Synopsis:

• Several paradoxes of the Christian life serve as reminders that followers of Jesus are in this world but not really of it.
• The Paradoxes God’s children appear as follows: Strong enough to be weak, serious enough to laugh, rich enough to be poor, careful enough to give freely, mature enough to be childlike, important enough to be last, courageous enough to fear God, free enough to endure captivity, knowledgeable enough to ask questions, loving enough to be angry, great enough to be nameless, stable enough to cry, victorious enough to lose.
• Presented in attractive manner with use of split screen of light and royal blue backgrounds and white text with moving arrows.
• The pacing of the flash video is just right—providing time for assimilation and contemplation.

Application:

• All things are possible with God—He is the One who allows the weak to be strong and the mature to be childlike.
• The paradoxical life of the believer has many poignant truths—as one grows in Christ so does true freedom
• This is an encouraging reflection for everyone who needs to regroup and meditate on what’s truly important
• The world considers a life abandoned to Christ as foolishness—but as we grow in Christ, God enables us to relinquish our lives even more.

Suggested Uses:

• Appropriate as Sermon Starter
• Also appropriate for Bible study

Biblical Reference:

• Galatians 2: 20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me”
• Luke 17:33 “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it”
• 1 Corinthians 3:18 “If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise”
• Matthew 23:12 "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted"
• Matthew 20:16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last"