Podcasts about Tarsus

In Acts 11, ordinary, nameless believers—scattered by persecution—stepped into Antioch, crossed cultural lines, and preached the Lord Jesus to Hellenists, and “the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21, ESV). These were not apostles or platformed leaders, but faithful “them” whose obedience launched gospel advance from the third-largest city in the Roman Empire and birthed the very name “Christians.” This message confronts the lie that God only uses the gifted, the clean, or the famous: He delights to rest His hand on ordinary people who simply proclaim Christ with steadfast purpose. Whether you're in a hidden Tarsus season of waiting or feeling sidelined by past failure, the same sovereign Lord who used the scattered is at work in you—preparing, shaping, and ready to unleash fruitfulness for His glory.

Chapter 1 of Heroes in the Bible: Paul with Michael Chandler is inspired by the book of Acts. Paul vs. Jesus - Story Inspired by Acts 9 Saul of Tarsus was an unstoppable force. He was zealous and determined to end the Christian movement. But what happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable Rock of Ages? In this episode, inspired by Acts 9, Saul the Pharisee is awakened to the deity of Jesus… And history will never be the same. Hosted by world champion fighter Michael Chandler, each episode goes beyond the story to uncover the deeper meaning behind Paul's trials, victories, and inner battles. Drawing from his own life experiences as an elite athlete, competitor, husband, and man of faith, Chandler brings a rare perspective on discipline, sacrifice, endurance, and purpose. Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app. Sign up for Heroes in the Bible devotionals at https://www.heroesinthebible.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can A Person Change, Reinvent Themselves; Can A Leopard Change Its Spots? Through Christ...YES! Acts 9:26-30 New International Version Par ▾ Saul's Conversion 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. 26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, a but they tried to kill him. 30When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Packinghouse's Sunday morning worship service from July 11, 2026. Acts 9:1–19 — The Conversion of Saul In Acts 9, Pastor Greg examines the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus, showing how the greatest persecutor of the early church became one of Christ's greatest servants through a personal encounter with the risen Jesus. The message highlights God's power to transform even the hardest heart, reminding us that no one is beyond His grace and that our past does not disqualify us from His purposes. Through the courage of Ananias and Saul's complete surrender, the study emphasizes that God prepares each believer for a unique calling, often using life's hardships to shape us for future ministry. Ultimately, the passage encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus, trust Him with the direction of our lives, and faithfully step into the assignments He places before us. - Greg Opean - Sunday, July 12, 2026

Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin, the most defendant-protective court in the ancient world, a court that had just thrown out every one of its own protections to kill him. As the stones fell, Stephen did not cry out for vengeance. He cried out for forgiveness. That single prayer, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin,” marks the moment the new covenant broke the old cycle of compounding vengeance and introduced a gospel of extreme, unreasonable forgiveness. And watching over the coats of the men who killed him stood a young man named Saul, the very man that forgiveness would one day reach.

In this evening message from Acts 9:22-31, Pastor Rockhill traces the astonishing transformation of Saul of Tarsus, the church's fiercest enemy, into its boldest witness. Drawing on Galatians 1 to fill in the years of study in Arabia and Damascus, he shows how the man who once breathed threats against the disciples now confounds the Jews by proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. The persecutor has become the persecuted, hunted by the very council that once armed him. Pastor Rockhill highlights the sovereignty and providence of God at every turn. The Lord's own word to Ananias, that Saul was a chosen vessel appointed to suffer for Christ's name, governs the whole account, and it is God who exposes the murderous plots so that Saul escapes over the Damascus wall and later flees Jerusalem for Tarsus. Salvation and calling rest entirely on the Lord's purpose, not on human confirmation. A tender pastoral note falls on Barnabas, the son of encouragement, who dares to embrace and vouch for Saul when the frightened apostles hold back. Pastor Rockhill urges every believer to be, and to seek, such a friend in critical moments of faith. The sermon closes with Luke's summary that the churches, granted peace, were edified and multiplied. The central burden is that the gospel advances under persecution and prosperity alike, prospering wherever God's people remain faithful. Pastor Rockhill calls the congregation to that same boldness, going out into the world to proclaim Christ for the glory of God alone.

Life Changing: Saul The Persecutor Becomes Paul The Believer Acts 9:10-14 10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

Put yourself in the shoes of a man that knew of Saul of Tarsus, a person that persecuted the church of God, and God told this man to go see this persecutor! That would take a lot of courage! But being a disciple, an obedient follower of Christ, must involve courage of some level at some point.

