Sermon Video: The early ministry of Saul - Acts 9:23-31

Do thinks that start poorly, always end poorly?  In our lives, and throughout history, we see examples of things that didn't start well, but in the end were a success, the ministry of the newly converted Saul is no different.  Three years after his conversion, Saul is in Damascus, but he has somehow worn out his welcome with his fellow Jews who have now decided that they should kill him.  Saul manages to escape Damascus and flee to Jerusalem, but this isn't exactly a stellar start to the career of a man that God has designated as his "chosen instrument".  In Jerusalem things aren't any better, the disciples are afraid to meet with Saul because they can't be sure that his conversion is genuine and not a trick.  It appears as if Saul's second attempt to serve God will also end in failure.
At this moment of potential despair, a man steps in who will become a life-long friend and missions partner of Saul, Barnabas.  For reasons we aren't told, Barnabas decides to risk his own reputation by vouching for Saul.  Not only does Barnabas take Saul to the apostles, but he testifies on his behalf that his conversion and preaching in Damascus were genuine.  Thanks to Barnabas, Saul finds acceptance among the original disciples of Jesus, perhaps things are finally looking up for Saul.
After preaching in Jerusalem to the Grecian Jews, Saul once again faces death threats.  This is the second time he has tried to preach to his own people about Jesus, and the second time the response has been rejection of the message (by most) and a desire to kill the messenger.  Is the problem with the people Saul is witnessing to, or is the problem with Saul?  If violence follows you wherever you go, wouldn't you start to think that you might be taking it with you?
Unfortunately for Saul, the apostles have had enough of the violence associated with this fiery preacher and they send him back to his hometown of Tarsus.  The text of Acts seems to flow quickly, but much time will lapse before we see Saul again.  In fact, it will be nine years until Saul is once again asked by the apostles to be a part of their missions efforts, until then he's on his own.  There is, however, a word of encouragement in that message for Saul when it finally arrives because the messenger who will bring to Saul word of the work that needs to be done in Antioch will be none other than his friend Barnabas.

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Sermon Video - The Conversion of Paul, Part 2 - Acts 9:10-22

Most people know that Saul/Paul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus, we're familiar with that part of the life changing event we call conversion.  Less people remember that there was a second person that Saul needed to meet before he could move forward toward becoming the famous Apostle Paul.  That second man wasn't famous, we hardly know anything about him other than his reputation as a respected devout observer of the law.  While Saul was sitting in darkness, literally, and not eating or drinking for three days, God was talking to one of his obedient servants, a man named Ananias.  What was Ananias' reward for a life lived in faith on obedience?  He was asked to follow in the footsteps of Jonah by giving mercy to his enemy.
Ananias objected to God's initial call, we all would have, and actually tried to explain to God that Saul was a villain, not someone you'd want to help.  That God knew all about Saul long before he called Ananias to help him is obvious, and yet throughout the Bible others have also tried to explain to God why the mission he is sending them on is a mistake.  Ananias joins a list with names such as: Moses, Gideon, Elijah, Jonah, and Zechariah, all of whom struggled to make sense of God's plan.  The missing piece of their puzzle was of course the power of God.  When God tells you to do something, his power will see it through if we but obey.
In the end, Ananias listens to God's command and takes to Saul not only the message about his future ministry, but just as importantly the words, "Brother, Saul".  If Ananias had not welcomed Saul into the Christian community in Damascus, if he had not offered to him forgiveness, love, and support during this crucial phase in his life, what would have become of Saul?  History remembers the great man, the Apostle Paul, but those of us who serve the Lord realize that behind every great person or powerful movement stands a host of unsung heroes who simply listened to the voice of God, and obeyed.

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Sermon Video: The Conversion of Paul, Part 1 - Acts 9:1-9

