The one key idea from this chapter is that we, as disciples of Jesus and followers of God, are being called to share the good news. The model of how we should spread the good news is Paul. Paul wrote many letters to the followers of Christ all over the Meditteranean area to instruct and encourage the many different groups to stay committed to following Jesus and learning his teachings. Paul and the rest of the epistle writers greatly helped the spread and stabilization of early Christianity. Paul is not only a model on how to spread the good news but he also shows us how to achieve an "I can do" attitude, an attitude that lets you accomplish great things no matter what happens in life and includes knowing that the strength one needs is as close as a prayeror the support of Christ.
One major idea I want to take from this chapter is that Paul was the first one to realize and teach the paradox of the cross. Paul was the first to view the paradox of the cross as a positive thing, as an image of vitory or life rather than loss or death. Paul realizes that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross made it possible for the rest of the world to be forgiven for their sins. The paradox also shows the mystery of power in apparent weakness and wisdom in apparent foolishness. This idea that was emphasized by Paul is now one of the center teachings of the Christian church.
The second major idea I want to take from this chapter is another important teaching of Paul. Paul created the image of the body of Christ,a fundamental vision in our church. The Catholic community is like a body of Christ because even though we all are blessed with different gifts and perform different functions like a body part, we are all united by our faith in God and Jesus so that we form one body. When we help one another with our individual gifts we are helping the whole body and therefore we are helping Jesus. This idea is important to me as it emphasizes an important theme in the Church where we should see God in each other, like in the passage of the Judgement of Nations, and also it affects me on a personal note in my school as we are called to use our gifts to help one another as we are called by Paul to help one another in the church and body of Christ.
If God loves us all the same, how come he blesses some people with better gifts than others? (From the epilogue)