SERIES: Reclaimed
TITLE: Turnaround
TEXT: Acts 8:1-3 (p.916); 2 Timothy 4:1-8
I. A ROUGH BEGINNING
First picture we have of Saul is not a baby in his mother’s arms, or a Jewish lad running through the streets with his buddies seeing what kind of mischief they can get into. It is as one giving consent to a (murder).
Turn to Acts 22:2-3
Saul was a (Pharisee), the party most tied to (Jewish nationalism) and strictness to the law of Moses. He sat under the teaching of (Gamaliel).
Turn to Philippians 3:2-6 (p.981)
II. A SMOOTH ENDING
Paul’s life not smooth sailing:
- 2 Cor.6:3-10 [Read from Phillips paraphrase]
- 2 Cor.11:23-33.
In Acts 26 Paul uses an interesting phrase: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” What is a goad?
God had been working on Saul for years. Why did he continue kicking back?
Any final words Paul? [2 Tim.4:6-7]
NEXT WEEK: New Sermon Series: Family Values Under Construction
Sermon: A Family of Values- Deut.6:4-9; various others