What is the most shocking thing you've ever heard?  The emotional or psychological upheaval that you felt at that moment, whether it was good news or bad, is most likely tame in comparison with what Saul of Tarsus felt when Jesus spoke to him on the road to Damascus.  It took just such a shocking revelation to reach Saul because he was a man of both pride and zealous convictions.  Sadly, there have been many times in the history of the Church when those claiming to follow Christ have been as eager to kill in his name as Saul.  We may shudder at the actions of the jihadists, but five hundred years ago the Church was mired in the Inquisition's forced conversions, expulsions, and torture.  Five hundred years ago the Church was slaughtering in God's name throughout Central Europe as Catholics, Lutherans, and Reformed Christians killed each other during the Thirty Years War.  We have seen the Beast of killing in God's name, it was us, and we must be vigilant lest it ever return.
God spoke to Saul while he was in the process of attempting to destroy the fledgling Church.  It was when Saul's rebellion against God was the greatest, that God's grace to Saul prevailed.  God chose to rescue Saul from his path of self-righteous destruction, and God chose to offer to Saul the chance to be useful for his kingdom.  Is there anyone too far gone that God's grace cannot reach them?  If Saul was able to see Jesus, so can anyone.  If Saul was able to be redeemed, everyone can be.
Are we listening when God is speaking to us?  It is far better to seek the will of God, than to force God to get your attention, just ask Saul.

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Sermon Video: The Good News about Jesus, Acts 8:26-40

Which is harder for God, to find someone willing to listen to his message of forgiveness through faith in his Son Jesus, or to find someone willing to tell that person?  Philip had previously been preaching before large crowds very successfully in Samaria, now the Spirit prompts Philip to go into the desert where he happens upon one man, an Ethiopian eunuch who is reading the scroll of Isaiah as he travels home from Jerusalem. 
Is life a series of coincidences or do God's people find themselves in situations where they have an opportunity to witness or help others in the name of Christ because God has chosen to place us in those situations?  Philip knew exactly why he was on this road, so he asked this stranger if he understood what he was reading.  That innocent question opened the way for Philip to use that very passage of Scripture to explain how Jesus Christ was the very suffering servant that Isaiah had spoken of.  Not only a suffering servant, but the Son of God who had chosen to endure humiliation and death that he might conquer both sin and death by rising from the grave.
The man to whom Philip spoke, formerly a foreigner and in many ways an outcast (as a eunuch), gladly accepted God's invitation to join his family through faith and immediately took advantage of Philip's presence to be baptized.  Philip had only this one chance to share the Gospel with this person he had just met, but he took advantage of it and changed the life of a fellow child of God forever.
Why do we as Christians fail to proclaim the name of Christ?  Is it a lack of knowledge about the Gospel?  Such ignorance is a horrible excuse and one we must rectify within the Church.  Is it a lack of courage?  Are we afraid of being laughed at, rejected, or mocked?  Such cowardice is hardly worthy of those who have been set free by the blood of the Lamb.  Is it lack of heart?  Are we too complacent, thinking that God will send someone else, or that the cause isn't that urgent?  Such apathy is unacceptable amongst those whom God has called to be salt and light in this world.
When the next coincidence, which really is nothing of the sort, happens in your life, and you're faced with a chance to share the Good News about Jesus, what will you do?

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"All Christianity concentrates on the man at the crossroads" G.K. Chesteron

In his book, Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton explains the difference between Eastern philosophy/religion and Western philosophy/Christianity by focusing on fatalism versus free will.  To those who believe in pantheism ("all is God") or panentheism ("all is in God"), "existence is a science or a plan, which must end up a certain way." (p. 128)  After all, without separation between God and man, what use is there in trying to change anything, what hope is there in reform?  Thus the Buddhist ends up denying existence and seeking to extinguish it rather than trying to change it.  Christianity (and by with it Western philosophy) views life differently, "to a Christian existence is a story, which may end up in any way."  Thus the focus upon the crossroads, it matters a great deal which road a man takes in life because God has created man to have life and being of his own, to be able to choose to not do what God wants, and to be able to choose to love God.  Without freewill, and you can't have freewill without a transcendent (separate) God, what's the purpose of anyone's life?
This may seem like an area of interest only to philosophy or comparative religion students, but in reality, our attitudes about our place in this world and our relation to God have profound effects upon how seriously we take our personal responsibility for the choices we make.  With every horrific act of violence reported on TV due to the latest shooting or suicide bombing, people want more and more to believe that evil is something abnormal in the human brain.  It is only the "crazy" people who do such things we tell ourselves as we search for what went wrong in someone's life to turn them into such a madman.  Evil is choice, the vast majority of evil in our world is the result of the mundane choices to choose evil or good on the part of ordinary people.
Christianity offers an alternative road.  Jesus stands at the crossroad, holding up a sign that says, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)  Will people pass him by, laughing at the guy who hasn't realized yet that life is meaningless?  Will they stop, look to Jesus, and allow him to lead them down a new path?  It makes all the difference in the world which path we take.  You see, "all of Christianity concentrates on the man at the crossroads."