Am I Different Now?
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This morning we are picking back up in our study of the Book of Acts.
If you’re new to MCF, it would be helpful for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”.
What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible, and then studying them from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what the Bible means in our lives today.
With that said, we are currently doing that through the NT book of Acts. A book written by a disciple named Luke for two primary reasons.
First, to give us a history of the church. How the church started, who was involved, and the circumstances that surrounded it.
Second, to give us a template for gospel expansion. In other words, to show us how Jesus intends for us to accomplish the mission of taking the gospel to the entire world.
And to date, we have covered the first 8 chapters of our study.
So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online to www.mcf.life, where you can listen to all the messages leading up to today.
Today however, we are back in , where so far, Luke has spent the majority of the chapter introducing us to and telling us about a man named Saul.
A man, who in the beginning days of the church was an enemy of Christians, willing to go to extreme measures in order to destroy it. Luke writes in the beginning of chapter 9:
1 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 9:1-
So, at great question would be, “What’s Saul’s problem? Why does he hate the church so much?”
Well, in a nutshell, what the church was teaching about Jesus didn’t line up with Saul’s theology and worldview. In fact, much like people who oppose Christians today, he didn’t believe Jesus was a savior that he needed.
Because for Saul, his eternal hope was in tradition, rituals, and religious living.
But the church was teaching its not about religion, ritual, and rules, but instead about a relationship and the need for a savior. That savior being Jesus.
In addition to that, Saul was an intense personality. He was the kind of person that when he was committed to something, he was ALL IN. And initially, he was ALL IN and ALL ABOUT stopping the church.
But what Saul didn’t realize, is while he was committed to destroying the church, God was committed to accomplishing a great work in his life. A work that started with with you might call a good old “Come To Jesus Meeting”. A moment where Saul would come face to face with the very person he had been persecuting, the Lord Jesus himself. Listen to how Luke describes the encounter:
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3 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?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
You may recall
Acts 9:
Luke says while on his way to arrest and kill Christians, Jesus paid Saul a visit. And it’s in this come to Jesus moment, that the person who hated the church the most, begins a journey towards becoming the greatest advocate the church would ever see.
A journey that would begin as God would lead a man named Ananias, an unknown disciple living in Damascus, to minister to Saul and lead him to faith in Jesus. Luke writes:
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “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.”
Luke continues:
Acts 9:
17 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.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
Acts 9:17
Luke says following the come to Jesus meeting, Jesus sends a man named Ananias to pray for Saul, restore is sight, and lead him to faith in Jesus. And that’s exactly what happens. Listen to how Luke describes it.
17 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.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
Luke says as Ananias minsters to Saul, his sight is restored and he puts his faith in Jesus as Saul is water baptized. A NT pattern that symbolizes that a person has committed their life to Jesus. And that’s where we left off last week.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Water baptism symbolizes that the old you has died and the new has come.
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
All that to say, Saul gets baptized because he is now fully committed to following Jesus, and his baptism symbolizes that. Saul is now a Christian.
And so now here we have Saul, a former persecutor of the church, who has now given his life to Jesus.
The question now is, “What happens next? Where does Saul go from here?”
And that’s a great question, because where does a person go after putting their faith in Jesus? What comes after the come to Jesus meeting and baptism? What’s the next step?
In a way, Saul models that for us, but before we get to the rest of the story and our passage for today, I want to begin by setting up where we are going for the next couple of weeks as we finish at the conversion story of Saul, and to do that, I want to begin by setting the stage with an illustration.
I’m going to call this illustration, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
How many of you remember as a little boy or girl being asked that question. A moment where you began to dream and imagine what you were going to to be when you grew up.
It happens at an early age, as little Jimmy declares one day he’s going to be a fireman or a policeman.
Or little Susie dreams of being a teacher or a veterinarian.
And for a parent, these are adorable moments. And then they say something like, “That’s so wonderful little Jimmy and Susie! I’m so proud of you.”
And then to validate and encourage their dream, they say something like, “ But you know little Jimmy, if you want to be a policemen, you’re going to have to learn to follow the rules. Because that’s what Policemen do, they follow and keep the rules.
And little Susie, if you want to be a teacher, you’re going to have to study hard and do well in school. Because that’s what it takes to be a teacher.”
And then from there we wait and watch.
We wait to see if their dream continues to develop and we watch as they continue to grow and develop into their life calling.
And the truth is, more often than not, their dreams change as they grow and mature. But by time they reach their teenage years and young adult life, their dreams are beginning to solidify into specific occupational callings and passions.