The Face of an Angel Acts 6 by William Klock I hate doing administration stuff.  I'm really glad that John handles our finances so well and makes sure all our bills get paid.  I don't like filling out annual parish reports and get annoyed when I have fill out one for ACNA and another for the REC.  Why can't they just ask the same questions and share the information?  Our church register is stuffed with Post-It notes going back five or six years so I know what to enter in it whenever I eventually get around to sitting down to make all the entries for baptisms, deaths, weddings, membership, and all of that.  And I wonder if Peter had his own First Century Post-It note system for dealing with the dreaded admin work that was perpetually threatening to cut in on his preaching and praying.  Because that's what we come to in Acts 6.  The church has been growing quickly.  There's something like 5,000 Christians in Jerusalem.  We don't know how they were organised.  We know that the apostles and presumable some others regularly spent time in the temple.  But they met together in their homes.  Were they divided into what we might think of as “churches” or “parishes” with an apostle or two overseeing each—or maybe each apostle overseeing two or three groups?  We don't know.  But what we do know is that the twelve apostles were overseeing everything.  They were preaching, they were teaching, they were praying, they were pastoring, they were making sure everyone's needs were met.  And it got to be too much, even for twelve of them.  I get that.  I have a friend who pastors a Baptist church of about 950.  They figured out thirty years ago that they need one elder to every hundred people or so in order to pastor well.  In Acts we're talking at least 500 church members per apostle.  People started falling through the cracks and complaining.  Look at Acts 6.  [Page 1086 in the pew Bibles.] “Now, in those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the ‘Hellenists' raised a dispute with the ‘Hebrews' because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” As we've seen in Chapters 2 and 4, these first Christians were very aware that they belonged to a new family and they lived accordingly.  They were the beginnings of Gods new Israel.  The Spirit had filled them with love for each other—the kind of love that torah had always envisioned for the people of Israel—and so they began to live it out.  They fellowshipped with each other.  They shared meals together as Jesus' family and they shared with their brothers and sisters who were in need.  They weren't just overflowing with the love and mercy of Jesus; despite most of them having little, as a people they were overflowing with generosity and abundance. And there were plenty who were truly in need.  Widows would normally be looked after by their own family, but when people joined the church—just as in some parts of the world today—it meant being cut off from their families and the support they once had.  The church suddenly found itself providing for a large number of widows.  Maybe it was a language barrier or maybe it has something to do with social connections, but the Hellenists—the Greek-speaking widows—the ones who had come to Jerusalem from the great Jewish diaspora—they were falling through the cracks.  It surely wasn't deliberate.  It was growing pains.  The sheer scope of the church's charity work had become too much for the twelve to handle efficiently.  So the Greek-speaking members of the church take up their cause with the apostles.  The fact that their fellow “Hellenist' believers take up their cause with the apostles, suggests it was a language problem.  Maybe these widows didn't know how or when to ask for food or where to get it and there were simply so church members, that the apostles were no longer able to know the personal needs of everyone.  Whatever the case, the apostles realise they have to do something.  Luke goes on: “So the twelve called the full number of disciples together.  ‘Listen,' they said, ‘It wouldn't be right for us to leave the word of God to serve tables. So Brothers, choose seven men from amongst yourselves who are well spoken of and filled with the Spirit and wisdom.  We will put them in charge of what needs to be done in this matter.  We will continue to pay attention to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The apostles knew what their primary calling was.  It was to study and to teach and to preach the word and to pray.  Sure, they could do some other things.  But when those other things became so big that it meant taking significant time away from their ministry of the word and their time in prayer, well, it was time for the church as a whole to pick up the slack.  To sort of quote Paul: God gave some to be apostles and other to—well—to fill the other multitude of roles that need filling in the church.  Some are eyes and ears and mouths, others are hands and feet and finger and toes.  The body needs them all.  And this was common sense.  But it also—and I think Luke deliberately frames it this way—it had precedent in Israel's own story.  Think of Israel in the beginning, in the wilderness, just delivered from Egypt, and Moses trying to rule over a thousand and thousands of people and feeling totally overwhelmed.  Luke wants us to see the fledgling church as the new Israel and so he shows us the apostles in the position of Moses.  It's time to choose some well-respected men from amongst the people to help.  Verse 5: “The whole gathering was pleased with what they said.  They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a proselyte from Antioch).  They presented them before the apostles, and having prayed, they laid their hands on them.” It's worth noting: the seven names are Greek names.  One of these men was even a proselyte, meaning he was a gentile who had converted to Judaism and was now a Christian.  Presumably the seven were meant to serve the whole church, but the church chose seven men who were especially able to help with the problem at hand: the Greek-speaking widows.  So the church elects these men, brings them before the apostles for their approval, prays for them, and then it's the church that lays hands on them.  Now, almost every English translation says that it was the apostles that laid hands on these seven, but the Greek text doesn't really bear that out.  It says they, the church, elected the men and brought them to the apostles and there's absolutely nothing in the text that indicates a change of subject before Luke says that “they” laid hands on the men.  The church—probably a representative few—laid hands on the seven, not the apostles. And when we look at what was involved, it suggests even more that it was the church doing the laying on of hands.  There are several words in Hebrew that, in English, all get sort of generically translated as “to lay hands”, but the Hebrew behind the idea here, has the sense of pressing down on something—as if you're sharing or transferring something of yourself to another: your sins to a the scape goat, or the people of Irael “pressing down on” the Levites who will represent them and fill in for their firstborn sons, or Moses pressing his hands down on Joshua and making him his representative and successor.  Remember, the whole point of this is that the apostles knew “serving tables” wasn't their job.  Their job was word and prayer.  It was the job of the wider church to look after the welfare of each other and so it's appropriate that the church not only elects these seven men, but also “ordains” them, if you will. And what were the seven?  Traditionally we've called them deacons.  Deacon comes from the Greek word to serve—in this case to serve (διακονεῖν) tables, which is symbolic of making sure the widows get their charity.  But otherwise, what we see these men doing doesn't look all that much like what we see deacons doing later in the New Testament.  In fact, when the apostles talk about “serving tables”, there's a probably a word play there—“tables” is a banking or accounting term, not just a word for a literal table—that suggests that what these men were really doing was overseeing, administering the distribution of food and, more broadly, the resources of the church.  And if that was the case, they look a lot more like bishops.  I could be wrong, but what I would tentatively suggest, is that these seven men were the first men to be appointed to pastoral office in the church, before that role had split into bishops on the one hand and deacons on the other.  I think these guys were, more or less, both proto-deacons and proto-bishops.  And while their primary duty was to oversee the church's charity, the church chose them because they were full of the Spirit.  And in Acts, what that means is that they were bold and unafraid proclaimers of the good news about Jesus. So, writes Luke in verse 7, because of the apostles could now be devoted to the word to prayer and because these seven men were now ordained to ensure the church was being what the church is supposed to be, “The word of God increased and the number of disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly.  This included a large crowd of priests who became obedient to the faith.”  Brothers and Sisters, when the church—the people and the leaders—are boldly proclaiming the word of God and are diligent in prayer, God will multiply it.  We might miss it, but Luke makes the point: It's not us.  We don't grow the church.  It's God.  The power lies with him.  We need to trust his word and we need to proclaim it.  We need to pray and entrust our ministry to him.  Not gimmicks, not money, not all the other things churches often do to try to make themselves effective.  Just preach God's word and pray.  He'll bring fruit from it.  And be patient, because God works on his own schedule, not ours.  And, we might miss it: Luke makes a point of telling us a significant new step in the church's growth: now it's attracted a crowd of priests.  And that would not have gone unnoticed by the leaders of the temple.  Luke doesn't say anything here, but this means the Jewish leaders are getting more concerned, getting more angry, becoming more inclined to violent action. But, first, Stephen's story.  Look at verse 8: “Stephen was filled with grace and power and performed great signs and wonders amongst the people.  But some from the Freemen's Synagogue, as it was named, and from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia stood up and disputed with Stephen.  They could not, however resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.”  Stephen preached in the gospel in the synagogues.  And here's the thing.  Luke makes a point of saying that Stephen wasn't just full of power; he was also full of grace.  We've all heard people speak who are full of power, but are short on grace.  They can be jerks.  Maybe they're right, but just the way they speak makes people angry.  But that's not Stephen.  He's speaking with great grace.  But the folks listening still aren't having any of it.  Not that Palestinian Jews were any more receptive, but Luke kind of gives the sense that maybe these folks—they're all hellenised, diaspora Jews like Stephen—maybe they're overly defensive of their Jewish heritage because they feel deficient in some way for not being Palestinian Jews.  Whatever their motivation, they're angry with what he says and they get even angrier because they couldn't resist him.  And then they get even angrier—we've all seent his happen—they're even angrier, because he's not angry in response. He's full of grace  They couldn't refute what he was saying.  But rather than concede, they dig in and at that point there's only one thing left to do: they make false accusation of blasphemy.  Verse 11: “Then they put up men to say, ‘We heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.'  They aroused the people, the elders, and the scribes.  They set upon him, seized him, and took him in front of the assembly.  They set up false witnesses to say, ‘This man never stops speaking words against this holy place and the law.  We heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.'  Everyone who was sitting in the assembly looked hard at Stephen.  They all saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” It sounds a lot like the accusations against Jesus, when he was accused of saying he would destroy the temple and rebuilt it in three day.  Of course, yes, he said that, but his point was that God was doing something new, that God was about to fulfil his promises, and that God would establish a new temple in which he would come to dwell with his people.  But the Jewish elders didn't hear it that way, not because Jesus wasn't clear, but because they couldn't accept that God was fulfilling his promises through Jesus.  If Jesus was the Messiah, he was doing it all wrong, at least so far as they were concerned.  He couldn't be the one. And now exactly the same thing is happening to Stephen.  We don't have his words, but based on the false accusations against him as well as his defence that will follow in Chapter 7, we have a pretty good idea what he was saying and it was closely related to what Jesus had said.  Just like Jesus, just like Peter, just like the preaching we see through Acts, Stephen told the story of God and his people and how it leads to Jesus. There were four things that were all-important for the Jews and that marked out their identity.  There was the temple; the torah or law; the land of Israel itself and especially Jerusalem, where the temple was; and there was their ethnic identity as Jews—the sons and daughters of Abraham, delivered by God from Egypt when Moses led them through the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai.  Those things marked them out as God's people.  Those things marked them out as separated, as different from the pagan peoples and nations around them.  Compromise those things, and you'd be sliding down a slippery slope into the same idolatry that had got their ancestors exiled to Babylon.  So when Stephen spoke, as any of the Christians would have, about God establishing a new temple or about Jesus fulfilling torah, out came the angry charges of blasphemy. But those first Christians—just like Jesus—were never attacking the temple or the law.  The problem was that Israel—despite knowing her own story so well and so thoroughly—had forgotten where it was going and then failed to recognise how Jesus was bringing it to its climax.  When Jesus or when Peter or when Stephen said that God was doing a new thing, what people like the priests and the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, people like Saul of Tarsus heard was that these Jesus people were saying was the law and the temple were bad. What Stephen (like Jesus and Peter before him) was trying to say is that the word of God tells a story and that this story was moving forward and, as it moved forward, new things would happen.  This didn't mean that the old things that had happened were bad.  Just the opposite!  They were good.  They were necessary to get the story to the point it's at now.  Imagine you take a trip to Montreal.  First you drive your car to Nanaimo to get to the ferry, then you take the ferry to Horseshoe Bay, then you get off the ferry and get on a bus that takes you downtown, where you take SkyTrain to the airport, where you finally board an airplane that flies you across the country.  The fact that you left your car parked in Nanaimo to get on a ferry or that you left Skytrain to get on an airplane or even that you stopped travelling once you arrived in Montreal, none of that means that the car or the ferry or the bus or the airplane or even the trip itself was bad.  You couldn't get where you are without them!  And, just so, God gave Israel the law.  God gave Israel the temple.  And they were good things.  They were necessary things.  They were gracious things.  They were things that prepared the people for and brought them to the part of the story where Jesus became a part of it. But they tuned this part out.  Some modern Christians do the same.  I'm not sure where it comes from.  Maybe it comes from listening to Luther with only one ear.  But we get the idea that the old covenant was a bad thing.  People will get the wrong idea that the old covenant was about being saved by works and that's why Israel refused Jesus, who came to offer salvation by grace.  A thousand time, no.  If that's what Stephen had been saying, the Jews would have been right to be angry with him, because he would have been wrong.  The status of God's people has never been because of works; it has always been because of grace.  That's part of how the old covenant prepared people and led them to the part of the story where Jesus enters. Other times we just ignore God's story altogether and try to write our own.  But what's often even more dangerous is when we know God's story to a point, but then we lock it down and refuse to let him take it in a new direction.  We do that.  And that's what these folks mad at Stephen are doing.  Jesus just couldn't be where the story they knew was heading; instead, Jesus became a threat to their version of the story. And yet Stephen persisted.  Even as they dragged him before the Sanhedrin with a slate of false witnesses against him.  And think about that.  They're convinced they're in the right.  They're convinced that they represent God and everything that is good and right and true.  They think they're the heaven on earth people.  And yet what do that they do in response to his preaching?  They lie. By their actions they condemn themselves.  And in contrast stands Stephen.  For all his speaking with power, he's full of grace.  And as he stands before the Sanhedrim, as false witness after false witness testified against him, the Spirit, God, transforms—almost transfigures him—to the point that the whole assembly is left staring at him.  Luke says his face became like the face of an angel. As far as literal appearance, I don't know what that means.  But the important thing is that everyone recognised what was happening and in that moment, the Spirit revealed Stephen—and along with him the church—for what he, what they, what we really are: In that moment Stephen was revealed as the face of Jesus' heaven on earth people.  He was actively part of the church living out heaven on earth.  He was preaching the good news about Jesus and he is the fulfilment of God's promise to bring heaven and earth back together.  And in the middle of this controversy, in the middle of the false accusations, in the middle of these men who, despite all the evidence, were digging in their heels and refusing to accept the message about Jesus, refusing to let God lead the story they new so well in a new direction, God himself vindicated Stephen and made him a manifestation of heaven on earth.  Stephen was full of the Spirit, a little temple in miniature full of God's presence.  As if the shekinah—the cloud of glory visibly representing God's presence that had been missing from the temple ever since Israel's exile—suddenly became present with Stephen.  God announcing: “In this man, in this people, through my son, in this gospel I am fulfilling my promises.  Listen to him.” Brothers and Sisters, this should be a picture of us.  The bit where Stephen was transfigured and looked like an angel—whatever that means—that was unique.  But the rest of it, that ought to be us.  A people committed to be a covenant family, not just overflowing with talk of love and grace and mercy, but a family of people where love and grace and mercy are abundant in real, practical ways.  A family where we make a point of doing what needs doing to make sure that nothing gets in the way of that love and grace and mercy.  We ought to be a people of word and of prayer who are bold for the gospel, because we know that the power lies not with us, but with God.  His word, not ours, brings life.  His Spirit has the power to renew minds and regenerate hearts.  And so we pray, entrusting ourselves and our ministry to him and we proclaim not our word, but his.  We tell the story that leads the world to Jesus.  And if we're doing all these things, that word, that story will have power, but our telling of it will also be full of grace. The world, the flesh, and the devil will do their worst.  People will dig in their heels.  People will tell lies about us and about the story and the good news we proclaim.  People may even violently persecute us one day.  But remember: It's all of grace.  The story that leads us through the law and the prophets, through torah and temple, is all about the grace of God towards rebellious sinners, and so is the story that leads to forgiveness and life with God, the story that leads us to Jesus and the Spirit and eventually to the New Jerusalem.  Brothers and Sisters, it's all of grace.  Live the story of God's grace and the light of heaven will permeate the church.  Proclaim the story of God's grace, and that light will being to permeate the world. Let's pray: Lord, fill us with your grace.  And don't just fill us with it; ensure that we're ever and always overwhelmed by the knowledge and understanding of your grace, so that we will live it out in practical terms as your church and so that we will go out with boldness to proclaim your good news, not to win arguments, but make your grace known.  Through Jesus we pray.  Amen.

