They say people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. I can only imagine how terrified Paul must have been to begin proclaiming a message that was not only public, but also quite controversial and inherently dangerous. We may be scared because we worry that people won’t like us; Paul had to worry that he might be executed for his words.

But Paul also knew that the power was not solely in his words, but in his actions. What people saw in Paul spoke more loudly than his words. If our words and our actions do not support one another, then we lose credibility in both. How might your words and actions support one another? Where do they disagree, and what message do you send when they do?

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.