Review:
1 Timothy 1:15-16 - The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
What We Learn About Grace:
- The Worst people can receive grace. (Acts 9:1-14)
- Grace Chooses you because God wants to use you. (Acts 9:15)
- Receiving grace does not mean "Exempt from Suffering". (Acts 9:16)
- We have the privilege of Demonstrating grace. (Acts 9:17-19)
Review: Eph 2:10
Review: Phil 1:29 | 2 Cor 11 | Acts 5:41 | Phil 3:10
Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
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Pastor Jeff:
00:00-00:02
Open up your Bibles with me, please.
Pastor Jeff:
00:03-00:04
The book of Acts.
Pastor Jeff:
00:05-00:08
We're going to be in Acts chapter 9.
Pastor Jeff:
00:11-00:17
And while you're turning there, do you want to hear the story about how we met Jerome Bettis?
Pastor Jeff:
00:18-00:20
You know Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steeler?
Pastor Jeff:
00:20-00:22
How many people here have never heard of Jerome Bettis?
Pastor Jeff:
00:24-00:25
Awesome, okay, thank you.
Pastor Jeff:
00:25-00:26
All right.
Pastor Jeff:
00:27-00:57
Pittsburgh crowd, I figured everybody here heard of Jerome Bettis, right? So Aaron and I met Jerome Bettis, you remember this? We were at the airport, of course she remembers it, it was Jerome Bettis, we were at the airport and we were coming up these, we were coming up these stairs, we were kind of in a hurry to get to our plane, we were, where were we going? I don't remember, it doesn't matter, but we were heading up the steps and we turned the corner and Aaron accidentally clipped this guy, it was Jerome Bettis, she clipped him with her shoulder and and knocked him down, and she just walked right over him.
Pastor Jeff:
00:58-01:00
And it was amazing.
Pastor Jeff:
01:02-01:07
Well, OK, that wasn't exactly what happened.
Pastor Jeff:
01:08-01:13
We just kind of came around the corner, and Jerome Bettis was there.
Pastor Jeff:
01:13-01:14
And we were like, boss!
Pastor Jeff:
01:14-01:16
And he was like, hey, how are you doing?
Pastor Jeff:
01:16-01:21
And we shook his hand, and that was it.
Pastor Jeff:
01:22-01:23
Wasn't a great story.
Pastor Jeff:
01:25-01:26
One time-- let's try this one.
Pastor Jeff:
01:26-01:32
One time, we were in Chicago, and we were on an elevator.
Pastor Jeff:
01:33-01:41
And Aaron, to this day-- this has been a source of tension in our marriage-- but Aaron, to this day, insists that we rode on an elevator with Jon Bon Jovi.
Pastor Jeff:
01:42-01:45
I don't think it was Jon Bon Jovi.
Pastor Jeff:
01:45-01:46
I don't think it was him.
Pastor Jeff:
01:46-01:49
I don't think Bon Jovi stays at the Super 8 when he's in Chicago.
Pastor Jeff:
01:51-01:53
We weren't at the Super 8, that was a joke.
Pastor Jeff:
01:53-01:58
But this guy was on the elevator with us, and we're like, Aaron's like, that's Jon Bon Jovi.
Pastor Jeff:
01:58-02:00
I'm like, that's not, that's Jon, no, that's not Jon Bon Jovi.
Pastor Jeff:
02:01-02:12
Well, I don't think it was, but Aaron says, who else do you know that would wear paisley blue jeans, a black leather duster, and a sequined headband?
Pastor Jeff:
02:13-02:16
So, maybe it was Bon Jovi.
Pastor Jeff:
02:17-02:18
Aaron's sure that it was.
Pastor Jeff:
02:20-02:22
And how many people here have met somebody famous?
Pastor Jeff:
02:23-02:24
Somewhere along the line.
Pastor Jeff:
02:24-02:29
It would be really neat if we could just go around and tell me the story of when you met somebody famous.
Pastor Jeff:
02:30-02:36
And maybe some of us have an autograph, a picture.
Pastor Jeff:
02:38-02:43
But really, none of those experiences ever really changed anything.
Pastor Jeff:
02:47-02:56
When you meet Jesus Christ - I mean, when you truly meet Jesus Christ, your life is never the same.
Pastor Jeff:
02:59-03:03
You don't walk away from meeting Jesus and just say, oh, that was nice.
Pastor Jeff:
03:06-03:16
History is full of stories, and this church is full of stories of people who met Jesus Christ and their lives were eternally and thoroughly changed.
Pastor Jeff:
03:17-03:26
And today we're going to be looking at the story of a man who met Jesus and not only was his life forever changed, he changed the entire world.
Pastor Jeff:
03:30-03:36
Just to review, we've been going through the book of Acts, and really our whole ministry year has hung on one verse.
Pastor Jeff:
03:36-03:37
It's Acts 1.8.
Pastor Jeff:
03:37-03:39
You can probably say it with me by now.
Pastor Jeff:
03:39-03:49
But Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." He will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the earth.
Pastor Jeff:
03:49-03:52
And that's exactly what we've seen in the book of Acts.
Pastor Jeff:
03:53-03:56
The Holy Spirit came to indwell all of God's people.
Pastor Jeff:
03:57-03:58
And they began witnessing.
Pastor Jeff:
03:59-04:04
And the religious leaders were constantly trying to stop all this Jesus talk.
Pastor Jeff:
04:05-04:09
And it culminated in the execution of a young minister named Stephen.
Pastor Jeff:
04:11-04:13
And we saw how that scattered the church.
Pastor Jeff:
04:13-04:17
The persecution made the believers head out of Jerusalem.
Pastor Jeff:
04:19-04:24
But it did not stop the religious leaders from pursuing them.
Pastor Jeff:
04:25-04:32
That's why when we get to Acts 9, it says, "but Saul..." You remember Saul if you've been with us through this study?
Pastor Jeff:
04:33-04:42
Saul was the guy - chapter 7, verse 58 - while Stephen was being pelted with stones, Saul was the guy saying, "hey, hey, what's your coach for you?
Pastor Jeff:
04:42-04:43
So what's your coach?
Pastor Jeff:
04:43-04:43
Get him.
Pastor Jeff:
04:44-04:45
That was Saul.
Pastor Jeff:
04:46-04:51
Saul was a guy in Acts 8:1 that says he approved of Stephen's death.
Pastor Jeff:
04:52-04:53
He wasn't standing on the side.
Pastor Jeff:
04:53-04:55
Oh, that was a shame what they did to that guy.
Pastor Jeff:
04:55-04:58
He was standing there going, I'm so glad you got him.
Pastor Jeff:
04:59-05:02
One more of those Jesus people done.