We dig into Acts 6:9, where we read the opposition against the disciples arose, and members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen - Jews of Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia began to argue with Stephen.     The "freedmen" had formerly been slaves but were now freed and had also become Roman citizens. They were frustrated that Stephen was proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus and in verse 10 we read that they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave Stephen as he spoke. Then they hatched a conspiracy against Stephen.    Ultimately Stephen is stoned (chapter 7) and In Acts 8:1 we read that Saul approved of their killing Stephen. The question is:  How did Saul get involved with the people of the Synagogue of the Freedman Why was he there when they orchestrated the attack on Stephen Why was he given the job of taking care of the coats as the others stoned Stephen   Going back to Acts 6:9 we see the province of Cilicia (southeastern Turkey) listed as one of the places that the Hellenistic Jews came from. We read in Acts 22:3-4 that Saul was brought up in the city of Tarsus in the province of Cilicia. Cilicia is where he grew up and he may have even been a member of the Synagogue of the Freedmen.    After Saul's conversion - after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus - About 20 years after Stephen's stoning, we read in Acts 9:29 that Saul moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. Saul talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.    So is it possible that Saul went back to the Synagogue of the Freedmen to the very place he may have been one of those questioning Stephen. Did Saul go back to this very synagogue to preach to the Hellenistic Jews, many who may have been friends and relatives.   Saul's heart had been changed in his conversion and he knew the power of the risen Lord Jesus. As a result he went back to meet with the very people who had killed Stephen and who now were ready to kill him. Saul knew that without Christ they were lost and so he put his life on the line. He would continue to that in the years that follow.   What an example for each of us, what a powerful testimony to our Lord Jesus Christ.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams       Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

The compelling story of Saul (Paul) of Tarsus & Simon (Peter) of Capernaum offers an opportunity to historically examine their fascinating lives and determine how they worked through their imperfections in order to do extraordinary things. June 29 is the annual Feast of the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul. Traditional Catholic Daily Devotional podcast at https://amzn.to/4xP3oSi Catholic Inspiration podcast at https://amzn.to/43Y3Y2L Books about Saint Peter at https://amzn.to/4c7U0RG Books about Saint Paul at https://amzn.to/4xSYoML ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's TIMELINE video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVine Mark's History of North America podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 X (twitter): https://twitter.com/MarkVinet_HNA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credits: Saint of the Day podcasts—29jun2025 Peter & Paul, 11apr2024 Martyrs Processus and Martinian Appian Way, 16jan2024 Chains relics of Peter, Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious and All-praised Twelve Apostles (Greek Orthodox Deacon Jerome Atherholt and Ancient Faith Radio); The Saint of the Day podcast (29jun2024 s2e364 Peter & Paul) Good Catholic and The Catholic Company; Traditional Catholic Daily Devotional (SSPX US District, Angelus Press) Ss. Peter & Paul June 29, 2025; Saint Of The Day podcast with Mike Roberts by Covenant Network (ourcatholicradio.org) 29jun2024 e54 Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul; Catholic Inspiration with Fr. Andrew Ricci—St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29, 2024) Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI. studyprayserve.com. Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 29, 2026Today's Reading: Matthew 16:13-19Daily Lectionary: Joshua 4:1-24; Acts 9:23-43“And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Peter and Paul. The “Prince of the Apostles” and the “Apostle to the Gentiles.” They both are great movers and shakers in the first generation of the New Testament Church—heroes of the faith. And we remember them with appreciation and thanksgiving, sometimes in our stained glass windows, or even with statues flanking the Risen Christ on some altars. It is good to remember them and give thanks.But is it the wisdom and skill of Simon and Saul? Did Simon Peter pass some exam with flying colors, giving Jesus the right answer? Did Saul of Tarsus suddenly realize he was wrong on the Road to Damascus, and shout, “My bad!” as he made up his own mind to start a new life? Here is a hint: even with the greatest saints, they could “not by [their] own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ [their] Lord, or come to Him.”The Father in heaven gave His Spirit to these men, that they might come to faith in Christ, and be great apostles to build the foundation of the Church. These two had a great many things in common. Peter raised Dorcas from the dead; Paul raised Eutychus. Peter was released from jail in Jerusalem by an angel; Paul by an angel in Philippi. Both preach to thousands, both Jew and Gentile, around the Roman Empire. And then, the last thing they shared in common: they both were martyred in Rome during Nero's persecution of Christians. Paul, as a Roman citizen, was given a swift, less torturous death by beheading. Peter, as merely a subject of the Empire, was crucified.Ah! But there is yet another thing in common. These two saints now rest from their labors, asleep in Jesus. And they are awaiting the Resurrection at the Last Day. The Resurrection foreshadowed in the empty tomb, and revealed to Peter in the Upper Room and at breakfast on the beach. The Resurrection was revealed to Paul when he was “knocked off his high horse” and saw and heard the Risen Christ on the Road to Damascus.The Gospel of this Resurrection is revealed to you, too. Through the Word of God delivered by these two saints (and so many others!), you have been blessed and are being prepared for the Resurrection.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We praise You for Saint Peter; We praise You for Saint Paul; They taught both Jew and Gentile That Christ is all in all. To cross and sword they yielded And saw Your kingdom come; O God, these two apostles Reached life through martyrdom. (LSB 518:19)Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

This powerful exploration of Acts chapter 9 by Assistant Pastor Dillon Meadway from Sunday, June 28th 2026 takes us on a journey through one of the most dramatic transformations in biblical history - the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. We're reminded that the same God who created the heavens and earth still works miracles today, and that no weapon formed against us shall prosper when we stand on the name of Jesus. The message challenges us to move beyond merely talking about surrender to actually living it out. Paul's encounter on the Damascus road wasn't just about believing - it was about complete transformation through baptism in Jesus' name and being filled with the Holy Ghost. We see that Ananias didn't offer Paul a simple prayer of salvation, but instead proclaimed the full gospel experience as demonstrated on the day of Pentecost. The critical insight here is that the power of the Holy Ghost is only as effective as the state of our surrender. We cannot hold onto our traditions, our comfort zones, or our own understanding if we truly want to experience the transformative power of God. This message calls us to examine whether our lives match our confessions, whether our actions align with our proclamations of faith, and whether we're willing to pay the price of true discipleship.

