Labeled Unworthy

Terry Siverd
07/19/15 - Sun AM

LABELED UNWORTHY

Sermon Outline By Terry Siverd

Cortland Church of Christ / July 19, 2015

This afternoon we will kick off our 39^th Annual Summer Youth Retreat: Camp 2:52.

I want to introduce you to a man that we first encounter in the New Testament book of Acts.

His name is SAUL.  He is known as, Saul of Tarsus.

He is the only New Testament character mentioned who bears the name of Israel’s first king.

Both King Saul and Saul of Tarsus were of the tribe of Benjamin.

In your sermon notes rectangle there are seven boxes.

As we use various New Testament references to learn about Saul, I want you to jot down some key words describing Saul.

Don’t put them in the boxes just yet - - we’ll do that together in just a little while.

Saul of Tarsus was Jewish through and through and took great pride in his Jewish heritage & training.

Philp.3:4-6

If anyone else had a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of  tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews;

As to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church;  As to the righteousness in the Law, found blameless.

Acts 7:58 & Acts 8:1-3

And when they had driven (Stephen) out of the city, they began stoning him,

and the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.  And on that day a great persecution arose against the

church in Jerusalem;  and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea & Samaria, except the apostles.

And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.  But Saul began ravaging

 the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men & women, he would put them in prison.

Acts 9:1-4

Now Saul, still breathing threats & murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

and asked for letter from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way,

both men & women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  And it came about that as he journey,

he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him;  and he fell to the

ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’  And he said,

‘Who art Thou, Lord (sir)?’  And he said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting…

Acts 22:1-5

‘Brethren & fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you’.  And when they heard that he was

addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said,

‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilica, but brought up in this city (Jerusalem), educated under Gamaliel,

strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, just as you all are today.

And I persecuted this way to the death, binding & putting both men & women in prisons, as also

the high priest and all the Council of elders can testify.  From them I received letters to the brethren, and started

 off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.

Gal.1:13-14

For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God

Beyond measure, and tried to destroy it;  and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries

Among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.

1Tim.1:15

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus

came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

Using just these six passages, let’s label Saul of Tarsus.

Pharisee … Instigator … Agitator … Persecutor … Bounty Hunter … Executioner/Murderer … Destroyer … Sinner

But something happened to Saul on the road to Damascus.

He met Jesus and his life was never the same.

According to Acts 9 & Acts 22, Saul prayed & fasted and “arose and was baptized & washed away his sins”.

Subsequently, Saul of Tarsus begins to wear a new name.

We’re not told exactly when the change took place (it was after his baptism) or precisely why.

In his life as Saul the persecutor he was very much like King Saul of Old Testament times.

Remember how King Saul tried to kill David - - God’s anointed one - - a man after God’s own heart.

Saul of Tarsus was trying his best to wipe out the very memory of Jesus and to destroy all who were His disciples.

In Acts 9:13-15 we see at once the compassion and power of our Lord God.

God directed a man named Ananias to go and speak to Saul.

Ananias balked.  He didn’t want to go.  He knew all the labels that Saul wore.  Ananias even dared to educate God.

In vss.13-14, he told HIM, “Lord, I have heard from many about  this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints

at Jerusalem;  and here he has authority from the Chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.”

But listen to Acts 9:15

But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine,

to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.’

In the case of Saul of Tarsus, for a while after his conversion the labeling continued.

Acts 9:26 notes, “when (Saul) came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples;

And they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.”

There was a disciple named Joseph, whom the apostles had labeled/nicknamed “Barnabas” (son of encouragement). 

Acts 9:27 says, “…Barnabas took hold of (Saul) and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to HIM, and how at Damascus he spoke out boldly in the name of Jesus.

Two more verses and a few more brief comments and then we’ll close with prayer.

1Tim.1:16 Paul writes about his own conversion to Christ:

And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost (of sinners), Jesus Christ

 might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

1Cor.15:10

By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain (was not without effect).

Now, let’s re-visit our label boxes.

With what words or labels should we describe Saul the persecutor who, by God’s grace, became Paul the apostle?

Disciple … Apostle … Chosen Instrument … New Creation … Brother in Christ … Preacher … Christian.

The story of Saul is the story of Paul.

And Paul’s story is one of change by the merciful hand of God.

Paul’s story is the story of God showing mankind grace & forgiveness and newness of life.

Let’s summarize.

Let us not engage in shameful behavior by labeling others in ugly ways.

It is cruel.  It is unkind.  It is not at all Christ-like.

I’m not talking about fun & un-hurtful nick-names like “Sweet Baby Ray” or thinks like that.

The BBQ sauce is named for a pretty good basketball player.

Jesus called Simon PETER (the rock) … And he called James & John BOANERGES (sons of thunder) …

And the disciples called Joseph “Barnabas” (son of encouragement).

Let’s realize that even when others and ourselves have been labeled - - and perhaps some labels come

with good reason based on their/own horrible behavior, like “Jack the Ripper” or something like that.

e.g. “Terry the Tyrant”.

God in His goodness can change us - - all of us - - even the worst among us.

Close with “Blessing Of The Fleet” / Campers, Counselors & Cooks.