For instance, instead of being a policemen, 18 year old Jimmy wants to be an attorney. And instead of being a teacher, 18 year old Susie wants to be a medical doctor. In fact, they’re so serious about it that they begin to make statements like, “I’m going into law” or “I’m going into medicine”. Statements that represent their intentions to actually become what they desire to be.
But for the dream or desire to become a reality, they have to take next steps. So, what’s next for Susies and Jimmy? Now that they’ve established what they want to be, where do they go from here?
To answer that, let me pose three questions for us to consider?
Well, If Susie is going to actually become a doctor, she needs to be willing to go to school, right? That’s step #1. A step that will begin to validate her intentions.
Well, they need to do what it takes to become that. For example, if Susie wants to become a doctor and have the ability to bring healing into people’s lives, then she’s going to have to commit a portion of her life to her development.
Well, she needs to be willing to go to school. That’s step #1, right? A step that validates her intentions.
But the validation doesn’t stop there. Because if she really wants to become a doctor, not only does she need to go to school, she needs to complete school, right?
Because Susie can’t just say she’s going to school in order to become a doctor. She can’t just put on a white coat and stethoscope and say, “I’m Dr. Susie.” It doesn’t work that way, right?
Question #2 - Why is it necessary for Susies to not only go, but complete school?
Well, it’s necessary because Susie can’t just say she’s a doctor to become a doctor. She can’t just put on a white coat and stethoscope and say, “I’m Dr. Susie.” It doesn’t work that way, right?
In order to be an actual doctor, Susie not only needs to go to school, she needs to commit to at least 8-10 years of studying, training, and practice in order to become a doctor. That’s step #2.
Because it can’t stop there. She actually has to complete the training. Otherwise, she can’t become a doctor.
And we need Susie to do that, right? Because when we get sick, we need her to know what she’s talking about in order to help us.
Think of it like this, let’s say you get on a plane to fly somewhere, and you ask the pilot, “How did you learn to fly?” The hope is they say something like, “Well I went to a flight school where I studied, acquired my flight hours, and graduated.” An answer like that brings a lot of comfort.
What you don’t want them to say is, “Oh, I haven’t actually learned to fly yet. But don’t worry, I’m a pilot. I’ve watched Top Gun a dozen times, and I have a flight jacket and a pair of wings I bought off of Amazon. I’m good to go.”
Because it’s the completion of that training that brings further validation to Susies’s desire to become a doctor.
But it doesn’t stop there. There’s a final step. Besides desire and a commitment to schooling and training, Susie needs mentors to guide her and the opportunity to demonstrate her skill and ability.
Final question:
In other words, she needs to be able to take what she’s learned and apply it in a real life setting. To the point that when people watch her in action, they say, “Yup, there’s no doubt about it, she’s a doctor. Because along with the white coat and the stethoscope, she is actively living out her skill and ability in front of us.”
Question #3 - Besides schooling and training, what does Susie need to do in order to fully validate her claim that she’s a doctor?
Question #3 -
Well, she needs to be able demonstrate her skill and ability. In other words, she needs to be able to take what she’s learned and apply it in a real life setting. To the point that when people watch her in action, they say, “Yup, there’s no doubt about it, she’s a doctor. Because along with the white coat and the stethoscope, she is actively living out her skill and ability in front of us.”
Now, at this point you might be thinking, “Ok Pastor, I’m tracking with you. That all makes sense. But where are you going with this?”
Here’s where I’m going with this.
Saul has just put his faith in Jesus, and he’s even taken the first step in validating that claim. He’s been baptized. Which is great! Paul would now be able to say, “I’m a Christian?” But is he? How do we know he’s a Christian now? How do we know he’s really changed?
We’ll know if Saul takes steps toward living out his faith. We’ll know if Saul starts moving in a direction that will further validate his claim of faith and prepare him for the calling God has on his life. That’s how we’ll know?
And what was true for Saul, is true for every Christian. Because if you want to follow Jesus, and you want to be a Christian:
It has to go beyond, “I said a prayer of salvation.
It has to go beyond, “I was baptized”.
It has to go beyond posting scripture on Facebook.
It has to go beyond that I’m Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, or Assembly of God.
I mean, that’s all great. But getting baptized and going to church to a certain church or making Facebook posts doesn’t make you a Christian. To truly be a Christian, you have to be committed to a process. A process that over time validates your claim and eventually prepares you for God’s calling on your life.
And please hear me, when I say that, I’m not saying in order to be a Christian you have to accomplish certain tasks or perform certain works in order to be saved. I’m not saying to be saved it’s Jesus + something else. That’s not what I’m saying. The fact is, when you put your faith in Jesus, the work of salvation takes place in you. But that work must be validated.
In other words, if you’ve had a true conversion experience, then there should be mounting evidence in your life that validates that claim. Evidence that says your claim is more than a title. Evidence that goes beyond your baptism. Evidence that over time further validates and confirms the claim that you are a Christian.
