What Makes a Person Feel Shame?
Today we will focus on the words: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel.” You see the link with verse 15. The reason he is eager to preach the gospel in Rome is that he is not ashamed of the gospel. Let s begin with the general question: What makes a person feel ashamed? Consider some examples. 1) Suppose a boy brags to his friends that he can outrun the skinny new kid in the neighborhood. So the kids set up a race say, once around the block. Both boys walk the route and see where all the obstacles are and where the turns are made. Then they line up. The neighborhood kids are all out watching. Someone says, “Ready. Set. Go!” And the bragging boy is simply left in the dust. The skinny new guy finishes 40 or 50 yards ahead of the braggart. When that happens it is very likely that the braggart feels ashamed. He feels that he has made a fool of himself. 2) Or suppose someone you don t like at school has a dad who is in jail. And suppose that you make fun of him for this and call him names an