In this evening message from Acts 9:1-9, Pastor Rockhill traces the dramatic encounter of Saul of Tarsus with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. He sets the scene by showing how the martyrdom of Stephen unleashed a fierce persecution that scattered the church, and how Saul, breathing threats and murder, made it his consuming mission to eradicate the followers of the Way. Pastor Rockhill presents Saul as the unlikeliest of converts, a ruthless enemy of Christ whom many would have judged beyond the reach of the gospel. The central burden of the sermon is the sovereignty of God in salvation. Pastor Rockhill stresses that Saul was not seeking Jesus; rather, the Lord sought out and arrested His chosen enemy, revealing His glory in blinding light and equating persecution of the church with persecution of Himself. Here is grace shown to a man who deserved only judgment, and a calling to become a minister and witness to Jews and Gentiles alike. Pastor Rockhill carefully distinguishes what is common to every conversion from what was unique to Saul. All who are saved are by nature lost enemies whom God graciously calls, yet the bright lights and the visible appearance of Christ were tied to Saul's unique appointment as an apostle. Applying the text, Pastor Rockhill comforts believers whose conversions were quiet or gradual, warns against making Saul's experience the standard, and urges the congregation to bear faithful witness, trusting God to save even those thought unsavable.

Have a Social with the Saints! Receive encouragement for your daily life as we meet role model St. Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, apostle to the Gentiles and one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament. His powerful conversion sheds light on how those who oppose the Church may come to faith, through the Christian community's courage, hope, and prayer. Get a free quote card and pamphlet of St. Paul here. We invite you to share them with friends and family. We want to hear from you! What struck you about St. Paul? Please send us your feedback to ministry@pilgrimcenterofhope.org The official Socials with the Saints theme song is "Hero's Ascent" by Chris Haugen. Used with permission. We are so grateful to this month's sponsor, Mary Midkiff, who made this podcast episode possible. Thanks for listening, and remember, you are never alone in the communion of the saints! May God bless you. Help us spread hope!

Does your Christianity have a cross? Saul of Tarsus was chosen to suffer. But we shouldn't think he was unique in that. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." This is not a message that fills arenas with eager hearers. But many of us do long to be significant, perhaps even to be heroes. Jim will connect those dots with Part 2 of his sermon, Hero: Chosen to Suffer. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS06232026_0.mp3Scripture References: Acts 9:15-16

Paul moves from what he inherited to what he personally achieved. Listento what he says: "As to the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecutingthe church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." Thesewere not things that were given to Paul. These were things he worked hard toattain. If anyone could have earned a right standing before God throughreligion, dedication, and moral effort, it was Saul of Tarsus. First,notice that Paul said, "As to the law, a Pharisee." ThePharisees were the strictest religious group in Judaism. There were not many ofthem compared to the population of Israel, but they were highly respected fortheir devotion to the Law. The word Pharisee actually means "separatedone." They separated themselves from anything they believed would makethem spiritually unclean. They carefully studied the Scriptures, observedreligious traditions, and sought to obey every detail of the Law. SoPaul was not merely a religious man. He was a religious leader. In Acts 23:6,he boldly declared, "I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee." Hehad studied under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel according to Acts 22:3. Hepossessed the finest religious education available in his day. Yet with allthat learning and all that religious devotion, it could not save him. It ispossible to know the Bible intellectually and still not know Jesus Christpersonally. Many people today know Bible stories, memorize verses, and attendchurch regularly, yet they have never experienced the transforming grace ofGod. Knowledge alone cannot save. Secondly,Paul said, "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church." Thismight seem shocking to us. How could persecuting Christians be considered acredential? But before his conversion, Paul believed Christians were theenemies of God. He thought he was serving God by trying to destroy the church. Acts8:3 tells us that Saul made havoc of the church, entering houses and draggingmen and women off to prison. In Acts 9, he was on his way to Damascus withauthority to arrest believers when he met the risen Christ. In Acts 26:9-11,when he gave his testimony before Agrippa, he said: “I punished them oftenin every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme. Being exceedingly enragedagainst them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities." Paulwas sincere. He was passionate. He was committed. But he was sincerely wrong. Thisreminds us that sincerity alone is not enough because a person can be sincereand still be lost. A person can be passionate and still be mistaken. The mostimportant question is not how sincere we are. The important question is whetherour faith is based on the truth of Jesus Christ. Today, many people are zealousabout religion, politics, causes, traditions, or philosophies. But zeal withouttruth can lead us far from God. Paul had zeal, but he still needed a Savior. Third,Paul said, "Concerning the righteousness which is in the law,blameless." Notice he did not say sinless. He said blameless. In theeyes of the people around him, Paul lived an exemplary life. No one could pointto some scandalous sin and accuse him of hypocrisy. Outwardly, he appeared tobe everything a religious person should be. If Saul of Tarsus had lived in ourcommunity today, many churches would probably have wanted him to be a deacon, aSunday school teacher, an elder, or a ministry leader. Yet despite all hismorality and religious discipline, he was still lost. Thisis one of the most sobering truths in Scripture. Aperson can be religious and still need salvation. Remember, Jesus said inMatthew 7 that many will come to Him in that day and say, "Lord, Lord,have we not done many wonderful works in Your name?" And Jesus willsay to them, "Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity. I never knewyou." That is sobering. Are you sure—really sure—that you have beenborn again? We need the grace of God and salvation through Christ alone. 

Paul does something very interesting. He anticipates an argumentfrom the Judaizers. They might say, "Paul, you tell people not to trust inthe flesh because you do not have anything in the flesh worth trusting." SoPaul responds in verse 4: "Though I also might have confidence in theflesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I moreso." In other words, Paul is saying that if we are going to comparereligious credentials, family heritage, religious training, zeal, and outwardrighteousness, he can surpass them all. He is about toshow us that everything he once trusted in turned out to be worthless whencompared to knowing Jesus Christ. BeforeChrist saved him, Paul was known as Saul of Tarsus. He was highly educated,deeply religious, and respected by his peers. If anyone could have earnedheaven through religion, surely Saul would have been near the top of the list. Yetnotice what Paul says here. He does not say, “I used to have confidence in theflesh.” He says, “I might have confidence in the flesh.” In other words, ifsalvation could be earned by human effort, he would qualify. If anyone hadreason to trust in religious accomplishments, it was Paul. Thisreminds us of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. He came to Jesus with animpressive moral record. He had kept the commandments from his youth. Yetsomething was missing. He had religion, but he did not have Jesus Christ. Manypeople today are just like that rich young ruler. I am concerned about everyonewho listens to this chat because sometimes we trust in our church membership,our baptism, our confirmation, our giving, or our efforts to be a good person.Maybe we trust in the fact that we were raised in a Christian home. Yet none ofthese things can save a person. TheJudaizers believed that faith in Christ was not enough. They insisted that aperson must also keep the Jewish laws and rituals. Paul says, “If that is true,then I win the contest.” But as we will see in the coming verses, Pauldiscovered something that changed his life forever. All those religiousaccomplishments and achievements could never remove a single sin. They couldnever give him peace with God. They could never make him righteous before aholy God. Isaiah 64:6 reminds us: "But we are all like an unclean thing,and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Noticethat Isaiah does not say our sins are filthy rags. He says our righteousnessesare filthy rags. Even the very best we can offer God falls short of His perfectstandard. That is why salvation is by grace alone through faith alone.Ephesians 2:8-9 makes this clear: "For by grace you have been savedthrough faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works,lest anyone should boast." The problem with trusting in the flesh isthat the flesh always gives us something to boast about other than Jesus. If Itrust my goodness, I boast in myself. If I trust my religion, I boast inmyself. If I trust my accomplishments, I boast in myself. But when I trust inChrist alone, all the glory belongs to Jesus. Paul'stestimony reminds us that a person can be sincere and still be lost. He can bereligious and still be lost. He can be moral and still be lost. He can knowScripture and still be lost. The issue is not whether we have religion. Theissue is whether we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. As we continuestudying this passage, Paul is going to take us through his impressivereligious résumé. Then he is going to show us why he gladly threw it all awayfor the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ. What a testimony! Solet me ask you today: What are you trusting in? Are you trusting in somethingyou have done? Or are you trusting completely in Jesus Christ and in Him alone?I pray, my friend, that your trust is in Christ and Christ alone. Remember,true believers worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have noconfidence in the flesh.