This is what the Apostle James is talking about in . Concerning our faith he writes:
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
James 2:14
James isn’t saying that you have to have works to be saved. What he’s saying is your faith in Jesus should produce evidence of a changed life. In other words, if you’re really a Christian, there should be evidences of that playing out in your life. And if it’s not, then your not what you say you are.
So, a good question would be, “What kind of evidence should there be? What kind of evidence validates your claim of faith? What kind of evidence would cause people around you to say, ‘Yup, they are most definitely a Christian’? Yup, their life matches their Facebook Profile status.”
That’s what our focus is today. And it’s an important focus because unfortunately there are a lot of people in our culture and in the church today who say they are Christians, but their lifestyle, decisions, and actions don’t line up with that statement.
Yes, they wear the title. Yes, they post scriptures on Facebook. Yes, they go to church now and then. But the evidence and validation of their faith stops there.
And based on our passage today, what I’d like to suggest to you is that it can’t stop there. And that if a person is going to claim the title Christian, there should be evidence of that claim playing out in their life. Evidences that we’re going to see played out in the life of Saul. So, as we move through our passage today I have two goals:
So, as we move through our passage I have two goals:
First, to discover what those evidences are and why they are important.
Second, to ask ourselves this question, “Are those evidences of faith evident in my life?” And if they’re not, why not?”
Some of you are like, “Great, of all Sunday’s to come to church. I had to come on
Aren’t you glad you came to church today?
So, with that as our basis, let’s jump into the passage as Luke continues to unfold the salvation story of Saul. Beginning in verse 19 we read:
“For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ And all who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?’ But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.” (ESV)
Luke says following his baptism, some major changes began to take place in Saul’s life. Changes that pointed to the evidence of his faith. So, what are the evidences? I’d like to suggest there are two initial evidences. And I would state the first one like this:
If you say you’re a Christian, you should be committed to Christian growth and Fellowship.
Notice, following Saul’s baptism, Luke writes, “For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.” (ESV)
Luke says for “Some” days, Saul was with the disciples at Damascus.
This is an interesting statement and tells us much about Saul’s initial days of faith.
First, notice Luke says for some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
The key word here is “some”. It’s translated from the Greek word “tis” and represents an unspecified or extended amount of time. And from what Scholars tell us, for Saul, “some days” represents a period of about 1-3 years.
Meaning, for 1-3 years Saul stayed in Damascus with the disciples who lived there. So a great question would be, “Why? why did he stay there?”
He stayed because he needed to grow deeper. He stayed because he needed to learn more about Jesus. He stayed so he could be discipled by more seasoned Christ followers. He stayed so he could grow deeper in his faith.
And now, he needed to know more. He needed to grow deeper. He needed to find out more about Jesus. And so he stayed in damascus and committed to a time of discipleship. A period of time where he would allow more seasoned Christ followers to disciple him. A period of time where he would grow deeper in his faith. A period of time where he would learn more about Jesus. A period of time where he would get grounded in his Christian faith.
And what was true for Saul must be true for all of us. The fact is, if you want to be a Christian, you have to be committed to a life long process of discipleship that starts in the beginning days of your faith. A process that goes beyond initial faith and water baptism.
And what was true for Saul is true for all Christians. The fact is, when you have a come to Jesus moment or meeting, it should create a spiritual hunger in you. A hunger to know more. A hunger to grow deeper. A hunger for further growth and development.
In fact, that’s what I love most about new believers. They have a hunger for God that’s contagious. They have a thirst for spiritual knowledge that almost can’t be quenched. Jesus has radically changed their life, and they can’t get enough.
A hunger for further growth and development. And for further growth and development to take place, you have to be discipled.
But for further growth and development to take place, you have to be committed to discipleship. You have to be committed to putting yourself in an environment and around people who can help you grow.
But it can’t stop there. Because while zeal and desire are good, greater commitment must take place
This is the first evidence that
You have to be committed to a process of Christian growth and development. In fact, you should desire that. Because the old is gone and the new has come. Your old life is over and now its time to commit to learning what your new life should look like.
And while that’s an initial evidence of conversion, it can’t stop there. Because excitement, zeal, and hunger
And that’s exactly what Saul did. As a new believer, he committed himself to an environment where he could be nurtured, encouraged, instructed, and equipped. And this is necessary for every Christian.
And to be honest, this is a critical stage in their spiritual development, because it’s in this early stage of development that they either sink or swim.
Think of it like this. Through the course of your life you have stages of growth and development that build upon each other.
So, how do you get more? You do what Saul did. Saul stayed in Damascus and hung out with the disciples at Damascus.
