Our summer series deals with the life and missionary trips of a man named Saul, better known as the Apostle Paul.
Once he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul's life forever changed.

Over the past few weeks, we've learned how Barnabas came to Tarsus to find Saul and bring him back to Antioch. Many Jews and even more Gentiles were coming to faith. Barnabas and Saul served for a year, helping to establish others in their faith.
Acts 11:25-26

Barnabas and Saul took a financial gift to the Christians who were in Jerusalem as a great famine had caused tremendous suffering in that region.
Last week we learned that Barnabas and Saul brought a young man back with them on the return trip. His name was John (Hebrew) Mark (Roman) and according to Colossians 4:10-11, John Mark was a cousin of Barnabas.

Saul's countdown to the beginning of God's mission for his life had reached zero. The countdown was over, the preparation was finished, it was time for liftoff. (Remember, Saul's mission is found in Acts 9:15)

What are some important tips to getting a good start at something?
Job? School? Marriage? Parenthood? Retirement? Hobby?

In Acts 13:1-12 we read of the first of Saul's 3 missionary movements that launched the Christian movement across planet earth. Antioch is the home base for each of these.

This morning we'll look at Saul's liftoff and find some observations that will help us today.

1. God PREPARES and RAISES up gifted individuals to lead His Church.

- The Christian Church began on the Day of Pentecost (50 days after Jesus died and rose again)
- The word translated "church" comes from 2 Greek words that together mean "called out from the world for God."
- The word church first appears in Matthew 16 when Jesus told Peter, "On this rock I will build my church."
- A person's connection to, attitude toward, and participation with God's Church is evidence of a true life change and a converted heart. 1 John 3:14
-In light of these truths, we look at Acts 13. Within the church at Antioch, we see 5 individuals mentioned. Of them, Barnabas was likely the most experienced leader.
- The Scriptures are very specific and clear as to the qualifications of those to lead within God's ministry. Here at Grace Church we follow Biblical principles in recognizing those who God has raised up and have proven character, competency, and commitment.

2. A healthy God-centered church is known by what it PRACTICES and PRIORITIZES.

- "In the church" (v. 1) doesn't necessarily mean a building but the community of believers that share life together and are mutually reliant on each other. Church is about interdependence.
- We see in the first 5 verses that the people were together, with recognized leaders, they were worshipping the Lord, fasting, listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance, obedience, mutual support, and the teaching and sharing of God's Word.
- At Grace Church, God has honored our commitment to Him for 30 years. We have a choice to make...do we just lean back and say "good enough"? Or do we say, "God it's not enough, we want more!"

3. God desires that we move from our COMFORT zone to His FAITH zone.

- We see Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark heading for the island of Cyprus.
Barnabas was from the island but hadn't been there in years, the other two had never been there. This was truly a cross-cultural experience for them.
- There are many things we could talk about regarding their traveling in the Mediterranean Sea, but here is one point we must grasp: God wants us to GO! They stepped away from what they knew to GO elsewhere because people needed Jesus.
- Sergius Paulus, the governor of the island, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the Word of God.
- Where will you GO?

4. God wants us to know that our OBEDIENCE will face OPPOSITION.

- In this passage, we see that the 3 encounter a wacked, weirdo, and witch type person. He is identified by two names: Bar-Jesus or "son of Joseph/Jesus" and Elymas which means "the enlightened one."
- He is a Jew, has been declared as a false prophet, his day job was a sorcerer, and he was struck blind.
- When we walk in the power of God's spirit, in community with God's people, and in obedience to God's will, the Lord will grant us discernment, the right words to say, and the right course of action.

5. God knows who WE ARE and who we are meant TO BE.

- There is a very subtle change that takes place in this passage. We see the name Saul in verses 1, 2, and 7. But in verse 9 we read, "Then Saul who was also called Paul" and from that point on, we never read of Saul again as he becomes known as Paul.
- When we begin to live as the person God created and saved us to be, our identity on earth and heaven is forever changed.