Send us Fan MailEncouragement can sound like a personality trait until you watch it reshape the Church. Saint Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement, shows up in the Acts of the Apostles as the kind of disciple who doesn't just feel compassion, he puts it to work. We walk through his story as a Catholic saint who lives “faith in action” through concrete choices: selling his field, strengthening struggling believers, and stepping into tense moments where unity could have collapsed.One of the most gripping scenes is Barnabas welcoming Saul of Tarsus after Saul's conversion, when the community's fear is understandable and the stakes are high. We talk about discernment, holy accompaniment, and what it means to bet on grace without being reckless. If you've ever struggled to trust someone's change, or wondered how to support a new convert, Barnabas offers a clear model of courage that protects the Church while still making room for God to surprise us.From there we move to Antioch, where Barnabas encourages Gentile believers to remain faithful with steadfast purpose and helps form a community shaped by prayer, teaching, shared life, and care for the poor. His partnership with Saint Paul becomes a lesson in collaboration and evangelization, reminding us that missionary discipleship is never a solo act. If you're craving spiritual encouragement, practical Catholic living, and a renewed sense of mission, this journey with Saint Barnabas will give you concrete next steps. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review. Where could you be a Barnabas this week?Open by Steve Bailey Support the showJourneys of Faith brings you Super Saints PodcastsChat with US 24/7 Ask us anything https://chatting.page/mjxs9aerrtgm3lmpndlcepmbyosntrjnDownload Journeys of Faith App for Iphone or Android FREE https://journeysoffaith.com/pages/download-our-appPlease consider subscribing to this podcast or making a donation to Journeys of Faith Help us Grow!Journeys of Faith is blessed to provide Catholic media, including podcasts and inspirational content, free of charge across multiple media platforms for viewers and listeners around the world. While access to this content remains free, there are significant and continually increasing costs associated with producing, hosting, and distributing these programs. Your support helps us continue sharing the beauty of the Catholic faith with souls everywhere. We want to reach more souls and you can help us do that by becoming a Mission Angel. Make a Donation Any AmountRefer a FriendYou can help us ...

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 11th of June, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Book of Acts 22:7: ”And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.” The power of testimony! I think, without a doubt, it's the greatest miracle ever. There's a transformation of a person completely dedicated to killing Christians and putting an end to Christianity, then in the space of one moment, became the greatest ambassador on earth, apart from Jesus Christ Himself, for the Gospel. His name? Yes, Saul of Tarsus. Once he was converted, he became Paul the Apostle. He wrote two-thirds of this very book that I am reading to you at this moment. It's incredible, a one hundred and eighty-degree turnaround. Oh Jesus we love You! In a clear sky, in the middle of the day, none of the others around him knew what was happening, and the Lord knocked him off his horse or whatever he was riding and said to him, ”Why are you persecuting Me.” “Who are You Lord?” “I am Jesus of Nazareth.” Oh folks, I've seen it so many times. You can't explain it. The wonderful thing about a testimony is that you can agree to believe it or you can disagree, but you cannot argue about it because you weren't there, and that was the case with Paul when he was converted in an instant, on the road to Damascus, where he was going to persecute God's people.Today, I want to say to that young lady that is so desperate for her husband to come to Christ. I want to say to that old mother who has been praying for her son for many years, I want to say to that young child who is desperately hoping that mom and dad will come to Christ, continue to trust the Lord and pray, and God will answer your request, without a doubt. I've seen it too many times in my own life. Bringing men to a Mighty Men Conference, who didn't even know they were going there - they thought they were going on a fishing trip. Three friends put him in the car, and there were four of them, and they drove, and as they came onto the land where the event was taking place, the man started weeping, and they said, ”Why are you crying?” He said, ”I don't know.” And that was the conversion of a man from the world into the Kingdom of God.Let us keep on for Jesus.God bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 9th of June, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Acts 22:1-3: “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.” He had to convince the people he was one of them before he met Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Paul used his background and his heritage to convince the mob and to try and win them over. You and I need to do that. Don't take your background lightly. If you come from a certain people group and you are trying to convince people in that group to turn to Jesus, tell them where you come from. Tell them what you did. Paul told them he was taught by the great teacher, Gamaliel. Now, if we look at Gamaliel in Acts 5:38-39, we will see that this man was a great teacher of the law and obviously a man of God. He says: "And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” Now, that is good counsel. Now, when you want to go to the doctor, the first thing you find out is, who is this man or woman? Where did they study? What reputation do they have? Have they got a good name? Yes, they have helped many people, then you feel secure. It might also be that if you want to find out something very important about the word of God, you don't just go to anybody. You must find a person who has walked the road, knows what he is talking about before you start to trust him. That is exactly what Paul was doing with the mob. He was trying to show them that he was not somebody who had just arrived, he is a man of standing, he has a good reputation, comes from a good background, a good home and has also been taught by the best.Today, go out and use every opportunity and qualification that you have to bring people to Jesus.God bless you and have a wonderful day.Goodbye.

Rick Lee gives a firsthand look at Saul of Tarsus, a new video game inspired by one of Scripture's most powerful stories of transformation. Today, on the 700 Club Interactive.

Rick Lee gives a firsthand look at Saul of Tarsus, a new video game inspired by one of Scripture's most powerful stories of transformation. Today, on the 700 Club Interactive.

Rick Lee gives a firsthand look at Saul of Tarsus, a new video game inspired by one of Scripture's most powerful stories of transformation. Today, on the 700 Club Interactive.

Rick Lee gives a firsthand look at Saul of Tarsus, a new video game inspired by one of Scripture's most powerful stories of transformation. Today, on the 700 Club Interactive.

Rick Lee gives a firsthand look at Saul of Tarsus, a new video game inspired by one of Scripture's most powerful stories of transformation. Today, on the 700 Club Interactive.

Rick Lee gives a firsthand look at Saul of Tarsus, a new video game inspired by one of Scripture's most powerful stories of transformation. Today, on the 700 Club Interactive.

Rick Lee gives a firsthand look at Saul of Tarsus, a new video game inspired by one of Scripture's most powerful stories of transformation. Today, on the 700 Club Interactive.

Rick Lee gives a firsthand look at Saul of Tarsus, a new video game inspired by one of Scripture's most powerful stories of transformation. Today, on the 700 Club Interactive.

Rick Lee gives a firsthand look at Saul of Tarsus, a new video game inspired by one of Scripture's most powerful stories of transformation. Today, on the 700 Club Interactive.