Pastor Jeff:
05:02-05:03
He was approving of it.
Pastor Jeff:
05:03-05:16
Then you get to Acts 8:3, and we see that Saul was going house to house dragging people off to prison because they believed in Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
05:18-05:20
This is the same man we're going to see in this passage.
Pastor Jeff:
05:20-05:26
He comes to Christ and becomes the greatest missionary and church planter of all time.
Pastor Jeff:
05:26-05:30
He's a man that wrote half of the New Testament including these words.
Pastor Jeff:
05:30-05:32
Let's get these words up on the screen.
Pastor Jeff:
05:32-05:33
This is from 1 Timothy.
Pastor Jeff:
05:33-05:34
Can you see this?
Pastor Jeff:
05:37-05:45
Because as we look at of Saul's conversion today, we can look at that and say what application would that have for somebody like me?
Pastor Jeff:
05:45-05:48
You know, the Bible actually gives us the application of Saul's conversion.
Pastor Jeff:
05:48-05:51
Saul tells us when he became Paul.
Pastor Jeff:
05:51-06:08
When he wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Paul wrote, "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners to whom I am the foremost.
Pastor Jeff:
06:10-06:28
But I receive mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.
Pastor Jeff:
06:29-06:31
So do you see what Paul is saying?
Pastor Jeff:
06:31-06:41
Is that one of the reasons that God saved Paul was for you and for me as an example.
Pastor Jeff:
06:42-06:47
An example to say, look, Paul's saying I was the worst sinner that ever lived.
Pastor Jeff:
06:48-06:50
And God saved me.
Pastor Jeff:
06:50-06:54
And that's to prove that God can save who?
Pastor Jeff:
06:56-06:57
Anybody.
Pastor Jeff:
06:58-07:02
The mercy and patience that Paul received was to teach us about God's grace.
Pastor Jeff:
07:03-07:07
I want you to jot some things down in your outline as we go through the text together this morning.
Pastor Jeff:
07:08-07:14
So this passage is to teach us some things as an example of God's grace.
Pastor Jeff:
07:14-07:18
So the question is, what do we learn about grace from Saul's conversion?
Pastor Jeff:
07:18-07:19
Well, here it is, number one.
Pastor Jeff:
07:20-07:23
This is like what he talked about to Timothy.
Pastor Jeff:
07:24-07:26
Number one, the worst people can receive grace.
Pastor Jeff:
07:27-07:30
The worst people can receive grace.
Pastor Jeff:
07:33-07:34
I don't care how bad this guy was.
Pastor Jeff:
07:35-07:56
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus so that if he found any belonging to the way men or women - he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Pastor Jeff:
07:58-08:00
Because he was breathing threats.
Pastor Jeff:
08:02-08:07
We could say he eats, sleeps, and breathes sports.
Pastor Jeff:
08:08-08:10
That's all he talks about is fishing.
Pastor Jeff:
08:10-08:12
He just eats, sleeps, and breathes fishing.
Pastor Jeff:
08:12-08:16
Well, here it's saying for Saul, breathing threats.
Pastor Jeff:
08:17-08:18
What does that mean? Constantly.
Pastor Jeff:
08:18-08:19
That's all he was doing.
Pastor Jeff:
08:19-08:21
He was focused on that.
Pastor Jeff:
08:21-08:27
He gets up in the morning and he's like, we're going to stop this Jesus thing.
Pastor Jeff:
08:27-08:29
They called it "the way." That was what they called it.
Pastor Jeff:
08:29-08:31
They didn't call it the First Baptist Church or whatever.
Pastor Jeff:
08:33-08:35
not even Christians yet from what we can see in Scripture.
Pastor Jeff:
08:35-08:43
They called the disciples of Jesus belonging to "the way." And that's all Saul at this point could focus on.
Pastor Jeff:
08:43-08:45
We've got to stop these people that are in the way.
Pastor Jeff:
08:45-08:46
We've got to stop them.
Pastor Jeff:
08:46-08:48
We're going to kill them.
Pastor Jeff:
08:48-08:49
We're going to imprison them.
Pastor Jeff:
08:49-08:51
We're going to go to their houses and we're going to drag them out.
Pastor Jeff:
08:52-08:58
He was just obsessed with destroying Christians.
Pastor Jeff:
08:59-09:00
Think about that.
Pastor Jeff:
09:00-09:02
obsessed with destroying Christians.
Pastor Jeff:
09:05-09:07
He got letters from the high priest.
Pastor Jeff:
09:08-09:09
These were letters of authority.
Pastor Jeff:
09:10-09:21
As the high priest would have had authority to rule over Jewish affairs under Roman oversight, he got the authority to drag these people to prison.
Pastor Jeff:
09:23-09:24
Look at v. 3.
Pastor Jeff:
09:24-09:33
It says, "Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus and suddenly a light from Heaven flashed around him.
Pastor Jeff:
09:34-09:39
Side note, Damascus was about 150 miles north of Jerusalem.
Pastor Jeff:
09:39-09:42
That's roughly the distance from Pittsburgh to Columbus.
Pastor Jeff:
09:43-09:43
Roughly.
Pastor Jeff:
09:44-09:45
What this shows is his commitment.
Pastor Jeff:
09:46-09:52
He was willing to go 150 miles away looking for Christians.
Pastor Jeff:
09:54-09:57
That's how obsessed he was with destroying the church.
Pastor Jeff:
09:59-10:12
As he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul. Saul.
Pastor Jeff:
10:13-10:19
Why are you persecuting me?" That's a good question, isn't it?
Pastor Jeff:
10:20-10:22
So Jesus shows up.
Pastor Jeff:
10:25-10:34
And the question - after He knocks Saul down with the light, The question he asks him is, "Why are you persecuting me?" I was thinking a lot about that question.
Pastor Jeff:
10:36-10:37
Why was he?
Pastor Jeff:
10:38-10:47
You know, if you don't believe in the same way that somebody else believes, whatever happened to live and let live, man?
Pastor Jeff:
10:48-10:52
Why are you so adamant about stopping this?
Pastor Jeff:
10:53-10:56
I mean, I once knew a guy who believed he was the king of Africa.
Pastor Jeff:
10:57-10:59
even though I didn't agree with them, I didn't want to murder them.
Pastor Jeff:
11:01-11:07
So there's something more going on here than we have a different viewpoint of philosophies.
Pastor Jeff:
11:07-11:08
We have different worldviews.
Pastor Jeff:
11:09-11:11
This is a spiritual war that's going on.
Pastor Jeff:
11:11-11:12
Understand that.
Pastor Jeff:
11:12-11:13
It wasn't his day.
