Part 1 | “The Why Behind Your What”

Change or Die Message Series: “Are you really interested in change or do you just like the “idea” of it? When it comes to becoming a new person, the world has their way and God has His. Often times they are very very different. On the heels of 2020, let’s embrace 2021 with a new attitude – changing for the good and the glory of God. If we learn to overcome the four basic hurdles of change, we will see God’s glory in our transformation.”

From Acts 9

If your hasn’t your , your .

There’s a big difference between and .

📖 Luke 13:1 (NLT) There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

📖 Luke 13:2-3 (ESV) And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans (insert your least favorite people who suffered here ) were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent (change), you will all likewise perish (die).

All Gospel begins with .

1. Gospel change is not , it’s .

📖 Acts 9:1-2 (ESV) But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

📖 Acts 8:3 (ESV) But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

a. Saul is with .

📖 Acts 8:3 (ESV) “Saul was ravaging the church”

b. He creates out of .

📖 Acts 9:1 (ESV) “Saul (was) still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord”

c. He pursues he .

📖 Acts 9:1-2 (ESV) “went to the high priest (in Jerusalem) and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus”

2. Gospel change happens when challenges our .

📖 Acts 9:3-5 (ESV) Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Here’s the answer to Saul’s “why”: Saul to.

📖 Acts 9:5 (ESV) And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

Jesus upsets our in ways.

📖 Acts 9:6 (ESV) “But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

3. Gospel change doesn’t first the of our . It the in our .

a. Jesus him a new .

📖 Acts 9:6 (ESV) “you will be told what you are to do.”

📖 Acts 9:8 (ESV) they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

b. Jesus brothers out of .

📖 Acts 9:11-12 (ESV) And the Lord said to (Ananias), “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

📖 Acts 9:17-19 (ESV) So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

c. Jesus for a .

📖 Acts 9:20 (ESV) “And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”