A few weeks back, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa made the decision to spend a bit more time on the last few weeks of regular readings, which included a “double-portion,” separately. Hopefully you saw why that was important. So, this week, we’ll continue to catch up, with a bit more than parsha ‘Naso,’ (Numbers 4:22 through chapter 7) and continue through a section in chapter 10 that seems to fit well. The reading for parsha Naso begins with the remainder of the duties of the tribe of Gershon, and then summarizes the ‘census’ of the Levites, after which the narrative changes, and we again see that those who were “unclean” – for several reasons – were to be “put out,” or “shalach” in the Hebrew, a word we’ve seen before – of the camp. And that is followed up by descriptions of two other ‘processes,’ described in detail, which seem utterly foreign to most of ‘the sun-day church’ today. https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SSM-6-5-26-Naso-plus-thru-ch-10-teaching-podcast-xx.mp3 The Sabbath Day midrash this week begins with a question: What is it about those two, apparently very different, situations, and thus processes, the connects them? And why do they follow immediately after the commandment to “shalach” or put out of the camp, the “unclean?” The process outlined for the “sota” – or the woman whose husband suspects adultery, but has no proof – is said to be the ONLY one of its kind in Scripture, where YHVH actually PROMISES a miracle, one way or another. It’s also misunderstood and mis-taught (witness most of the twisting you’ve probably heard about ‘Jesus and the Woman CAUGHT in adultery’) and yet still at the very heart of so many of the most important events in all of human history! Why does the ‘whore church’ then ignore the real lesson? And that is followed-up immediately by the process surrounding the ‘Nazerite vow.’ Samson was said to be one “from his mother’s womb,’ as perhaps John the Baptist may have been as well. But Shaul, aka “Paul of Tarsus” notably TOOK such a vow, after he came to know Yahushua, notably, and yet most of xtianity has NEVER heard that! For reasons that Mark says, as the discussion unfolds, are obvious now. “Naso-plus: “Put out” the Unclean – but then Other Ignored Commandments That Speak VOLUMES about what we have been MIS-taught” https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WT-CooH-6-6-26-Naso-plus-thru-ch-10-Shalach-the-unclean-the-Sota-the-Nazerite-and-HOW-MUCH-MORE-so-Es-QQQ-podcast-xxx.mp3 Service information: Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship worship services and teachings are broadcast live every Sabbath, via Paltalk. (www.paltalk.com has both the link, and the app.) The “room name” is “Walking Torah with Shabbat Shalom Mesa,” and can be found via the paltalk search, then bookmarked. Erev Shabbat services begin at 7:00 PM Mountain Time Friday evenings (9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central) Live Sabbath teachings begin shortly after 11 AM Mountain time on Sabbath day (Saturday). email: mark@markniwot.com The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:

This powerful exploration of Romans 15 challenges us to consider our role in God's grand mission. We discover Paul commending the Roman church for three remarkable qualities: they were full of goodness toward one another, filled with knowledge of God's truth, and able to instruct each other in wisdom. This presents a beautiful picture of what mature Christian community looks like - not dependent on leaders for every spiritual question, but equipped to counsel and encourage one another through life's challenges. The message reveals Paul's unique calling as a pioneer apostle, someone hardwired by God to lay foundations where Christ had never been named. What's striking is Paul's humility - he boasts only in what Christ accomplished through him, not in his own abilities. This leads us to a profound truth: God set Paul apart before he was born, transforming the chief persecutor of Christians into the greatest missionary the church has known. If God can radically redirect someone like Saul of Tarsus, He can work in any of our lives. The practical application becomes clear when we see Hope Church's mission efforts - nearly a million dollars given to local, national, and global ministries in just over four years. We're reminded that some are called to go as pioneers into new territory, while the rest of us are called to support, encourage, and send them with more than just thoughts and prayers. The harvest is ripe, and whether we're called to plant churches in unreached areas or to faithfully support those who do, we all have a part in God's mission to reach the world.**Detailed Notes**• **Context – Romans 15:14–21, 22–33**   – Paul is closing the letter, affirming the maturity of the Roman church and explaining his ministry calling and travel plans.   – The sermon framed two big sections: (1) Practical church life, (2) Partnership in mission.---### I. A Mature Church (v.14)1. **Full of goodness**    – Uprightness of heart and life; gracious toward one another.  2. **Filled with knowledge**    – Deep, growing understanding of the faith (grace + truth).  3. **Able to instruct one another**    – Mutual counsel, not clergy‑only; Col 3:12–17 – teaching, admonishing, worshiping together.    – Sunday gatherings align us for mission; the church body does the “work of ministry” all week.---### II. Paul the Priest (v.15–16)• “Priestly service of the gospel” – not Old Testament sacrifice, but **offering Gentile converts to God**.  • Every believer is part of a **“royal priesthood”** (1 Pet 2:9): servants of the King who bring people to Him.---### III. Paul the Preacher (v.17–19)• Paul “proud” only in what **Christ accomplished through him**.  • Ministry must be:   – Empowered by the **Spirit**, not human skill alone.   – Dependent: “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  • Hudson Taylor: “God's will done God's way brings God's provision.”   – Faith often feels impossible → difficult → done.---### IV. Paul the Pioneer (v.20–21)• Ambition: preach **where Christ is not named**, lay new foundations, then move on.  • God had **set Paul apart before he was born** (Gal 1:15–16), transforming a persecutor into an apostle.  • Some believers are similarly marked for pioneering ministry; they are miserable doing anything else.---### V. Partnership in Mission (v.22–33)• Paul longs to see Rome, then go to Spain, expecting their **help on his journey** (support).  • Model of **local → national → global** mission:   – Local ministries (kids, recovery, crisis pregnancy, etc.).   – National church planting.   – Global works (schools, long‑term missionaries).  • The “5%” go; the “95%” **strive with them** in prayer, practical care, and financial support.---## Practical Applications1. **Grow into maturity**    – Pursue goodness, biblical knowledge, and the ability to counsel others. Join and contribute to a group.  2. **Own your priesthood**    – See people you share Christ with as your “offering” to God. Pray for one person to pursue this week.  3. **Rely on the Spirit**    – Before serving, consciously ask the Spirit to lead; reject self‑reliance.  4. **Discern your calling**    – If you feel “marked” for ministry or missions, don't ignore the burn; seek wise counsel and take next steps.  5. **Support those who go**    – Pray by name for missionaries; give sacrificially; look for “root beer”–type ways to encourage them.---## Discussion Questions1. Which of Paul's three commendations (goodness, knowledge, ability to instruct) do you see most and least in your own life?  2. How does viewing yourself as part of a “royal priesthood” change your view of everyday life and work?  3. Where have you been tempted to rely on your own ability instead of the Holy Spirit? What might dependence look like this week?  4. Do you sense any specific calling from God (vocational ministry, missions, church planting, or something else)? How are you responding?  5. As a group, what concrete step can you take to better partner with those “on the field” locally, nationally, or globally?

Paul's testimony is one of the greatest encouragements in the entire word of God, because Paul is not presented to us as a man who had no past. He is presented as a man with a terrible past, a religious past, a violent past, a Christ-rejecting past — and yet a man who found mercy in Jesus Christ. That is what makes Paul's testimony so powerful. He was not merely a sinner who lived carelessly in the world. He was a sinner who sinned while thinking he was serving God. He was religious, zealous, educated, separated, serious, and completely wrong. Saul of Tarsus had Bible, religion, tradition, authority, and zeal — but he did not have Jesus Christ.“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJB)Paul never forgot what he was when Jesus Christ found him. He was not looking for the Lord. He was not seeking truth. He was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. When Paul says he was “the least of the apostles,” he is not denying his apostleship. He is remembering the mercy that made him an apostle. He knew he was called by the risen Christ, but he also knew he had once persecuted the church of God. This is why he calls himself the "least of all saints", and the "chief of sinners". Paul's authority was real. His calling was real. His office was real. But none of it produced pride in him, because grace always points back to the One who gave it. If God can do all that that through Paul, he can do it through you, too. If you are discouraged today, this message will give you a real hope that God can give you a better future.

Send us Fan MailIf you've ever heard someone say, “Yes, you're saved by grace, but you stay saved by obedience,” we slow that claim down and test it against Romans 1:5. We keep coming back to Paul's phrase “obedience to the faith” and ask what kind of obedience the gospel actually demands. Is it commandment keeping as a condition for justification, or is it the ongoing posture of trusting Christ's finished work?We also zoom out to the mission behind Romans. Paul writes to the epicenter of the ancient world, a place where the nations converge, and we connect that to why the gospel is meant to spread rapidly and publicly. Along the way we talk about Paul's background in Tarsus, his readiness to engage competing philosophies, and how God's providence shapes a messenger for a global message.Then we hit the nerve: the one “missing piece” many people never name clearly, imputed righteousness. If God's standard is perfection, and if one stumble makes us guilty of the whole law, then “additional obedience” cannot repair guilt or complete salvation. We walk through why Christ's obedience is counted as ours, why Galatians says righteousness cannot come through the law, and why mixing grace with merit doesn't strengthen Christianity, it replaces it.If this conversation sharpens your assurance or challenges your assumptions, subscribe, share this with a friend who needs clarity on faith and works, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you're still thinking about.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Have you ever felt you or someone you know was too far gone for forgiveness? That's how most viewed Saul of Tarsus before Jesus stopped him on the road to Damascus. Walk with us through Acts 9 and the moment a murderer became a martyr, showing that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don't read anywhere in the New Testament that Jesus or the Apostles engaged in ‘spiritual warfare', binding demons BEFORE they could minister freely somewhere. Talking to our Heavenly Father, yes. Seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, yes. Because, through Jesus, by the Spirit we have DIRECT access to the Father - Eph 2:18! The promise of the Father is that when we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive power to become Christ's witnesses, anywhere on earth, wherever He calls us - Acts 1:4-5,8! It's simple. Paul, writing the believers in the pagan city of Corinth, said, 1 Cor 2:ff, “When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” That's a powerful statement! I'm sorry to say that today our preachers preach all sorts of things that I would question.  But Paul is very simple. Though he was a highly educated Jew with Roman citizenship from the city of Tarsus in Asia Minor, though he was a Pharisee, trained to a very high degree in Jewish Scripture, theology, teachings and traditions, and equipped with much ‘eloquence and superior wisdom' from his studies in Jerusalem - when he came to these Corinthians, he came very simply, resolved to know and preach nothing else, but Christ and His Crucifixion.