Pastor Jeff:
11:14-11:22
And with all the stuff with ISIS - beheading and shooting and drowning and crucifying Christians today - this is a spiritual war that's going on.
Pastor Jeff:
11:24-11:26
But notice what Jesus says, how He asks the question.
Pastor Jeff:
11:27-11:29
And I say, "Why are you persecuting Christians?
Pastor Jeff:
11:29-11:30
Why are you persecuting the way?
Pastor Jeff:
11:31-11:33
Why are you persecuting those nice people?" What did Jesus say?
Pastor Jeff:
11:33-11:43
He goes, "Why are you persecuting Me?" And you have to see, church, that when persecution comes upon Jesus' people, He takes that very personally.
Pastor Jeff:
11:44-11:46
And He takes it very seriously.
Pastor Jeff:
11:46-11:48
We saw that when Stephen was stoned.
Pastor Jeff:
11:49-11:51
He saw Jesus standing up.
Pastor Jeff:
11:54-11:58
Jesus saw when Saul here was getting these letters He didn't want to arrest Christians.
Pastor Jeff:
11:58-11:59
He was taking notice.
Pastor Jeff:
12:00-12:14
Do you think that when you undergo persecution, and I know some of you have even very recently, have had to suffer because of your faith in Jesus Christ, do you think Jesus notices when you're persecuted?
Pastor Jeff:
12:15-12:22
When somebody hates you or insults you, or does something against you because you love Jesus, do you think Jesus notices that?
Pastor Jeff:
12:23-12:24
He does every time.
Pastor Jeff:
12:25-12:31
Why are you persecuting Me?" Jesus is like, "Saul, your business ain't with those people.
Pastor Jeff:
12:31-12:32
Your business is with Me.
Pastor Jeff:
12:34-12:39
You're persecuting Me." Look at v. 5.
Pastor Jeff:
12:41-12:49
"And Saul said, 'Who are You, Lord?'" I don't know what's going on there.
Pastor Jeff:
12:49-12:50
I've read a lot of things.
Pastor Jeff:
12:51-12:52
Was he asking?
Pastor Jeff:
12:52-12:54
Like, "Are You the Lord?" Are we recognizing?
Pastor Jeff:
12:55-12:56
Like, who are you?
Pastor Jeff:
12:56-12:58
I see that you're the Lord now.
Pastor Jeff:
13:00-13:02
I'm just not sure what you say in that situation.
Pastor Jeff:
13:03-13:10
You're just walking down the street and Jesus shows up and knocks you on your can on the ground and blinds you and what do you say?
Pastor Jeff:
13:10-13:12
I don't know.
Pastor Jeff:
13:13-13:22
But He says, "Who are you?" "Who are you?" Oh, he knew the truth now.
Pastor Jeff:
13:24-13:27
You know, with all these Jesus people running around saying Jesus is alive.
Pastor Jeff:
13:28-13:29
Jesus is alive.
Pastor Jeff:
13:29-13:30
Jesus is alive.
Pastor Jeff:
13:30-13:33
Well, Saul got to see that firsthand.
Pastor Jeff:
13:33-13:34
He's alive and he's still Lord.
Pastor Jeff:
13:35-13:35
Look at v. 6.
Pastor Jeff:
13:37-13:38
This is Jesus continuing.
Pastor Jeff:
13:38-13:51
He says, "But rise and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do." "The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, Hearing the voice, but seeing no one.
Pastor Jeff:
13:54-13:59
Saul's traveling companions heard something was going on but couldn't quite make out what it was.
Pastor Jeff:
14:00-14:02
Certainly couldn't see anything.
Pastor Jeff:
14:05-14:12
You have to see from v. 6-7, Jesus didn't show up, gently knocking at the door of Saul's heart.
Pastor Jeff:
14:12-14:15
Jesus is standing outside the door of your heart, Saul.
Pastor Jeff:
14:15-14:16
Knock, knock, knocking.
Pastor Jeff:
14:16-14:17
Won't you let Him in?
Pastor Jeff:
14:18-14:24
Won't you let Jesus into your heart, Saul?" I don't see that in this.
Pastor Jeff:
14:24-14:26
I just see Jesus barging in.
Pastor Jeff:
14:26-14:54
I see Jesus saying, "Ok, Saul, here's the deal." We didn't see God preparing Saul in the sense of - some commentators have even said, "Well, Saul had such a guilty conscience over the whole Stephen death that sort of made him ripe for this conversion, but that's not true because Saul actually said later, as Paul did, he kept a good conscience up to that point.
Pastor Jeff:
14:55-14:57
So I don't think he was carrying any guilt.
Pastor Jeff:
14:57-15:02
In fact, if he was feeling guilt, why was he going off and going after more Christians?
Pastor Jeff:
15:04-15:24
And this is a really big encouragement for me, and it should be for you, because I know many of you have been trying to share the Gospel co-workers or family or friends, and you tell me, "He just doesn't seem interested." "Pastor Jeff, I tried to share the Gospel and he doesn't seem interested." And I want to encourage you not to worry if someone shows no interest in the Gospel.
Pastor Jeff:
15:24-15:24
Don't worry.
Pastor Jeff:
15:25-15:27
Your job is to love them.
Pastor Jeff:
15:27-15:29
Your job is to share when God gives you opportunity.
Pastor Jeff:
15:29-15:31
But you don't need to worry.
Pastor Jeff:
15:31-15:32
He's just not showing any interest.
Pastor Jeff:
15:32-15:34
Saul didn't show any interest either.
Pastor Jeff:
15:36-15:41
But when Jesus shows up, when Jesus shows up, You get real interested real quick.
Pastor Jeff:
15:44-15:44
Look at v. 8.
Pastor Jeff:
15:47-15:50
"Saul rose from the ground and although his eyes were open, he saw nothing.
Pastor Jeff:
15:51-15:54
So they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
Pastor Jeff:
15:54-16:05
And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank." Now, there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias.
Pastor Jeff:
16:06-16:08
Not the same guy from chapter 5.
Pastor Jeff:
16:08-16:10
Remember, he's still dead.
Pastor Jeff:
16:12-16:12
Okay?
Pastor Jeff:
16:14-16:14
Still dead.
Pastor Jeff:
16:15-16:17
There was just another guy named Ananias.
Pastor Jeff:
16:17-16:18
It happens.
Pastor Jeff:
16:21-16:40
"The Lord said to him in a vision, 'Ananias!' Ananias said, 'Here I am, Lord.' And the Lord said to him, 'Rise and go to the street called Straight.' And at the house of Judas - Marriott, still dead.
Pastor Jeff:
16:41-16:42
Another guy named Judas.