For example, the first two stages of your life are called infancy and toddlerhood. Some of you moms and dads are right in the middle of these years with your kids.
And for further growth and development to take place, you have to be discipled.
These stages represent the first two years of your life and are critical to the future growth and development of a child. It’s in these stages we begin to learn the basic components of survival as we learn to walk, talk, and eat.
We then enter the early childhood stage from ages 3-5. A stage where language skills continue to develop as we gain a greater sense of independence and prepare for formal education. A critical stage in our development.
In fact, data compiled by the Rauch Foundation found that 85 percent of a person’s brain is developed by the time they are five years old! As a result, the first five years of life are critical to healthy early childhood development.
And what is true for our emotional, physical, and cognitive growth is true for our spiritual growth as well. The fact is, what you learn and what you commit to in the initial days of your faith will establish the foundation for future spiritual growth and development.
All that to say, if you want to develop into a fully mature Christian, it starts by being committed to spiritual growth and discipleship for the git go. Because without that commitment, you won’t grow and you may even fall back into your old life.
This was Paul’s issue with the church in Corinth. Listen to what he says as he challenges their lack of spiritual growth and commitment:
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
Paul says, “By now you should be past the infancy and toddler stage of faith. But you’re not. Instead, you’re still acting like infants, drinking milk from a bottle. Still acting like a bunch of baby Christians.”
In fact, at the church in Corinth, their fighting over
So, a great question would be, “Where does a person get that?” Well, for Saul it was at the church in Damascus. That’s what Luke means when he says, “he was with the disciples at Damascus.”
So, a great question would be, “What does a person need to do in order to be committed to spiritual growth and discipleship?”
Well, first, like Saul, it starts by putting yourself in an environment where you can grow and develop. And for Saul, that was a 1-3 year stent at the church at Damascus. That’s where he went in order to begin and continue his faith journey.
“For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.” (ESV)
The word “some” is translated from the Greek word “tis”. It represents an unspecified extended amount of time. And it Paul’s case, most scholars believe it was a 1-3 year period. So, you could read it like this, “For 1-3 years Saul was with the disciples at Damascus.”
Meaning, in order to develop and mature in his faith, for 1-3 years Saul committed himself to a specific church where he continued to grow and develop his faith.
And what was true for Saul is true for us. If we want to grow as a Christian,
And it’s the same for us. If you want to grow spiritually and become a mature Christian, you have to consistently put yourself in an environment where that can happen. So, where’s that place at?
We then enter the early childhood stage which represents ages 3-5. A stage where language skills continue to develop as we gain a greater sense of independence and prepare for formal education. A critical stage in our development.
It’s a place called the local church. And if this is your church home, that place is called Marysville Christian Fellowship.
Why this place? Because that’s what the church exists for.
You see, that’s why a commitment to church attendance is so important. It’s so you can continue to grow in your faith.
Others think church attendance is about status. It’s the place they go to identify themselves as a Christian or a Catholic or a Methodist, or whatever title they think will impress people the most.
But unfortunately a lot of people have a wrong view of church attendance:
In fact, data compiled by the Rauch Foundation found that 85 percent of a person’s brain is developed by the time they are five years old! As a result, the first five years of life are critical to healthy early childhood development.
Some think church attendance is a religious act that we engage in to accumulate salvation points. As a way to say to God, “See, I showed up. I’m present.”
Some see it as an optional Christian activity. For some reason they think they can grow outside of the body of Christ.
And then some view church attendance as an emergency room visit. It’s the place they go when life gets really hard. It’s the place they go when tragedy strikes. It’s the place they attend when somebody gets sick.
Others think church attendance is about status. It’s the place they go to identify themselves as a Christian or a Catholic or a Methodist, or whatever title they think will impress people and give them social status.
and surround yourself with people who can help you grow. It’s a place called church. For Saul, it was the church at Damascus, and for many of you, it’s MCF.
Some Christians see it as an optional activity. Something they may or may no need. So, instead of consistently attending church, they only attend when it fits their schedule or their needs.
And then some view church attendance as an emergency room visit. It’s the place they go when life gets really hard. It’s the place they go when tragedy strikes. It’s the place they attend when somebody gets sick.
You see, that’s why a commitment to church attendance is so important.
And that’s important for us to catch, because what Luke wants us to understand is that Saul wasn’t on some sort of time frame at this point. Not a very complicated word, but an important word in the context of our passage. Because what it implies is that nd is meant to imply an unspecified amount of time.
So, what’s the purpose of church attendance? The purpose of church attendance is to put yourself in an environment where you can worship God, continue to grow spiritually, be discipled, and reach others for Jesus. That’s the main purpose.