If you think you have troubles, consider what happened to Jonah when he rebelled against God. Listen to this message to learn the details of the events that occurred when Jonah went to Joppa and got on a ship to Tarsus, including a massive storm that almost drowned all the sailors until they threw Jonah overboard. Learn about the great fish God had prepared that swallowed him and how God preserved him in the fish's belly and returned him to Israel. Like Jonah, every believer has to choose daily if he will obey God's will or run to escape it.

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:12–13 NLT) Saul of Tarsus, who later became the apostle Paul, had a ravenous hunger for knowledge, especially as it pertained to Judaism, and an unquenchable desire to be as devout as possible in his Jewish faith. As a Pharisee, he rose to a position of influence among the Jewish leaders, possibly even becoming a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, which was like the Supreme Court of its day. With this honor, Saul enjoyed great fame and influence. However, it could be said that Saul was both famous and, ultimately, infamous. He showed the depths of his rigid devotion to Judaism when he sensed a threat to its dominance. He seems to have instinctively recognized that the followers of the Nazarene known as Jesus were dangerous. So dangerous, in fact, that Saul convinced himself that they needed to be wiped off the face of the earth. He made it his mission in life to hunt them down and make them suffer for their faith in Christ. But he didn’t stop with the Christians who were in his immediate jurisdiction. He asked for and received extradition papers from the high priest so that he could take his campaign of persecution on the road. He set out for Damascus, which was 140 miles from Jerusalem. The journey was arduous, but Saul would not be deterred. He was so filled with hatred that he was willing to go anywhere to find Christians and stop them. He later wrote that he did this ignorantly in unbelief (see 1 Timothy 1:12–13). Many people, believers and unbelievers alike, have a hard time understanding how a religious person can also be a hateful person. But the unfortunate reality is that some people who claim to be devout act in mean and cruel ways. They use their religion to belittle and destroy others. That was certainly the case with Saul. Christians who fall into this trap can be dangerous to the cause of Christ. They can also cause great frustration for their fellow believers whose own ministry efforts are undermined or hindered by their un-Christlike behavior. As Vance Havner pointed out, “If we are too busy using our sickles on one another, we’re going to miss the harvest.” As Christians, we need to travel light in our relationship with other believers. We need to show love, encouragement, and support. We need to let go of anger, competitiveness, and illusions of moral superiority. We need to embrace a spirit of humility and grace so that we can accomplish all that God has for us to do. Saul certainly learned that lesson. Years later he wrote, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith” (Galatians 6:10 NLT). Jesus put it even more succinctly: “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NLT). Reflection question: What does showing love for fellow believers look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Strauss introduces Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt and member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which turned Egyptinto a Mediterranean "gold mine." She was a "tough player" who survived deadly dynastic intrigues to secure her throne. Her spectacular entry at Tarsus on a perfumed barge wowed Antony, establishing a partnership built on both romance and finance. Egypt served as a vital treasury for Antony's ambitions, as the Romans had long viewed the country as a bank. A key political asset was her son, Caesarion, whom she claimed was the son of Julius Caesar—a direct threat to Octavian's legitimacy. Strauss highlights Cleopatra's intelligence through the story of her dissolving a pearl in vinegar to host the world's most expensive dinner. While Roman propaganda painted Alexandria as "effeminate" and "comic," it was actually the scientific and cultural capital of the ancient world. (2/8)1572 CONSTANTINOPLE

In this sermon Tony takes us deeper into the story of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. There are amazing realities about ourselves and Jesus that we can learn in this story. 

“Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.” (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NLT) Here’s something amazing to think about. Saul, who would later become the apostle Paul, was doing the work of God’s kingdom before he was even in it. Remember, Saul was one of the early enemies of the Christian faith. He zealously persecuted believers, which led many to flee their homes and move to distant lands—taking the gospel with them. Had Saul not been so relentless in his persecution of the church, I think the first-century Christians probably would have been content to stay in their little holy huddle in Jerusalem and never leave town. After all, their situation was almost ideal. God had blessed their evangelism efforts in the city, so there were believers all around. They had no need to leave Jerusalem. But because of Saul’s persecution, Christians were forced to spread out. They took the Good News of Jesus to places where it may not have gone otherwise, or at least not as quickly as it did. Eventually, of course, Saul stopped persecuting believers and became a believer himself. And I think the person who might have had the greatest influence in bringing about his conversion was Stephen, the church’s first martyr. I believe it could have been Stephen’s bold testimony that threw fuel on Saul’s fire because Saul was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Stephen didn’t have a long ministry. He never wrote a book of the New Testament. But if his only convert was Saul of Tarsus, then his ministry was profoundly successful. The same goes for your Christian ministry. You may not reach millions with the gospel. You may not reach thousands. You may not reach hundreds. But you may be the person whom God uses to reach someone who will, in turn, change the world. Or it may be a child you raised in the way of the Lord who reaches someone else, who talks to someone else, and eventually shares the gospel with someone like Saul. So, here’s what you need to realize: It’s not over until it’s over. Ecclesiastes 11:6 says, “Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both” (NLT). You don’t have to know what your spiritual work will yield. All you have to do is seize every opportunity that’s presented to you. That’s the takeaway from the story of Saul and Stephen. As believers, we need to be faithful in sowing the seed of the Word of God, because we don’t know where that seed will go—in this life, in the next generation, or in the generation after that. We sow the seed; God takes it from there. Reflection question: What would sowing the seed of the Word of God look like in your life right now? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.” (Acts 26:9–11 NLT) Every person in your life who doesn’t know Christ represents a spiritual opportunity for you. If you’re like most people, you probably have some acquaintances who seem as though they would be receptive to the gospel message. It takes no great stretch of the imagination to picture them as fellow believers, worshipping and serving the Lord alongside you. On the other hand, you probably have other acquaintances who seem so far from God—whose lives are so broken and whose priorities are so mixed up—that you’re tempted to write them off as lost causes. If that’s the case, God’s Word has a message for you: don’t. Don’t fall into the devil’s trap of believing that certain people are beyond God’s reach. The reality is that no one who draws breath is beyond redemption. In Acts 26:9–11, the apostle Paul describes one of the most amazing conversions of all time—a conversion so unlikely that even Jesus’ disciples didn’t think it was possible. He’s describing, of course, his own conversion. “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities” (NLT). When he was known as Saul of Tarsus, Paul was one of the most radical antagonists of the early church. It was Saul who presided over the death of Stephen, the first martyr of the church who courageously stood up for his faith. It was Saul who went out of his way to hunt down Christians, imprison them, and even destroy them. This man was bent on the eradication of the Christian faith. Yet God saved him and changed his life beyond recognition. That’s the power of the gospel. If you know an antagonistic person, someone who seems to go out of their way to make your life miserable, someone who’s always trying to stump you with a hard question, it just may be that they’re closer to the kingdom of God than you realize. Sometimes the people who attack the most or resist the hardest are under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Their lashing out is the last struggle of their old self. They may be closer to conversion than you realize. No one is beyond the reach of God. Reflection question: How can you reach out to someone who seems unreachable? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was born in Tarsus (home of the Apostle Paul). Though her parents were prominent pagans, she heard of Christ from Christians in that city, and her heart was filled with love for the Savior. The Emperor Diocletian visited Tarsus, and during his stay the Emperor's son and heir fell in love with Pelagia and wished to marry her. To her parents' complete amazement, Pelagia replied that she was already promised to her betrothed, Christ the Lord. She then fled her parents' house and went to the holy Bishop Linus, who instructed her in the Faith and baptized her. Pelagia then gave away all her many possessions, returned home, and told her parents that she was baptised. The Emperor's son, despairing of marryng her, killed himself. Pelagia's mother then denounced her daughter to the Emperor, who summoned her for trial. When Pelagia freely confessed her unwavering faith in Christ, the Emperor condemned her to be burned in a metal ox heated by fire. An account of her martyrdom says that, entering the ox with prayers of thanksgiving on her lips, she instantly melted like wax. Bishop Linus, who had baptised her, found a few of her bones and buried them on a hill near Tarsus. During the reign of the Emperor Constantine Copronymus (741-775), a church was built there in her honor.

