Studying Paul's Journeys
/Greetings in the Name of our Lord,
This Sunday, I will begin a series of sermons on the journeys of the Apostle Paul as shared from the book of Acts. Through the missionary journeys of Paul, the Church spread around the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the persecution and resistance from the Romans and Jewish leaders, Christianity grew and multiplied during the time of Paul’s missionary travels.
We begin our trek through Acts with the conversion of Paul in Acts 9. We see how Christ takes the murderous, hate-filled, Jewish prosecutor Paul and transforms him into the first great missionary evangelist. As we look at the life of Paul, if God can transform and use Paul, God can change and use anyone for God’s purposes.
Paul believed that the community of faith we call the Church would be the center of bringing Christ to the world. Through Paul, the Church became a movement that would shake the world.
As we look at the foundational work of Paul, we might ask if the Church really matters today? Can the Church really make a difference in our world today as it did in the first century?
I believe the Church does matter. I believe the Church can make a difference in our divided world. I believe the Church can model true community. The Church is the place where all people are welcome; where we all speak the language of God’s love and forgiveness. We are called to be the people of hope and opportunity.
Community opens our eyes to see the future with hope. When we live in hope, we see people differently. No person, group, organization, nor institution is perfect, but when we are in community, we see each other as a parent sees their child. We see each other with the eyes of potential.
With hope comes passion. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, everything changes. We are led by the spirit to care for each other; to strengthen the community we call the body of Christ; and to grow into the likeness of Christ.
Come join me as we explore the life of Paul and what the first great evangelist might say to Stonebridge UMC.
Don’t forget… this Sunday we will commission the youth mission trip participants. Come to support our students and their adult volunteers at the 11:00 a.m. Bridge service.
See you Sunday!
Pastor John Allen