How sad for those who view church attendance in such away.
And what is true for our emotional, physical, and cognitive growth is true for our spiritual growth as well. The fact is, what you learn and what you commit to in the initial days of your faith will establish the foundation for future spiritual growth.
So, what’s the purpose of church attendance? It’s simple.
The purpose of church attendance is to put yourself in an environment where you can worship God, be challenged to grow spiritually, be discipled by other believers, and reach more people for Jesus. That’s the purpose of the church.
Well, the truth is, the discipleship process never ends for the Christian. The theological word for this process is called “Sanctification”. It’s the life long process where day by day we become more like Jesus.
But in this case, that’s not what Luke is referring to. What Luke is referring to are the beginning days of our faith. A critical time frame where we deepen, confirm, and solidify our initial commitment.
Saul was committed to that.
Which leads us to a second aspect of Saul’s spiritual development. Because not only does he attend the church at Damascus, but he spends time with its disciples.
Second, notice what Saul did for the unspecified amount of time. Luke says, for this unspecified amount of time, “…he was with the disciples at Damascus.”
In other words, he surrounds himself with people who can help him grow. Because ultimately that’s what a church is. It’s not a building. It’s not a location. It’s a people. A group of people who are committed to following Jesus.
So, what’s that time period?
That’s what I love about our church name, Marysville Christian Fellowship. Because that’s what makes a church a church. The people who fellowship within. And it’s a critical component of spiritual growth and development. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this:
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Luke doesn’t tell us exactly how long it was for Saul, but he does use a specific word to describe the time period. He says, “For some days...” And what’s interesting about that statement, is the word “some” is translated from the Greek word “tis”, and it’s meant to imply an unspecified period of time.
Luke doesn’t tell us exactly how long, but he does use a specific word to describe the time period. He uses the word “some”. Because he says Saul’s initial discipleship took place, “For some days...”. And what’s interesting about that statement, is the word “some” is translated from the Greek word “tis”, and it’s meant to imply an unspecified period of time.
Saul was committed to such fellowship. Committed to surrounding himself with people who could help him grow. Other disciples that were further down the spiritual road than he was. Disciples who were familiar with the teachings of Jesus. Disciples that could help him connect the dots and answer questions.
So, what does that mean and why is it important?
Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about. Years ago when my wife came to faith, she had a radical conversion experience.
And if Saul needed that, then so do we.
In other words, Saul wasn’t on a time frame for his initial growth and development. Meaning, this wasn’t a commitment to a 6-week new believers class or some kind of study. And I’m not saying a person shouldn’t do that. What I’m saying is Saul was committed to a process of discipleship with an unspecified amount of time needed. In other words, “As long as it takes to get grounded and established in his faith.”
And from what Scholars tells us, this was probably a 1-3 year period for Saul. One to three years where he dug deep and built a strong foundation of faith. One to three years where Saul committed to Christian growth. And that’s actually rather amazing. Because Saul was no dummy. Saul had been a Pharisee, a religious leader who knew the OT scripture frontwards and backwards. But what he hadn’t known was Jesus. And what he needed was for somebody to help him connect the dots.
That’s why we emphasize consistent fellowship at MCF.
In fact, next month we are going to introduce some exciting ways for you to connect and grow with others.
That’s why we have a meet and greet time after worship.
That’s why we have a lobby with tables, chairs, and coffee.
That’s why we encourage people to get in a Life Group and study God’s Word together.
Saul was committed to
That’s why we offer new believers classes.
And it won’t be enough to watch it online or on tv. Listen, I’m thankful for online services. It’s great for people who can’t get to church or who are sick, or whatever the case may be. But it’s not the same and it can’t replace what face to face interaction provides.
It means that following his baptism,
That’s why we encourage you to be here on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights.
Because it’s in a place like this that you will meet people who are on the same path as you.
And I will see them again, typically when
It’s in a place like this where you will develop friendships and find spiritual mentors who can help you grow.
All that to say, if you’re going to identify as a Christian, the evidence of that begins with a commitment to spiritual growth and discipleship as you commit yourself to a place and a group of people who can help you grow. A place called the church.
A place to be challenged, strengthened, and encouraged as you interact with other people of faith.
It’s in a place like this that week to week you will hear the word of God and be challenged to grow.
But you won’t find that if you’re not committed to being here or if you’re not committed to engaging other Christians in Fellowship.
Unfortunately over the years, I’ve watched as people come to church, get excited about Jesus, even get baptized, but then they drop off the map.
For some reason, they feel like that’s enough. They’re a Christian now. They made the decision. They got dunked in the tank. They’re good to go. See you in heaven.
