God the Initiator

One of the great comforts we have as Christians is that our faith does not originate with us.  My salvation does not depend on my “performance” or even on my obedience.  This is a good thing because there are many days when I fall short and sin.  Thankfully, the ultimate antecedent of our faith is not us, but the Holy Spirit which God deposits into our hearts.  Ephesians 2 reminds us that it is by grace we are saved through faith, and this is not a product of our own works or effort.

Salvation is God’s work from beginning to end.  Jesus said in John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you.”  John wrote in 1 John 4:19: “We love because he [God] first loved us.”  Galatians 1:15 could be paraphrased: “Before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.”  All of these passages speak to God’s initiative in reaching down to us.  God makes the first move.  God is the initiator.  Religion is man trying to reach God.  Christianity is God reaching down to man.

This Sunday we consider how God acted to draw Saul (who later became Paul) to Jesus.  It’s the familiar story of Saul encountering Jesus through a blinding light on the road to Damascus found in Acts 9:1-19a.  How did Saul come to Jesus?  How did Saul convert from a man who sought to “seek and destroy” Christians to becoming one of them?  Discover four scenes found in Saul’s dramatic conversion that serve as a model and reflection for each of our own encounter with Jesus.

Traditional worship begins at 9:00 AM.  Contemporary worship begins at 10:45 AM.  Both services feature the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, an inspiring biblical message, heart felt worship, warm friends, and the healing presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst.  A nursery and Busy Bags are available for children.  Refreshments will be served between the services.  Prepare and purify yourself to be touched by God.  Please invite your family and friends to join us.  It’s going to be a great Sunday!