271 - ACTS 9:1-9 - PAULS CONVERSION - BRIAN SUMNER

We're in a powerful passage of Scripture today known as the conversion of the Apostle Paul.

We came to faith.

We believe.

We trusted.

What is your story? It is just as miraculous, but here it's super radical.

Theologians have wrestled with this.

We're going through the book of Acts, and we hear of this man called Saul in around Acts 7 and 8, where he's gone out to persecute the church.

I asked you a few weeks ago, guys, how did the early church go out? And really, I said that to convict and confront us.

Why? Because the church was birthed in Jerusalem.

Everyone brought all that they had to the community, and there was wealth, and there was power, and all of us were in one accord.

All was good.

Everyone was sitting parked saying, yeah, we love this mega church.

But Jesus had told them, you need to go.

You need to go into all the world and make disciples.

Jesus has said, when the Spirit of God comes upon you, you'll be witnesses of who? Me.

To where? Jesus.

Jerusalem, Judea, and where else? Samaria.

They were all still parked in Jerusalem.

God, how are you going to move them? Persecution.

A man called Stephen that was helping the widows, tending tables full of the Spirit of God, signs, miracles, and wonders, would be killed.

They would take him, put him before the council.

They would accuse him and challenge him.

He would preach the gospel.

They said no.

And they dragged him out of the city, tearing their garments, screaming, covering their ears.

We're in a powerful passage of Scripture today known as the conversion of the Apostle Paul.

We came to faith.

We believe.

We trusted.

What is your story? It is just as miraculous, but here it's super radical.

Theologians have wrestled with this.

We're going through the book of Acts, and we hear of this man called Saul in around Acts 7 and 8, where he's gone out to persecute the church.

I asked you a few weeks ago, guys, how did the early church go out? And really, I said that to convict and confront us.

Why? Because the church was birthed in Jerusalem.

Everyone brought all that they had to the community, and there was wealth, and there was power, and all of us were in one accord.

All was good.

Everyone was sitting parked saying, yeah, we love this mega church.

But Jesus had told them, you need to go.

You need to go into all the world and make disciples.

Jesus has said, when the Spirit of God comes upon you, you'll be witnesses of who? Me.

To where? Jesus.

Jerusalem, Judea, and where else? Samaria.

They were all still parked in Jerusalem.

God, how are you going to move them? Persecution.

A man called Stephen that was helping the widows, tending tables full of the Spirit of God, signs, miracles, and wonders, would be killed.

They would take him, put him before the council.

They would accuse him and challenge him.

He would preach the gospel.

They said no.

And they dragged him out of the city, tearing their garments, screaming, covering their ears.