. They were dark, cold, and cruel. No food. No sunlight. Often chained to the wall and forgotten.
In Acts 16, we get a glimpse of Paul and Silas in one of these dungeons. After casting a demon out of a girl, they were illegally beaten and thrown into jail. Their response?
Acts 16:25 (NLT)
"Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening."
Their weapons in suffering were prayer and praise.
They chose joy in the dungeon. And people noticed. God responded with an earthquake, doors opened, and chains fell off. The jailer was about to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had escaped—but Paul stopped him. That night, the jailer and his whole household were saved and baptized.
What’s our response in the dungeon seasons of life? Do we choose prayer and praise—or bitterness and defeat?
Paul continued:
2 Corinthians 11:25b–26 (NLT)
"Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea..."
Danger didn’t derail him.
Shipwrecked. Robbed. Pursued by enemies. Snakebit. Betrayed by false believers. There wasn’t a safe place
Paul could hide—not in the cities, deserts, seas, or even churches. Still, he pressed on. Why?
Because Jesus told him:
Acts 18:9–10a (NLT)
"Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you..."
Paul endured it all—punishment, peril, and…
2 Corinthians 11:27–29 (NLT)
"I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights... I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches."
Personal pain didn’t push him off his purpose.
He labored. He went without food, without sleep, without warmth. And still, he carried the weight of the churches he planted. When they hurt, he hurt. When they wandered, it burned in him. He loved like a parent loves a child.
So we ask—what does your resume of resilience look like? When life punches you in the gut, do you bounce back—or stay down?
Paul's strength wasn’t just grit. It was rooted in something deeper:
1 Corinthians 15:20 (NLT)
"But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead..."
Paul’s resilience was rooted in Christ’s resurrection.
He had encountered the risen Jesus. That encounter changed everything. Jesus wasn’t just a belief—He was real. And that hope of eternal life gave Paul perspective. His pain was real, but temporary. Heaven was ahead.
Philippians 1:21 (ESV)
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."2 Corinthians 5:14 (ESV)
"For the love of Christ controls us..."
Paul didn’t run for reward. He ran because of relationship. Jesus had gripped his heart.
Acts 20:24 (NLT)
"My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by theLord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."
He loved Jesus. He loved people. That’s what kept him going.
Not money. Not comfort. Not approval. When everything else was stripped away, he had his Savior and his mission. And that was enough.
So—what keeps you going? What’s the “carrot on the stick” that keeps you walking through hardship?
Is it status? Beauty? Success? Those things fade.
The only lasting motivation—the only true resilience—is found in knowing Jesus deeply and living for eternity.
May we finish well. May we be found faithful. May our resume of resilience inspire others to do the same.
Forged Pt. 6 | A Resume of Resilience | Transcript
How many of you have ever written a résumé? The last time I made one was two years after I started EVC—about 26 years ago. I thought God was calling me to become a church-planting missionary in North Africa. The only problem? I hadn’t talked to my wife, Hope, about it. And she was pregnant with our daughter Trinity at the time. Turns out, what I thought was God’s leading may have just been me trying to run from a difficult situation with a few difficult people.
Hope had already followed me in faith to start a new church. It wasn’t about her unwillingness—it was about her discernment. And sure enough, the Holy Spirit and my wise wife prevailed. Here we are, two and a half decades later, still here. Still sending missionaries, but from a different posture.
Funny thing—I didn’t need a résumé when I started EVC. I hired myself. But if I had written one, it would’ve included objectives, degrees (a B.S. in speech—ironic, right?), a Master of Divinity in Biblical Languages, past work experience, and references. That’s the point of a résumé—to prove you're qualified.
Today, we’re continuing our Forged series and looking at Paul’s résumé—not for a job, but a résumé of resilience. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul lays out his credentials, not to brag, but because his character was under attack.
Even though Paul started the church in Corinth and spent 18 months with them, some “super apostles” moved in after he left. These self-proclaimed leaders discredited Paul, questioned his authority, and persuaded people to follow them instead. Paul was devastated. Not just because his name was being dragged through the mud, but because he feared the church would be led away from Christ.
So, Paul wrote a letter—2 Corinthians. In it, he defended himself. He listed his qualifications and experiences not to elevate himself, but to protect the gospel and call the church back to truth.
Let’s walk through some of what Paul endured.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faithfulness in Hardship Reveals True Strength
Paul’s resume wasn’t built on achievements—it was built through adversity. His faith held strong through beatings, imprisonment, hunger, betrayal, and danger.2. Suffering Is Not Evidence of God’s Absence
Paul endured incredible trials, not because God had abandoned him, but because God had called him. Resilience was forged in the fire.3. Prayer and Praise Are Our Weapons in the Dungeon
When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they prayed and praised—showing us that worship is how we fight our darkest battles.4. The Resurrection Changes Everything
Paul’s perseverance was rooted in his unshakable belief in the risen Christ. Jesus was alive—and that truth gave him purpose and endurance.5. Resilience Has a Mission
Paul’s love for Jesus and people fueled his endurance. He didn’t just survive; he kept showing up, preaching, planting churches, and living on mission.