Saul's Transition From Persecutor to Evangelist

Pastor Thomas begins his message with a personal story about a lifelong friend named Dan, who feels distant from God and no longer hears His voice like he used to. In response, Pastor Thomas emphasizes the importance of Christian community and regular church involvement as key ways God speaks to His people—often through others filled with the Holy Spirit. He explains that spiritual isolation can lead to spiritual dryness and encourages Dan to return to a rhythm of fellowship and worship. Thomas then transitions into the story of Saul’s radical transformation in Acts 9—how he went from persecuting Christians to boldly proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God in the synagogues. This remarkable change astonished both believers and skeptics, showing that true encounters with Christ compel believers to action. Saul, once a zealous Pharisee, used his deep understanding of Scripture to prove that Jesus is the Messiah, confounding the Jewish leaders in Damascus. Thomas draws parallels to his own journey and stresses that a Christ-centered message—not legalism or tradition—is what truly brings life and transformation. He shares how encountering Jesus changes a person’s heart and mission, as it did for Saul and for himself. The message ends with a call to press into Jesus, to be filled with His Spirit, and to allow that encounter to lead to bold, Christ-focused action.