On a recent Lord’s Day evening during Vacation Bible School week, Pastor Thiessen opened 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and invited the congregation to consider Paul’s personal testimony near the beginning of this great resurrection chapter. While the passage is often read at Easter, its message about the mindset of a messenger speaks directly to every Christian who serves God in any capacity. Whether you are a VBS worker, a counsellor, a musician or someone quietly supporting the work behind the scenes, the principles found in verses 8 to 10 are essential.
Paul first gives one of the clearest summaries of the gospel in all Scripture: the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He then lists many eyewitnesses of the risen Saviour before turning to his own experience. The heart of the message lies in these verses:
“And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:8-10, KJV)
From these words four clear aspects of Paul’s mindset emerge.
How Did Paul View Himself as an Apostle?
Unlikely
Paul described himself as “one born out of due time,” a phrase that refers to an untimely or premature birth with little hope of survival. He saw his own background and circumstances as completely unfavourable for becoming an apostle of Jesus Christ. Far from claiming any special right to the position, Paul understood that his calling rested entirely on the faithfulness of God.
This perspective removes every trace of entitlement from Christian service. There are no ministry bluebloods, no one qualified by human pedigree, personal achievement or even professed faithfulness. As Paul reminded the Corinthians,
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, KJV)
Pastor Thiessen illustrated this truth from his own life. Born in southwest British Columbia as the skinny, introverted son of a chicken farmer, he dreaded public speaking more than anything else. On New Year’s Eve 1983 the Lord convicted him that he had never fully surrendered to do whatever God wanted. After wrestling through the night he finally knelt and said yes, but immediately added that if God wanted him to preach, God would have to make him a preacher, because in his own strength he could never do it. More than forty years later he continues only because of God’s faithfulness. Every believer who serves Christ can echo the same reality: we are all unlikely messengers of the gospel.
Unimportant
Paul went further and declared, “I am the least of the apostles.” The word carries the sense of being the smallest and of very little importance. He refused to be placed on any pedestal. In Ephesians 3:8 he took the thought even lower, calling himself “less than the least of all saints.”
This humility matches the example of the Lord Jesus, who left eternal glory, took the form of a servant and did not cling to His rights as God. Paul exhorted believers to “let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3, KJV). He also reminded the Corinthians that it is a very small thing to be judged by human opinion; the only evaluation that ultimately matters is the Lord’s (1 Corinthians 4:1-4).
Many Christians, including those in ministry, sometimes believe unhelpful lies about their own importance. Some imagine they are the visionary leader of a great movement or the only one truly standing for truth. Paul’s words bring us back to reality. We are simply sinners saved by grace. The proper response is to glory in the Giver rather than in the gift, whether that gift is the ability to sing, teach, organise or serve in any other way.
Unworthy
Paul added that he was “not meet to be called an apostle” because he had persecuted the church of God. Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus was a relentless enemy of believers. He was present at the death of Stephen and was “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1, KJV). Later he described himself as the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15, KJV).
While our personal stories may not match the apostle’s, every Christian shares the same sense of unworthiness apart from grace. Each of us carries something in our past that would disqualify us were it not for the glorious grace of God. This attitude of unworthiness is the only fitting response to unmerited favour, and it equips us to reach others with genuine compassion.
Pastor Thiessen recalled his own first exposure to the gospel as a four- or five-year-old boy at a small Baptist church VBS in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Simple film-strip lessons about the Good Shepherd searching for the lost sheep and Christ knocking at the door left a lasting impression. He does not remember the names of those who laboured that week, yet he looks forward to thanking them in heaven for considering even a small child important enough to receive their effort. The same spirit helps us today. Soul-winning is simply one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. When restoring someone who has been overtaken in a fault, we must do so “in the spirit of meekness,” recognising that we ourselves are unworthy and stand in constant need of grace (Galatians 6:1, KJV).
Unapologetic
Paul refused to stop with the three negative descriptions. He declared, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” Though he was unlikely, unimportant and unworthy in himself, he remained completely unapologetic about the grace of God at work in his life. He was unashamed of the gospel, knowing it to be “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16, KJV). His only boast was in the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14, KJV).
Paul’s identity was found entirely in Christ: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, KJV). The grace bestowed on him included both his calling and the sacred trust of the message he was to steward. Any crowns believers receive for faithful service will one day be cast at Jesus’ feet (Revelation 4:10, KJV).
Regarding his labour, Paul acknowledged that he “laboured more abundantly than they all,” yet he immediately added, “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Effective ministry requires both earnest prayer, recognising that everything depends on God, and diligent effort empowered by that same grace. When exhaustion or burnout threatens, the answer is not greater human striving but a fresh appropriation of the grace that says, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV). Our lives find their true measure only as they are spent and consumed in Christ, “hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3, KJV).
Conclusion
The mindset of the messenger is marked by genuine humility before God and bold confidence in His grace. As we serve in whatever sphere the Lord has placed us, whether during VBS week or in the ongoing life of the church, we do well to remember that we are unlikely, unimportant and unworthy in ourselves. Yet we can stand unashamed of the gospel and completely sustained by divine grace. If the Lord has spoken to your heart through these truths, you are invited to come to the front during the invitation and recommit your focus to Him. Acknowledge before God that it is not about us; it is all about His grace manifested through Jesus Christ. He alone is worthy, and His grace is enough to enable, credential and sustain us as we seek to serve Him faithfully.