Listen, it doesn’t work that way. If you’re going to identify as a Christian, the evidence of that doesn’t start and end with baptism. It continues and is validated as you commit to spiritual growth and discipleship in a place called the church.
And please hear me, I’m not implying that church is the only place that you can grow spiritually. What I’m saying though is it is the place Jesus designed for that to happen.
And I would also say, some churches don’t do a very good job of helping people connect and grow spiritually.
And to be honest, we need to get better at it as church. In fact, this Fall we are launching some new initiatives to help people grow and connect at a deeper level.
For example, one of those initiatives is a new online Streaming service that contains a video library of discipleship material. Think of it like the NETFLIX of Christian discipleship.
Through this free streaming service MCF attendees will have access to hundreds of video studies on Christian growth, parenting, marriage, and discipleship. There’s even an entire library for your kids that can be accessed on a ipad, tablet, or smart tv. You’ll be able to access it from anywhere.
And the reason it’s free is because we want people to grow deeper in their faith. We want to create more opportunities for Christian discipleship and fellowship to take place.
Well, it begins with a commitment to make your relationship with Jesus the most important relationship in your life. A commitment that from day 1 as a Christian, Jesus becomes the focus of your life. He becomes your everything.
But for that to happen, you have to be committed to being a part of the church, the place God designed for Christians to grow.
Saul was committed to church life. He knew it was the environment he needed to continue to grow.
Now, when I say that, some of you might be thinking, “Pastor, kind of sounds like you want me to be some kind of Jesus freak or something?” Call it what you want. But Jesus is either Lord of all or none of your life. You’re either ALL In or All Out. There is no in between. The fact is, Jesus isn’t looking for half hearted
This leads us to a second evidence in Saul’s life. And I would state it like this:
In addition to that, it means you’re now committed to growing in a deeper knowledge of Jesus.
2. If you say you’re a Christian, there should be a noticeable change in your life.
So, how do you do that? There are several ways:
Luke writes:
20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
Acts 9:20
Luke says as Saul began to grow in his faith, his life began to change. So, what changed?
For starters, instead of threatening people not to talk about Jesus, Luke says Saul is now going around telling people all about Jesus. In fact, he’s telling people Jesus is the Son of God. Exactly the opposite of what he believed prior to his come to Jesus meeting.
What that tells us is Saul’s entire worldview has now changed. He is now living his life through an entirely different lens, a Jesus lens. For Saul, the old is gone and the new has come.
He’s given up his old life of religious thinking. He’s walked away from old friendships and a former way of living. Saul has done a 180. His life is totally different now that Jesus is his Lord. Saul has now become what he used to hate and persecute. Saul is now a full blown Jesus freak.
On top of that, others have started noticing the change. Luke writes:
21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
Luke says as Saul started going around telling people about Jesus, people were baffled. They’re like, “What happened to that guy? Isn’t that Saul the Christian killer? Isn’t he the one who came to Damascus to take out Christians? And now he’s one of them. Is this a joke? Now he’s encouraging people to put their faith in this Jesus guy?”
Luke says people don’t know what to think. It’s like Sauls a different person now. He’s not acting like the old Saul. Something has significantly shifted in him. So, what’s changed?
What’s changed is Saul has been transformed by the power of Jesus. What’s changed is the old Saul is dead and the new has been born. In Paul writes:
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
That’s what’s changed. And it’s so radical that everybody who used to know the old Saul stands in utter amazement. Because the new Saul is the exact opposite of the old Saul. They’re not even sure it’s the same person. And guess what, it’s not. Paul writes:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
And what was true for Saul has to be true for anybody who would claim to be a Christian.
Because if you’ve truly put your faith in Jesus, if you’ve truly had a come to Jesus meeting, then there should be a noticeable change in your life. For example:
People who knew you before were a Christian should be saying:
First, you make reading your Bible a daily priority in your life. The fact is, you can’t begin to live by God’s Word if you don’t know what it says. “But pastor, what if I don’t understand what the Bible is saying?”
“Isn’t that John? Isn’t that the guy who used to get hammered every weekend at the bar? Isn’t that the guy who used to run around on his wife?
Isn’t that Sarah? Isn’t that the woman who’s known to get around?
Isn’t that Sam? Isn’t that the guy who used to swear like a sailor?
Isn’t that Ricky? Isn’t that the meth head who used to hang out down at the connivence store?
Isn’t that Jessica? Isn’t that the woman whose been married 3 times and can’t keep a solid relationship?
Isn’t the Rebekah? The woman who used to post inappropriate content on Facebook?
I mean it looks like them, I think its them, but their not acting the same. They’re not living the same. They’re not anything like I remember. It’s like they are a different person now.
