Oakwood Community Church

Share Your Story

1. Before Jesus

2. Meeting Jesus

3. After Jesus

Part 1 – Before Jesus

“My manner of life from my youth… according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.”
Acts 26:5

Part 1 – Before Jesus

• Empty Religion

“My manner of life from my youth… according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.”
Acts 26:5

Part 1 – Before Jesus

• Chaotic Violence

“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” Acts 26:9

Part 1 – Before Jesus

• Chaotic Violence

“I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”
Acts 26:11

Part 2 – Meeting Jesus

“I journeyed to Damascus… At midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun…”
Acts 26:12-13

Part 2 – Meeting Jesus

• Calling your Name

“When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying… ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’”
Acts 26:14

Part 2 – Meeting Jesus

• Confronting your Sin

“I said, ‘Who are you Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’” Acts 26:15

Part 2 – Meeting Jesus

• How did Jesus call your name?

• How did He confront your sin?

• How did He comfort you with grace?

Part 2 – Meeting Jesus

• Comforting you with Grace

“I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness… that they may receive forgiveness of sins…”
Acts 26:16,18

Part 3 – After Jesus

• Personal Relationship

“I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen in me.”
Acts 26:16

Part 3 – After Jesus

• Personal Relationship

“To appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen in me and to those in which I will appear to you.” Acts 26:16

Part 3 – After Jesus

• Peaceful Purpose

“I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness… I am sending you.” Acts 26:16-17

Part 3 – After Jesus

• Peaceful Purpose

“I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem…”
Acts 26:19-20

Part 3 – After Jesus

• Peaceful Purpose

“I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.”
Acts 26:17-18

Part 3 – After Jesus

• Peaceful Purpose

“That they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Acts 26:18

Paul’s Story:

• From empty religion to personal relationship

• From chaotic violence to peaceful purpose