Pastor Jeff:
16:44-16:47
Look for a man of Tarsus named Saul.
Pastor Jeff:
16:48-16:49
For behold, he is praying.
Pastor Jeff:
16:50-16:57
And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.
Pastor Jeff:
16:59-17:00
Ok, just stop here for a second.
Pastor Jeff:
17:00-17:02
What do you think was going through Ananias' mind?
Pastor Jeff:
17:02-17:05
He didn't know the whole conversion on the road thing.
Pastor Jeff:
17:05-17:07
Jesus showing up, knocking him down.
Pastor Jeff:
17:07-17:08
He didn't know any of that.
Pastor Jeff:
17:08-17:09
So many things have gone through his mind.
Pastor Jeff:
17:13-17:14
Exactly what you think.
Pastor Jeff:
17:15-17:16
Look at v. 13.
Pastor Jeff:
17:16-17:23
"But Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem.
Pastor Jeff:
17:24-17:33
And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.'" Oh, the reputation preceded him.
Pastor Jeff:
17:36-17:41
Interestingly, Ananias would have been one of the people that Saul was targeting.
Pastor Jeff:
17:43-17:50
Ananias would have been one of the people that Saul was going after to arrest and to drag back.
Pastor Jeff:
17:53-17:57
And this is the best news for those of us who had a wicked past.
Pastor Jeff:
17:59-18:03
That the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not limited to those who had a good upbringing.
Pastor Jeff:
18:04-18:09
to those who have been discipled in the home; to those who have already been upstanding citizens.
Pastor Jeff:
18:10-18:12
There's nothing wrong with that.
Pastor Jeff:
18:14-18:17
It's God's intention that parents disciple their children.
Pastor Jeff:
18:19-18:27
So if you're sitting here today and you're like, you know what, I grew up discipled in the home and I gave my life to Christ very young, it's not like you have a lesser testimony.
Pastor Jeff:
18:29-18:40
But sometimes, Sometimes we feel like because I didn't have that, maybe I can't be saved.
Pastor Jeff:
18:40-18:46
I have pastor friends that tell me, "I gave my life to Christ when I was five.
Pastor Jeff:
18:46-18:52
I remember Mom sitting on my bed and I remember praying." And I'm like, man, I wish that was my testimony.
Pastor Jeff:
18:52-18:54
I didn't come to Christ until I was about 20.
Pastor Jeff:
18:56-19:02
But you see, the story of Saul's conversion is great news for those of us who had a wicked past.
Pastor Jeff:
19:05-19:11
This testimony forever stands that God can take the worst and make them the best.
Pastor Jeff:
19:13-19:20
So if you're sitting here today and you say I've done too much bad, God's surely mad at me for all of the stupid and wicked things that I've done.
Pastor Jeff:
19:21-19:23
You need to see that God loves you.
Pastor Jeff:
19:24-19:26
He sent His Son to die for you.
Pastor Jeff:
19:28-19:31
And today can be the day Everything turns around.
Pastor Jeff:
19:35-19:42
Because salvation is not based on what you did or what you didn't do in the past.
Pastor Jeff:
19:42-19:45
Salvation is based on the blood of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
19:45-19:48
Salvation is based on God keeping His Word.
Pastor Jeff:
19:49-19:50
I had a guy come to me one time.
Pastor Jeff:
19:50-20:01
He goes, "I'm not sure if I'm saved." I said, "Well, what does the Bible say about being saved?" He said, "Well, the Bible says If I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, then I'm saved.
Pastor Jeff:
20:01-20:04
"Well, did you do that?" We talked about that for a while.
Pastor Jeff:
20:05-20:11
He goes, "Yeah, I did do that." I said, "Well, then you're saved." Because it's based on God keeping His Word.
Pastor Jeff:
20:12-20:13
It's not based on your conduct.
Pastor Jeff:
20:15-20:17
It's an act of God's grace.
Pastor Jeff:
20:18-20:22
You see, Saul certainly didn't earn it or deserve it, did he?
Pastor Jeff:
20:23-20:25
Jesus wasn't looking down from heaven going, "Wow, this guy looks great.
Pastor Jeff:
20:26-20:32
I'll sign him up for the team." This guy was the most wicked person walking the planet at the time.
Pastor Jeff:
20:33-20:34
He didn't earn it.
Pastor Jeff:
20:34-20:35
He didn't deserve it.
Pastor Jeff:
20:35-20:36
And guess what?
Pastor Jeff:
20:36-20:37
You didn't earn it.
Pastor Jeff:
20:37-20:38
You didn't deserve it either.
Pastor Jeff:
20:39-20:41
And that's our big takeaway from Saul's story.
Pastor Jeff:
20:41-20:47
That it doesn't matter what you did, it matters what you do with Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
20:49-20:50
God can save someone like Saul.
Pastor Jeff:
20:53-20:54
He can save someone like me.
Pastor Jeff:
20:56-20:58
God can save someone like Saul.
Pastor Jeff:
20:59-21:01
He can even save someone like you.
Pastor Jeff:
21:03-21:05
The worst people can receive grace.
Pastor Jeff:
21:06-21:11
Number two, quickly, jot this down, grace chooses you because God wants to use you.
Pastor Jeff:
21:12-21:13
Look at v. 15.
Pastor Jeff:
21:15-21:21
"But the Lord said to him..." Again, this is the Lord speaking to Ananias protesting.
Pastor Jeff:
21:21-21:22
I'm not sure I want to talk to this guy.
Pastor Jeff:
21:23-21:37
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for He is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and children of Israel." Grace chooses you because God wants to use you.
Pastor Jeff:
21:38-21:39
The whole theme of Acts.
Pastor Jeff:
21:40-21:43
You will receive power and you will be My witnesses.
Pastor Jeff:
21:44-21:46
That whole theme has come to rest on Saul.
Pastor Jeff:
21:49-21:50
Well, good for Saul. What about me?
Pastor Jeff:
21:51-21:55
Well, the truth is God doesn't transform anyone without a purpose.
Pastor Jeff:
21:56-22:00
God never says to anyone, "Ok, you're saved. Here's your ticket to heaven.
Pastor Jeff:
22:00-22:06
Now why don't you just go sit down and be quiet and be a good little boy?" Because the big people are going to do ministry now.
Pastor Jeff:
22:06-22:07
And God's not like that.
Pastor Jeff:
22:08-22:11
When He saves you, He saves you for a purpose.
Pastor Jeff:
22:11-22:18
His Spirit gives you a gift to use for discipleship and evangelism.
Pastor Jeff:
22:20-22:25
Ephesians 2:10 says that we're all God's workmanship.