The fact is, if you’re a Christian, your life should be totally different than it was before you were a Christian. The old you should be a distant memory and noticeable changes should be evident in your life.
And this is where it gets uncomfortable for a lot of people who claim to be Christians. Why? Because for some, there really hasn’t been any change. In many regards, their life isn’t any different. Yes they said the prayer, but they’re still hanging out with the same partying crowd. Yes, they got baptized, but they’re still engaging in old sinful habits. Yes, they became church members, but they’re still following the same sinful patterns. Not much has changed. And that’s not good.
Because if there isn’t noticeable changes. If your life after Jesus isn’t much different than your life before Jesus, then Houston, we have a problem.
Because If your life after Jesus isn’t radically different than your life before Jesus, then Houston, we have a problem.
Because:
If your still getting hammered on the weekends, we have a problem.
That’s why you need to purchase or download a good study Bible. A Bible that is designed to help you understand what you are reading.
If you’re still sleeping around outside of marriage, we have a problem.
If the way you talk and the words you use haven’t changed, we have a problem.
If you’re still posting or viewing inappropriate content, we have a problem.
And please hear me, I’m not saying to be a Christian you have to live a perfect life and can’t make a mistake. The fact is, nobody is perfect and as Christinas we are a work in progress.
What I’m saying though is, if you’re a Christian, there should be some noticeable changes in your life. In no way should your new life look like your old life. That version of you is dead, or it at lest it should be.
The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
What Paul is saying here is that Jesus didn’t die so we could keep sinning with no consequences. He died so that we could be set free from sin and live differently. He goes on to say:
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
He then writes:
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Paul says, “Listen, if you’re a Christian, you shouldn’t be living like the old you anymore."
That being the case let me ask you this, “Since you put your faith in Jesus, have there been noticeable changes in your life?” For example, are there areas of your life you could point to and say, “That’s changed. That’s different. I no longer do that. I no longer live that way. I no longer go there. That version of me no longer exists.”
How about this, “Would other people be able to say there’s something different about you?”
For example, since your faith in Jesus, would the people you work with say, “There’s something different. There’s a noticeable change?”
Second, you surround yourself with people who love Jesus like you do, and are further down the road than you are. Other Christians who can challenge, encourage, and strengthen your relationship with Jesus.
Now, some of you might be thinking, “Pastor, are you saying if there aren’t these radical changes in my life that I’m not a Christian? Is that what you are saying?”
No,I’m not saying that. To be honest, that’s not my job. I’m not the judge. I’m simply presenting the facts to you. The fact that if you’re going to say you’re a Christian, the Bible says there should be some evidences that validate that. Changes that people notice. Changes that represent a radical shift in your thinking, behavior, decisions, and actions. And so, I’m not questioning your salvation, I’m asking you to self evaluate what you claim to be. To ask yourself, “Since I’ve put my faith in Jesus, is there evidence of that in my life? And if not why not?”
In fact, Paul says this is something we should consistently do. In he writes:
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Paul says we should consistently examine our spiritual lives. To test ourselves. To ask questions like, “Is my life becoming something different than I was before?”
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
To ask yourself, “If I say I’m a Christian, then why haven’t there been any changes in my life? Why hasn’t anybody noticed any changes? Why don’t I look any different than I did before?”
Unlike Pastor Jacob, I’m not into watching the Bachelor or Bachelorette. But I did read an article about the current season. Apparently
And if there’s no change, then we have a problem Houston. And maybe instead of getting offended, you need to step back and ask yourself, “If I say I’m a Christian, then why haven’t there been any changes in my life? Why hasn’t anybody noticed any changes? Why don’t I look any different than I did before?”
That would be a great question. And what I’d like to suggest, if nothing has changed, that maybe it’s because you haven’t fully devoted your life to the Lordship of Christ.
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Maybe you like the idea of being a Christian, but you haven’t made the commitment it takes to be one. Maybe you’re still holding on to bits and pieces of the old you.
Or maybe you haven’t fully surrendered your old life to Jesus and you’re still holding on to bits and pieces of the old you.
And maybe instead of just calling yourself a Christian, it’s time to let the old you die. Maybe it’s time to make a commitment
Acts 9:
And maybe instead of just calling yourself a Christian, it’s time to let the old you die. Maybe it’s time to make a commitment that results in a noticeable change in your life. Like the changes people saw in Saul’s life. Changes and evidences that validate your claim that you are a Christian. Changes that cause people to take a double take at your life and say, “Isn’t that??? Aren’t they??? What’s happened to them?
So, how do you do that? How do you test yourself?
So, where do you find people like that? Oh I don’t know, maybe at Church?
