Road Trip – “Moments That Turn Into Movements” 

Our new summer message series kicks off this week combining three things many of us love: summer, road trips and biographies. This summer we’ll take a long look at the life and teachings of the Apostle Paul, perhaps the most influential man in history who wasn’t named ‘Jesus.’ Paul, also known as Saul of Tarsus – the traveler, the evangelist and the teacher – “The Apostle.” This week we look at two moments that started his journey – moments that became movements.

1.  Moment #1 (Acts 7:57-60; Acts 8:1-3)

• Paul (Saul) was born in Tarsus in what is now Turkey, and quickly distinguished himself as a brilliant student – so bright that his parents sent him to Jerusalem to study under a famous rabbi to become a Pharisee. As such, he was both a religious and a political leader among his fellow Jews, so it was natural that he was among those who took the lead in efforts by the Jewish leadership to stomp out the new sect that had sprung up of followers of Jesus who proclaimed him to be the Risen Messiah.
• One of those followers was Stephen, a leader in the Jesus sect who was known for serving others – while also preaching publically that Jesus was the Messiah. When the Jewish leaders had heard enough of that, they had him stoned to death – and Paul (Saul) was there to make sure it happened.
• As he died, Stephen didn’t fight back of try to run; instead, he stood faithfully, proclaiming (and praying to) Jesus as the stones rained down on him. Paul surely noticed Stephen’s faithfulness, which would affect him for years to come. That faithfulness should also make us ask, “What does standing faithfully look like in my life today?” – in a culture that largely opposes the truth of Jesus. 
• Stephen’s martyrdom triggered “a great wave of persecution” of Christians, scattering Jesus’ followers out of Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria and beyond. Saul became completely focused on eliminating and silencing those Jews who proclaimed Jesus’ name – leading him to travel as far as Damascus, Syria.  And on the road to Damascus, Paul’s second “moment” happened…

2. Moment #2 (Acts 9:3-9) some text
   • Everything changed for Paul when he encountered – personally and (very) dramatically – the risen Jesus. In that moment he knew two things to be true: that he had met Jesus, and that everything he had believed about his faith, his mission, and himself was wrong.
   • Paul had no idea what God had in store for his life; he only knew that he had been wrong about Jesus, and that God had spared him instead of killing him like he (Paul) had killed Stephen. As a “turning-point moment,” this one was complete: Paul, killer of Jesus’ followers, now was one… for life.
   • Paul’s conversion story is dramatic, but it’s also an example for all of us of a truth we shouldn’t miss: God pursues us. He comes after us, because he wants to give us life (not because he wants to take our life away…). As he pursues us, he confronts us with the truth of who we are and what we’ve done. So the second question for us is “How’s that confrontation going for you? Are you ready to surrender?”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

These passages may provide additional insights related to the subject of this week’s message. All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted.

Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11-13; John 3:16-21; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10; Revelation 3:20

Video of the Week: Martus / Witness by the Bible Project

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

‍

1. When you think about spending the summer on Cape Cod, is church attendance and participation high on your list of summertime activities?  Why or why not? 

‍

2. In what ways was the Apostle Paul “the most influential man in history who wasn’t named ‘Jesus’”? 

‍

3. What would you say was Saul’s primary motivation for trying to “stomp out” the new Jewish sect of Jesus’ followers? Why was it such a big deal to him?

‍

4. How would you answer Question #1: “What does standing faithfully [for Jesus] look like in my life today?”?  

‍

5. Read Acts 9:3-9 again. As Paul encountered the risen Jesus, then spent 3 days in Damascus thinking about that encounter, what do you think he hoped for?  What do you think he feared?

‍

6. Although it rarely happens as dramatically as on the Road to Damascus, God pursues each of us in the same way Jesus pursued Saul. What fears might be keeping you from fully surrendering to his pursuit of you – and to his calling on your life?

‍