Pastor Jeff:
22:26-22:27
Paul writing to the church.
Pastor Jeff:
22:27-22:35
He says we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Pastor Jeff:
22:36-22:41
That's why the Lord says to Ananias, he's an instrument of Mine.
Pastor Jeff:
22:42-22:44
And you're saved when you come to Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
22:44-22:46
You become an instrument of God.
Pastor Jeff:
22:47-22:51
And there is nothing more glorious than being an instrument in God's hands.
Pastor Jeff:
22:53-22:56
You see, we take these instruments up here.
Pastor Jeff:
22:58-23:00
They're pretty useless right now.
Pastor Jeff:
23:00-23:01
Right?
Pastor Jeff:
23:02-23:03
They're pretty.
Pastor Jeff:
23:05-23:07
But they're pretty worthless right now just sitting by themselves.
Pastor Jeff:
23:07-23:13
But when they're in the hands of people who know what to do with them, They make beautiful music.
Pastor Jeff:
23:13-23:24
And in the same way, we are instruments that when God is at work, when God is using us, beautiful things happen.
Pastor Jeff:
23:25-23:27
His Kingdom is advanced.
Pastor Jeff:
23:27-23:28
Lives are changed.
Pastor Jeff:
23:29-23:30
Christ is glorified.
Pastor Jeff:
23:33-23:40
There is no greater blessing than to know that God is using you.
Pastor Jeff:
23:41-23:57
after all is said and done, at the end of the day, the end of the week, at the end of your life, when you look back, the sweetest moments of your life you look back, are going to be those moments that you say, I know that God was using me in that situation.
Pastor Jeff:
24:00-24:02
So grace chooses you because God wants to use you.
Pastor Jeff:
24:05-24:12
Thirdly, receiving grace does not mean exempt from suffering.
Pastor Jeff:
24:14-24:15
Look at v. 16.
Pastor Jeff:
24:18-24:22
And the Lord's speaking to Ananias about Saul.
Pastor Jeff:
24:23-24:35
He says, "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name." He says that Saul must suffer.
Pastor Jeff:
24:36-24:38
Now, this wasn't punishment for past sin.
Pastor Jeff:
24:38-24:47
Don't get this idea that He was like, "Ok, He's been persecuting me, now I'm going to hit Him with the whammy because of all the rotten things that He's done." That's not it at all.
Pastor Jeff:
24:50-24:53
He wasn't being punished for past sin.
Pastor Jeff:
24:53-24:55
You are not being punished for past sin.
Pastor Jeff:
24:55-25:02
God's not going to punish His Son on the cross and then turn around and punish you for your sin too.
Pastor Jeff:
25:03-25:08
If you've accepted the payment that Jesus has made on the cross, then payment has been made in full.
Pastor Jeff:
25:08-25:10
God's not going to punish you for your sin.
Pastor Jeff:
25:12-25:13
That makes the cross empty.
Pastor Jeff:
25:14-25:20
But, the Bible says as Christians, we are all called to suffer.
Pastor Jeff:
25:20-25:23
Philippians 1:29 makes that very clear.
Pastor Jeff:
25:23-25:24
We're all called to suffer.
Pastor Jeff:
25:25-25:34
And Saul is about to go from gladly willing to kill to gladly willing to die for Jesus.
Pastor Jeff:
25:35-25:37
He talks about this later on in his ministry.
Pastor Jeff:
25:37-25:38
2 Corinthians 11.
Pastor Jeff:
25:39-25:41
He was imprisoned. He was beaten.
Pastor Jeff:
25:41-25:43
He was stoned. He was shipwrecked.
Pastor Jeff:
25:43-25:44
He was hungry. He was thirsty.
Pastor Jeff:
25:45-25:45
He was cold.
Pastor Jeff:
25:49-25:53
I hope you didn't think becoming a Christian was the easy way.
Pastor Jeff:
25:57-26:02
Despite how it's rolled out, Being a Christian is not your best life now.
Pastor Jeff:
26:05-26:08
Being a Christian is not every day is a Friday.
Pastor Jeff:
26:09-26:11
The Gospel is often presented that way though, isn't it?
Pastor Jeff:
26:12-26:16
The Gospel is everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Pastor Jeff:
26:16-26:23
And while it is true that you gain everything, in this life, you are going to experience some loss.
Pastor Jeff:
26:24-26:27
You are going to experience loss in this life.
Pastor Jeff:
26:28-26:34
That's the part that's often left out share the gospel because quite honestly it's not a great sales pitch is it?
Pastor Jeff:
26:35-26:36
Not a great sales pitch.
Pastor Jeff:
26:37-26:41
Hey, how would you like to be hated by your family?
Pastor Jeff:
26:42-26:43
Does that sound good to you?
Pastor Jeff:
26:46-26:47
Thanksgiving just a little too comfortable?
Pastor Jeff:
26:49-26:52
How would you like to have people look down at you at work?
Pastor Jeff:
26:52-26:54
How would you like to have your co-workers think you're a nut?
Pastor Jeff:
26:56-26:57
Have I got something for you?
Pastor Jeff:
26:57-27:02
You can be a part of the only demographic that it's permissible to ridicule in this country.
Pastor Jeff:
27:02-27:03
How does that sound?
Pastor Jeff:
27:05-27:08
You can be a target for people that hate this message.
Pastor Jeff:
27:09-27:10
Are you sold yet?
Pastor Jeff:
27:14-27:19
How would you like to be a target to be killed in some countries?
Pastor Jeff:
27:20-27:21
How's that for a sales pitch?
Pastor Jeff:
27:23-27:26
I'm not going to leave that out, but that's part of the Gospel.
Pastor Jeff:
27:27-27:34
And if you haven't been told, I want to tell you now, there's one thing that we learned from the book of Acts and we're going to continue to learn.
Pastor Jeff:
27:34-27:36
Following Jesus Christ is a hard road.
Pastor Jeff:
27:37-27:38
It's a hard road.
Pastor Jeff:
27:42-27:43
Standing for the truth.
Pastor Jeff:
27:45-27:47
Saying no to worldly passions.
Pastor Jeff:
27:50-27:56
loving people who hate you ; rejoicing when suffering.
Pastor Jeff:
27:59-28:11
For those of you who are getting baptized today, maybe some others here who are close to coming to Christ, you're going to suffer.
Pastor Jeff:
28:12-28:13
Life is going to be really hard sometimes.
Pastor Jeff:
28:14-28:16
And it's true, life's hard for everyone.
Pastor Jeff:
28:17-28:17
Absolutely.
Pastor Jeff:
28:18-28:21
But when you follow Christ, It brings a special kind of suffering.
