Paul and the voice of God

The Apostle Paul had a life-changing encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus Road.  Acts 9 records the story.  Before the encounter, Paul was was a zealous Jew persecuting the church.  After the encounter, Paul became the leading Apostle in the spread of the church among the Gentiles.  How did this happen?  Paul heard the voice of God.

Now most of us aren't expecting God to reveal himself to us in such a dramatic fashion.  And yet, Paul's story is a good reminder that God can and does reveal himself in subtle and strong ways.  Join us Sunday as we continue to learn how to hear the voice of God and walk with Him!  Pastor Tom

Voice of God - New Testament

Last Week we began a new series focusing on hearing the voice of God.  The Old Testament has many great examples of God speaking in dramatic fashion.  When God met Moses at the burning bush, the trajectory of Moses' life changed.  Up until that time he had been living on the backside of the dessert perhaps trying to forget an episode earlier in his life (in Egypt) when he took matters into his own hands.  Then God showed up with a call and a cause and asked Moses to put his life into His hands.  It wasn't easy for Moses to "let go and let God"!  He had a number of excuses and his humility almost got in the way of God's plan.   But Moses said yes to God's call and cause and God worked mightily through him to deliverance his people from slavery.

This week we turn to the New Testament to look at two key leaders in the early church -- Peter and Paul.   Both men experienced a radical transformation and call to serve.  Peter was a disciple who walked with Jesus.  Sometimes he got it right and sometimes he messed up royally.  In fact, Peter denied the Lord and wept bitterly because of his failure.  After the death of Jesus, Peter was so discouraged that he said to the other disciples, "I am going fishing" (John 21) -- Peter was returning to his old way of life.  In that moment, Jesus met Peter and restored him to his call as a shepherd.  Following the Day of Pentecost, Peter became a leading figure in the early church.

When we first encounter Paul in the New Testament, he is assisting in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58).  Saul was a devout Jew and worked to destroy the spread of Christianity until he met Jesus.  Acts 9 records Saul's dramatic encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus.  The rest is history -- Saul, now Paul became the leading Apostle to the Gentiles.  He led to way on three missionary journeys and wrote much of the New Testament.

Both Peter and Paul remind us that God can meet us and in a moment our lives can be redirected with purpose and potential.  I hope you will join us Sunday as we discover God's voice in their lives and ours.  See you Sunday, Pastor Tom