God of New Beginnings: Overcome by Christ

Acts 9:1-19 Elements of New Life (in Christ)

1. A Great Collision 1-5.  

CS Lewis in Surprised by Joy…wrote about his conversion,

The odd thing was that before God closed in on me (that’s the language of collision, that’s the language of conversion), I was in fact offered what now appears a moment of free choice. I became aware that I was holding something at bay or shutting something out. I chose to open that door. Now I say ‘I chose,’ yet it did not really seem possible to do the opposite.

My own analogy suggests if Shakespeare and Hamlet could ever meet, it must be Shakespeare's doing. Hamlet could initiate nothing. Amiable agnostics will talk cheerfully about "man's search for God." To me, they might as well have talked about the mouse's search for the cat.

2. A Deep sense of need 6-9

3. Realization of God’s pursuit

John 6:37 All those the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.

Acts 26:12-14

Acts 7:58 – 8:1

4. Brought into the family 10-19

30 years after this story, Paul would enter heaven to the cheers of those he had put to death