First, you begin by being honest with yourself. You step back, and you ask yourself some tough questions. Questions, like, “Does the title “Christian” match my lifestyle? Does it line up with what the Bible says a Christian is and does? Am I devoted to my Spiritual growth? Is there noticeable change in my life?”
Second, if there haven’t been, you need to ask yourself why? Why aren’t you devoted to your spiritual growth? Why haven’t there been any changes?
To ask yourself, “If I say I’m a Christian, then why haven’t there been any changes in my life? Why hasn’t anybody noticed any changes? Why don’t I look any different than I did before?”
That would be a great question. And what I’d like to suggest, if nothing has changed, that maybe it’s because you haven’t fully devoted your life to the Lordship of Christ.
Could it be you like the idea of being a Christian, but you haven’t made the commitment it takes to be one. Could it be you haven’t fully surrendered your life to the Lordship of Jesus. Could it be Maybe you’re still holding on to bits and pieces of the old you.
Third, if that’s the case, maybe it’s time to make some changes. Maybe it’s time to let the old you die. Maybe it’s time to make Jesus Lord of your life. Maybe it’s time to make a commitment that results in a noticeable change in your life. Like the changes people saw in Saul’s life. Changes and evidences that validate your claim that you are a Christian. Changes that cause people to take a double take at your life and say, “Isn’t that??? Aren’t they??? What’s happened to them?
Could it be because you haven’t made Jesus Lord of your life and you need to have a come to Jesus meeting? I don’t know?
Could it be you’re still holding onto pieces of the old you. Old habits. Old patterns. Unhealthy friendships? Parts of your old life?
And if you are, then maybe you need to ask the Holy Spirit to identify what those pieces are and what needs to change. Because that’s one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit. It’s his job to identify and convict us of our sin. That’s why I said, it’s not my job.
Let me give you an example of how this works:
Years ago I had pastor friend tell me a story about an unchurched couple that started coming to his church. And like all people who are unchruched, their lifestyle reflected it.
For instance, like many today, they weren’t married, but they were living together. In addition to that, the man owned a liquor store and on the weekends his girlfriend worked as a stripper. And now here they were, in my friends church.
And then the most amazing thing happened. Over the course of a few Sunday’s both the man and woman put their faith in Jesus, and my friend had the honor of leading them to faith in Jesus.
Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about. Not too long ago, a young woman in our church named Jacey Sherwood put her faith in Jesus. But Jacey quickly realized she needed help. So she sought out Jackie Creek, our Connections Pastor. And Jackie made a commitment to disciple her. So every week Jacey and Jackie meet together and go through studies together.
So, what did my friend do next? How did he help them take next steps? Well, Let me tell you what he didn’t do. He didn’t give them a list of do’s and dont’s. He didn’t bring up their living arrangement. He didn’t say, “Now that you’re a Christian...”
He just simply celebrated their decision and encouraged them to get baptized, which they did a couple weeks later.
And then something Biblical happened. Over the course of the next several weeks as they attended church, the Holy Spirit started working on this couple, and noticeable changes began to take place.
And once you do that, if you can get there, then all you have to do is repent. All you have to do
It started as the couple scheduled a meeting with the pastor.
They man started the meeting by saying, “Pastor, we’ve been talking. And we don’t think God wants us to keep living together unmarried. Would you be willing to marry us?”
At that point the woman jumped in and said, “And pastor, I’ve been praying, and I don’t think the Lord wants me to strip anymore. I don’t think that’s honoring to him.”
And at that point the man said, “And pastor, I’m considering different occupation as well. I’m not sure selling liquor is my life’s calling.”
You see, that’s how the Holy Spirit works. It’s his job to convict. It’s his job to point out what needs to change. And that doesn’t mean we can’t challenge one another or point out areas of concern too fellow beleiers. And we’re going to talk more about that next week.
What it means though is the Holy Spirit is really good at helping us not only identify what needs to change, but also in helping us make the change.
But for that to happen, you have to be honest, you have to be committed to change, and you have to be willing to ask tough questions like, “Holy Spirit what needs to change?”
So, as we close this morning, I simply close with one final question. And the question is this. If you call yourself a Christian, is there evidence in your life that would validate that claim? And if not, why not and what needs to change.
My prayer is that you’d be willing to ask the tough questions. That you’d be willing to ask yourself, “Since coming to faith in Jesus, am I different now?”
Are you going to keep living, pretending to be something you’re not. Or are you going to make a commitment to be something different. To become
Are you committed to spriitual growth and discipleship. And if so, does your lifestyle reflect that? Would people who have known you say, “Yup, there’s no doubt. They are a Christian. The evidence validates the claim.’
My point is, if you want to grow deeper, you have to be committed to that growth.
Let’s Pray
Acts 9:
19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.