This powerful message confronts us with the radical transformation of Saul of Tarsus, a man so consumed with hatred for Christians that he actively sought their destruction. We encounter the concept of a 'holy invasion'... those moments when God breaks into our lives uninvited, disrupting our plans and exposing our need for change.Just as a doctor's uncomfortable diagnosis can save our physical lives, God's intervention in our spiritual lives, though sometimes jarring, is an act of profound love. The striking account from Acts 9 reveals that no one is beyond redemption.

Who have you decided is "too far gone"? We all have that person in our lives—the one whose heart seems too hard, whose past seems too dark, or whose skepticism seems too deep for God to reach. But what if the reach of Jesus is longer than your resistance?In this powerful installment of our Unstoppable series, Pastor Talaat McNeely dives into Acts chapter 9 to explore one of the most radical transformations in history: the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.Whether you're running at full speed in the wrong direction, feeling stuck in a "waiting room" of life, or being nudged to reach out to someone "unreachable," this message is a reminder that God's grace doesn't stop where our limitations begin. Discover how divine interruptions lead to radical redirection and why no one is ever truly beyond the reach of the King.What You'll Learn In This Episode:The Power of Divine Interruption: Why Jesus meets us at our highest point of hostility, not just our lowest point of need.Breaking the "Certainty" Trap: How religious pride and self-sufficiency can be the biggest barriers to God's work in our lives.The Grace of the "Waiting Room": Why God sometimes uses seasons of "blindness" and stillness to prepare us for our greatest assignments.The Ananias Assignment: How ordinary obedience becomes the bridge for someone else's breakthrough.Episode Timestamps (Estimated Progression)[00:00] – Introduction: The "Too Far Gone" Question. Exploring why we often box God in based on our own limitations and the people we've quietly concluded will never change. [08:15] – The Hostility of Saul. Understanding the man before the miracle: a religious leader breathing threats and moving with legal authority against the church. [12:30] – Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1–22.[15:45] – Principle 1: When Jesus Interrupts, Everything Changes. Why Jesus often meets us at the height of our resistance rather than the point of our "openness." [21:20] – "Why Are You Persecuting Me?" The powerful reality that Jesus is so united with His people that what touches you, touches Him. [25:50] – Principle 2: When Jesus Redirects, Pride Gets Broken. Identifying "religious pride" and how Jesus dismantles our self-sufficiency. [29:10] – The South Korea Waiting Room. A personal story from Pastor Talaat's military service on how God uses isolation and "blindness" to get our full attention. [35:40] – Principle 3: When Jesus Reaches You, You Don't Stay the Same. Transformation isn't just adding spirituality; it's a total rewiring of our life and community. [38:15] – The Three Chairs: Which One Are You? A practical guide to identifying your current spiritual posture and your next step. Key Takeaways & The Three Chairs:Chair 1: The Saul. You feel skeptical or disqualified by your past. Your Step: Stop running and ask, "Who are you, Lord?" Chair 2: The Self-Sufficient. You love Jesus but have "pride pockets" you haven't surrendered. Your Step: Embrace the "blindness," stop trying to figure out the next ten steps, and let Him lead you by the hand. Chair 3: The Ananias. You are an ordinary disciple being nudged toward someone "unreachable." Your Step: Move toward the person you'd rather avoid; your obedience is their bridge. Notable Quotes:"The grace of God doesn't stop where our limitations begin." "Hostility was his oxygen... and this is the man that Jesus has decided to use." "The church is not a museum for good people. It's a workshop for changed people." Connect with Purpose City Church:Website: https://www.purposecitychurch.com/Instagram: @wearepurposecity Plan Your Visit: Join us this Sunday in the Chicagoland area! Giving: https://purposecitychurch.churchcenter.com/giving/to/tithes-offering

In this sermon Tony leads us to begin thinking about the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. It is arguably the most dramatic and most important conversion in the history of the church. However, the story is really about the grace, love, power, and wisdom of God.

Send us Fan MailThe overwhelming sensation we feel to be like others causes us to do things we don't want to do. When that becomes our identity, crisis inevitably follows. A lesson can be taken from King Saul of Israel. His decision to disobey God's command lost him the kingdom. His excuse was he feared the people. His sin was not justified, and the consequence of his sin plagued him the rest of his life. Saul of Tarsus, whom we know as the apostle Paul, was also subject to peer pressure. However, being unmoved by its influence, continued to strive for the gospel of liberty of Jesus Christ. Galatians 2 explains that there was strong influence to enforce the law on converted Christians. This was such a strong influence, Peter and Barbabus was swept away with it. Peer pressure is something we all feel, for good or ill. However, our stand for the gospel of Christ need be bolstered by the one who restores all to Himself in love. =====Searching for answers to life's questions? Need help finding a church? Drop us a line. We would love to help you find a congregation that practices the love of Christ. The Extra Mile Podcast is a work of Milwaukee Ave Church of Christ in Lubbock, TX. Assembly times:9:30 AM - Classes for all ages10:30 AM - Sunday Morning Assembly5:00 PM - Sunday Evening Assembly7:00 PM - Wednesday Evening AssemblyEmail us:  the.emile.pod@gmail.comInstagram: @extramilepodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/546CHn6Qvdh807yhYC5sHL?si=j6-jHRTiRh6_Non9E9URagApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-extra-mile-podcast/id1550189689Google Play: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMjgwNTI1LnJzcwWe would love to hear from you! Email: the.emile.pod@gmail.com Instagram: @extramilepodcast

Journey Together   "An Introduction to the Holiness of God" (Isaiah 6; Job 42)   What does it actually mean that God is holy? Before the answer can land, some ideas have to go. In this opening Journey Together teaching, Pastor Russell Howard begins a new series on the holiness of God by clearing away three distortions that have found their way into Christian thinking: open theology, which pictures God as a character in process alongside us; dualism, which assigns Satan a symmetry with God that Scripture flatly refuses; and any framework for salvation that credits human merit with tipping the scale. From there, Pastor Russell turns to what Scripture actually shows when people encounter the holy God. Isaiah undone in the temple. Job silenced after his long list of accusations. Saul of Tarsus walking away from everything he thought he was doing. The pattern is the same: first, being undone; then, humility and receptivity to God's Word; then, a transformation of both being and purpose. This is an introduction to holiness, and the good part is still ahead. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

In about 50 A.D., twenty years after Jesus Death Resurrection and Ascension Paul of Tarsus, one sent with authority by Jesus the Lord, to preach the Good News to the nations arrived in the City of Corinth, a prominent city of the Roman empire located on the trade route connecting the Aegean and Ionian seas.  He immediately began announcing the Good News: "The Crucified Jesus is the True Lord of the world."  Those believing the message were shepherded into house churches.  Then Paul preached, taught and pastored in Corinth for 18 months before moving on to other cities of the empire. See Acts 18  In 53 A.D. Paul, now in Ephesus, receives letters from the Church at Corinth and from the household of a woman named Chloe, a leader in the church.  These letters revealed alarming divisions, cliques, sexual immorality, lawsuits against fellow members, abuse of the Lord's supper, unbelief in the resurrection of Jesus, and much more within the Corinthian church.  Making things worse, Paul was being mocked as a phony apostle by members of the church in Corinth.   Paul writes the 1st letter to Corinth from Ephesus in 53 A.D. to address the beliefs and behaviors of this charismatic, but grossly immature and divided church.  Those today who seek to build "new creation" churches within the American empire will be blessed by this great letter.  We will make a special point of discerning in 1 Corinthians the character of wisdom and foolishness, freedom and license, as well as spiritual and childish.  Come join us in this series of Podcasts on "Freedom and the Corinthians" as we "eat Corinthians" together, growing in maturity in Christ together.

2. Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, is introduced as a powerful member of the Ptolemaic dynasty who turned Egypt into a Mediterranean "gold mine". She meets Antony at Tarsus in 41 BC with a spectacular, perfumed barge presentation that immediately wows him. Strauss portrays her as a tough political player who survived dynastic murders to secure her throne. She claims her son, Caesarion, is Julius Caesar's child, a significant political asset. By providing Antony with her massive treasury, she bankrolls his ambitions while demonstrating Alexandria's cultural and scientific superiority over Rome. (2)