Pastor Jeff:
28:23-28:25
But it also brings a special kind of blessing.
Pastor Jeff:
28:26-28:31
It brings a special kind of knowing Christ that you wouldn't have otherwise.
Pastor Jeff:
28:32-28:36
That's why - remember in Acts 5:41, remember when the disciples were beaten?
Pastor Jeff:
28:36-28:37
What did they do?
Pastor Jeff:
28:37-28:39
They ran out rejoicing.
Pastor Jeff:
28:39-28:44
They were like, "We were counted worthy to suffer!" And they were like high-fiving each other.
Pastor Jeff:
28:48-28:49
What is going on there?
Pastor Jeff:
28:50-28:52
When you suffer for Jesus, you'll get it.
Pastor Jeff:
28:53-29:05
That's why the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:10 that he wants to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection and may share in His sufferings.
Pastor Jeff:
29:05-29:09
It's a glorious thing to know Christ by sharing in His suffering.
Pastor Jeff:
29:11-29:18
And finally, we have the privilege demonstrating grace.
Pastor Jeff:
29:19-29:21
We have the privilege of demonstrating grace.
Pastor Jeff:
29:21-29:22
Look at the last two verses.
Pastor Jeff:
29:24-29:26
So Ananias departed and entered the house.
Pastor Jeff:
29:29-29:34
And laying his hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul..." Isn't that amazing?
Pastor Jeff:
29:34-29:37
He calls him "brother" like first introduction.
Pastor Jeff:
29:38-29:44
If that were me, I would have been like opening the door a crack like, "Is Saul in there? Mr. Saul?
Pastor Jeff:
29:44-29:48
Sir, are you in there?" His eyes just...
Pastor Jeff:
29:48-29:49
He refers to Him as brother.
Pastor Jeff:
29:50-29:51
That's faith.
Pastor Jeff:
29:52-29:53
Total faith.
Pastor Jeff:
29:53-30:08
"Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately, something like scales fell from His eyes.
Pastor Jeff:
30:09-30:10
It says like scales.
Pastor Jeff:
30:10-30:13
I imagine it looked like contact lenses, right?
Pastor Jeff:
30:13-30:16
Like these two little things It's like it fell out of his eyes.
Pastor Jeff:
30:19-30:20
And he regained his sight.
Pastor Jeff:
30:22-30:26
Then he rose and was baptized.
Pastor Jeff:
30:27-30:30
Taking food, he was strengthened.
Pastor Jeff:
30:33-30:36
Well, that didn't go as planned.
Pastor Jeff:
30:37-30:42
We're off to Damascus to drag Christians to prison.
Pastor Jeff:
30:44-30:45
And we end up joining the team.
Pastor Jeff:
30:47-30:49
It says immediately that Saul was baptized.
Pastor Jeff:
30:52-31:06
There's no greater demonstration of the transformation that happens with Jesus Christ than to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Pastor Jeff:
31:09-31:11
Those of you who are getting baptized, I want you to come forward.
Pastor Jeff:
31:12-31:13
up here on the stage with me, please.
Pastor Jeff:
31:16-31:21
Understand in baptism, the water is like a liquid tomb.
Pastor Jeff:
31:22-31:34
And when you go down into the water, what you're saying - what these four are going to be saying as they go down into the water, they're going to be saying, "I'm dead.
Pastor Jeff:
31:35-31:46
I don't live for Me anymore." When you come up out of the water, what you're saying is I've been raised in the newness of life by Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
31:47-31:48
He gave me life.
Pastor Jeff:
31:48-31:53
And this life that I live is all about living for Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
31:54-31:57
Living in guilt-free grace as Mark talked about last week.
Pastor Jeff:
31:58-32:01
Doing the works that He has prepared me to do.
Pastor Jeff:
32:01-32:02
Suffering in His name.
Pastor Jeff:
32:03-32:04
I am His.
Pastor Jeff:
32:05-32:06
And He is mine.
Pastor Jeff:
32:08-32:19
as amazing as Paul's story is, as world-changing as Paul's story is, we have something just as awesome to celebrate today.
Pastor Jeff:
32:21-32:28
We have four people who are demonstrating the transformation that Jesus Christ has brought into their lives.
Pastor Jeff:
32:29-32:34
We have four people who are demonstrating their commitment to Jesus and baptism today.
Pastor Jeff:
32:35-32:39
Here we have four lives that have been changed forever Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
32:39-32:46
Here we have four more instruments for God to use to glorify His name.
Pastor Jeff:
32:47-32:48
We have Kate Brown.
Pastor Jeff:
32:49-32:50
We have Corrine Miller.
Pastor Jeff:
32:51-32:52
Sherry Keshuba.
Pastor Jeff:
32:53-32:54
And Stephen Zeleznak.
Pastor Jeff:
32:55-33:06
And as we close our time here today, let's hear their stories about how Jesus Christ transformed their lives.
Pastor Jeff:
33:06-33:34
And then, we're going to worship a little more get ready and then the service is going to be moving out to the back patio where we're going to be baptizing. So Kate, it seems like just yesterday was your wedding and it's been two years now. That just doesn't seem possible. This is a huge day for you and we're excited to hear how the Lord brought you to this point. So share with us how the Lord's working in your life, Kate.
Kate:
33:35-34:40
I was raised Catholic as a child and being close with God was not really something that I desired. It wasn't until I started attending youth group at Northway during my middle school years that I began to realize what it meant to actually have a relationship with Christ. Although I was a lukewarm Christian throughout high school in the beginning of college, somehow God led me to Geneva to pursue a youth ministry degree, which is where I met my husband Taylor. I feel like I began to mature in my faith during my last years in college and have been continuing to mature to this day. God continues to amaze me with his grace in my life and how he chose me to spread his love. Being in the godly marriage and being able to pour myself into a youth ministry has shown me how to live a life that has Christ as the cornerstone. I continually thought that I didn't need to get baptized. It was just something I thought was not necessary. But if we have the attitude that we don't have to do things, then we'll miss out on ways God wants to bless us and bless others through us. I stand here today to publicly declare that Jesus is my Savior and I want you to continually walk in the way of obedience.
Pastor Jeff:
34:42-34:43
Amen. Amen.
Pastor Jeff:
34:48-34:54
The next person is going to be baptized. I love you like a sister because you are.
Pastor Jeff:
34:54-34:59
This is my sister-in-law. This is Corrine Miller and I'm going to be I'm reading your testimony for you.
Pastor Jeff:
35:00-35:02
Corinne had asked that I would share her testimony.
Pastor Jeff:
35:03-35:15
I can't tell you what a thrill it is to not only just have our first baptism service here, but just knowing your story and your journey and to bring you to this place.
Pastor Jeff:
35:15-35:18
It's exciting to see how the Lord's at work in your life, Corinne.
Pastor Jeff:
35:18-35:24
But Corinne shared in her testimony, "Before I turned to Christ, my life was filled with routines and rituals.
Pastor Jeff:
35:24-35:29
I went through the motions of going to church because it was what I was supposed to do.
Pastor Jeff:
35:30-35:36
I believed that since I was a good person and confessed my sins, that there was a chance I could go to heaven.
Pastor Jeff:
35:37-35:39
I always lived with guilt and wanted to redeem myself.
Pastor Jeff:
35:40-35:43
I never read Scripture on my own or attended Bible studies.
Pastor Jeff:
35:43-35:45
I never realized how empty my life was.
Pastor Jeff:
35:46-35:51
I came to Christ in early 2003 while attending Victory Family Church with Darren.
Pastor Jeff:
35:52-36:03
At the end of the service, Pastor Nuzzo had us all close our eyes if anyone wanted to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, that we were to raise our hand and the congregation would pray for us.
Pastor Jeff:
36:04-36:06
Pray with us, excuse me.
Pastor Jeff:
36:06-36:13
He had asked that question a few times and I remember it was like a loud freight train in my head telling me to raise my hand.
Pastor Jeff:
36:13-36:15
It kept getting louder and louder.
Pastor Jeff:
36:15-36:20
I literally responded in my head in my true, stubborn, Italian fashion.
Pastor Jeff:
36:21-36:24
Alright, I will raise my hand.
Pastor Jeff:
36:24-36:25
What did your voice sound like in your head?
Pastor Jeff:
36:26-36:26
Was it a little rougher?
Pastor Jeff:
36:28-36:30
Alright already! I'll raise my hand!
Pastor Jeff:
36:30-36:31
Was it like that? Okay.
Pastor Jeff:
36:33-36:35
As soon as I did, I felt a rush over me.
Pastor Jeff:
36:36-36:38
And then it subsided and there was peace.
Pastor Jeff:
36:38-36:40
I have no doubt that I was called that day.
Pastor Jeff:
36:40-36:43
From that day on, there's been no more doubt or guilt.
Pastor Jeff:
36:44-36:46
Because that day I proclaimed Jesus as my Savior.
Pastor Jeff:
36:47-36:48
There have been many changes since that day.
Pastor Jeff:
36:49-36:53
Like I said before, the guilt and worry about going to heaven is no more.
Pastor Jeff:
36:54-36:57
I know that Jesus sacrificed Himself for me and my sins.
Pastor Jeff:
36:58-37:00
Even though I'm not worthy, I accept His gift.
Pastor Jeff:
37:01-37:06
I read Scripture, attend Bible studies, actively work in the church, and openly and proudly pray.
Pastor Jeff:
37:07-37:12
I have learned to just put all my trust in God and to have surrendered myself to Him.
Pastor Jeff:
37:13-37:15
My entire way of thinking and acting has changed.
Pastor Jeff:
37:17-37:21
I can say that Jesus is at the forefront of my mind.
Pastor Jeff:
37:22-37:26
I'm being baptized because I am proud that I'm a follower of Jesus.
Pastor Jeff:
37:27-37:29
I want others to know that Jesus is my Lord and Savior.
Pastor Jeff:
37:30-37:32
I want to rise out of the water new.
Pastor Jeff:
37:32-37:39
There is no better way for me to display my love, faith, and commitment to Him than to be publicly baptized.
37:42-37:42
(applause)
Pastor Jeff:
37:47-37:50
The next person being baptized is a familiar face.
Pastor Jeff:
37:51-38:03
the lady who runs the church. This is Sherry Kishuba. She serves currently as our administrative assistant and this is a huge day for you Sherry.
Pastor Jeff:
38:03-38:11
You have such a powerful testimony and you're going to be sharing part of that with us here today and we are thrilled for you.
Pastor Jeff:
38:12-38:15
We're thrilled with you at this huge step.
Sherry:
38:15-41:21
I accepted Jesus Christ and was baptized for the first time when I was nine years old. I was in and out of church for years after that, Baptist to Pentecostal to Catholicism, so I had lots of legalistic religion and ritual, but I never had a personal relationship with him. Fast forward to Friday, April 11th, 2014, where by that point I'd long since walked away from my face and I had become an angry, bitter, hurt, afraid, negative, miserable woman. And that day I was in the hospital for breast cancer surgery. So I was terrified and I silently prayed like this Hail Mary prayer to the Lord. God just give me a sign if you're here, if you're in control, if you were in this, show me." And so my surgeon, who I had seen before the surgery, but he had never given any indication that he was a follower of Christ, excuse me, he comes in and he's like, "Okay, let's pray. We're gonna pray for you and your husband and your daughter and your surgery," and I was just like, "Oh, okay," you know, and it was in that moment that I knew, like I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt, he wasn't like biological father who had been an out of my life for three times since I was an adult, he wasn't like people who disappoint because we do, we're human. He was there, and he was there with me powerfully in that moment and since then. And so as they will be back into the OR, I silently asked God for his forgiveness and rededicated my life to Christ on the spot. Now during my weeks-long recovery, my surgeon was also my spiritual healer and he literally prescribed to me to read the book of John and to read the book of James, like literally, and would ask me questions weekly, you know, about what I was reading, what I was hearing, and he would pray with me and he would pray with Kenny, and he encouraged me that when I felt well enough, get off my butt and get into an expository, like Bible-believing, preaching church and go, like just go, and I did. And so like the last two years, God has changed me in ways that it's to his glory and not mine, in ways that I never could have imagined. I am not perfect, but every day being sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit, but I can tell you that I am not the angry, bitter, hurt, afraid, negative, miserable, dead woman walking that I once was. So here it is today, almost 40 years later, since that time that I was nine and I first got baptized and accepted Christ. There's a relationship with him. There's a growing understanding of him, a deepening of my faith in him. I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ, and I take this step of obedience because I love Him.
41:25-41:26
(applause)
Pastor Jeff:
41:31-41:34
Steve, I'm going to read your testimony in a second.
Pastor Jeff:
41:35-41:36
I'm going to ask you a question.
Pastor Jeff:
41:37-41:39
Do you still have that Bible we gave you?
Pastor Jeff:
41:39-41:39
Okay.
Pastor Jeff:
41:42-41:50
Those of you that don't know, We found out from Stephen's mother that every time he gets a Bible, he gives it away.
Pastor Jeff:
41:51-41:53
And I think that is fantastic.
Pastor Jeff:
41:54-41:56
But I also think it's fantastic to have your own Bible.
Pastor Jeff:
41:56-42:01
So for a graduation gift, we got Steve his own Bible and we gave you a couple other Bibles to give away.
Pastor Jeff:
42:01-42:02
Did you give those ones away?
Pastor Jeff:
42:02-42:04
Not yet? But you're going to.
Pastor Jeff:
42:04-42:04
I know you will.
Pastor Jeff:
42:05-42:06
I know you will.
Pastor Jeff:
42:06-42:08
But I've got to say something about this guy.
Pastor Jeff:
42:08-42:16
You know, when I preach, I'm like Santa Claus because I see you when you're sleeping and you're awake.
Pastor Jeff:
42:17-42:21
And we were at a cafeteria service last year.
Pastor Jeff:
42:22-42:23
We were still over at Marshall.
Pastor Jeff:
42:24-42:29
And I remember looking up and you were sitting like two or three tables back on the left-hand side.
Pastor Jeff:
42:31-42:35
But you were so locked in to what the Word of God was saying.
Pastor Jeff:
42:35-42:45
And I went home and I told Aaron, I said, I don't know who heard the sermon today, but I know one guy for sure heard every single word That was Stephen.
Pastor Jeff:
42:45-42:53
And I just see in you this desire to know the Word of God and certainly a desire to share the Word of God with others.
Pastor Jeff:
42:54-43:01
And now, you are going to be making the public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
43:01-43:02
I'm going to share your testimony.
Pastor Jeff:
43:02-43:06
Stephen said, "Well, it all started at the age of 14.
Pastor Jeff:
43:06-43:07
I was a typical teenager.
Pastor Jeff:
43:08-43:10
I was getting arguments with my parents and sister.
Pastor Jeff:
43:10-43:11
I would always yell at them.
Pastor Jeff:
43:13-43:15
I used to really scare my sister and I'd argue with her.
Pastor Jeff:
43:15-43:17
I'd get violent towards her and hit her when we argued.
Pastor Jeff:
43:18-43:22
I really hated myself and everybody around me.
Pastor Jeff:
43:22-43:25
In school, I was following the wrong crowd.
Pastor Jeff:
43:26-43:29
I was bad in school with not making good choices and getting into trouble.
Pastor Jeff:
43:30-43:32
Like I said, I really hated myself.
Pastor Jeff:
43:33-43:36
At one point, my parents were totally fed up with me.
Pastor Jeff:
43:37-43:41
They told me it's either boot camp or start going to youth group with our church.
Pastor Jeff:
43:43-43:46
I was looking at military schools online, so I knew they were serious.
Pastor Jeff:
43:48-43:51
So I chose to begin going to our church youth group, Blaze.
Pastor Jeff:
43:51-43:57
During my first year attending Blaze, we went on a weekend retreat to Westminster.
Pastor Jeff:
43:59-44:02
I went not realizing how much that weekend would change my life forever.
Pastor Jeff:
44:03-44:10
During the trip, the Blaze leaders would give talks about how sin came into the world and how Jesus died for us.
Pastor Jeff:
44:10-44:17
It was very emotional for me is to hear and realize how a person loves me so much to die for me.
Pastor Jeff:
44:17-44:20
I decided to take a chance and give my life to Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
44:21-44:27
I can say immediately after I did, my whole body was overwhelmed with love, joy, kindness, and lots of other emotions.
Pastor Jeff:
44:28-44:31
Once I came home from the trip, I was a happier and kinder person.
Pastor Jeff:
44:31-44:34
I learned how to love myself and everybody around me.
Pastor Jeff:
44:35-44:38
I also stopped doing the stuff my so-called friends were doing.
Pastor Jeff:
44:38-44:42
I can stand here today and say Jesus has really changed me.
Pastor Jeff:
44:43-44:46
I should have made the decision to be baptized earlier, but never did.
Pastor Jeff:
44:47-44:55
Today, I'm making the choice to be baptized to show everybody and myself that I am truly born again and belong to Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
44:58-45:00
Why don't you step over here with the others.
Pastor Jeff:
45:02-45:11
Can we just pray for the awesome testimonies that these four have shared with us today.
Pastor Jeff:
45:12-45:21
And then after I pray, we're going to see the public demonstration of identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
45:23-45:33
Father in Heaven, we spent some time in Your Word this morning looking at from a church's perspective, we would say it's one of the most important conversions in history.
Pastor Jeff:
45:33-45:40
Here's a guy who planted churches and spread the Gospel and brought the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Pastor Jeff:
45:41-45:45
We thank You, Father, for the way that You just show up.
Pastor Jeff:
45:48-45:50
Your grace is awesome.
Pastor Jeff:
45:51-46:08
Father, just as we marvel at Saul, we certainly marvel in quite a different way as we have four people standing right here today sharing stories about how Jesus Christ intervened in their lives; how Jesus Christ showed up and transformed them.
Pastor Jeff:
46:10-46:12
I thank You for every single one of them, Father.
Pastor Jeff:
46:13-46:16
For Kate, Corinne, Sherry, and Stephen.
Pastor Jeff:
46:16-46:19
I thank You, Father, for what You're doing in their lives.
Pastor Jeff:
46:20-46:24
They all have such beautiful and interesting stories about what brought them to this point.
Pastor Jeff:
46:26-46:32
The common denominator - sinners saved by grace.
Pastor Jeff:
46:33-46:40
People who received the gift of eternal life that You so lovingly poured out on us through Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jeff:
46:40-46:45
So Father, we celebrate with these four today with their families and friends.
Pastor Jeff:
46:47-46:52
We thank You for this demonstration that shows exactly what happens in a person's heart.
Pastor Jeff:
46:54-46:55
Death to self.
Pastor Jeff:
46:55-46:58
The life of Christ in us now.
Pastor Jeff:
46:58-47:00
All demonstrated through baptism.
Pastor Jeff:
47:02-47:14
Father, as we continue to worship, let it be with much joy and celebration, because You are alive and You are at work.
Pastor Jeff:
47:15-47:16
We pray in Jesus' name.
Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 9:1-19
*Read 1 Timothy 1:15-16. How does Paul’s conversion story serve “as an example”?
Why do you think Saul was so zealous to hunt down and arrest Christians (Acts 9:4)? How do you see such zeal against Christians today? Do you think it’s the same kind of motivation?
Why do you think God got Ananias involved (Acts 9:10-12)? What does this say about how God may use you to disciple someone?
Paul obviously had a special calling (Acts 9:15). Does every believer have a special calling, or just some? Defend your answer biblically!
Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another. Pray specifically for those baptized: Corinne, Sherri, Stephen, Kate!
