BAPTISMS @ THE BEACH
If you want to be baptized, or are interested in hearing more about baptism, here are some next steps!
- The Baptism Class - February 21 @ 12:45 PM in the box office
Before each baptism event, Mission hosts a baptism class that helps people learn more about baptism, ask questions about how it fits into their stories, and hear about other people's journey toward baptism.
- The Baptism Form - sign up for the baptism event on February 28
Before being baptized, we ask everyone to complete the baptism form. It's a great way to walk though your own story before making the decision to go public with your faith!
MAN UP
Mike Breaux will be leading men through a discussion about becoming the kind of men God wants us to be at home, on the job, in our neighborhood, and in our world. And... there will be lots of bacon.
Wednesday, February 10 from 7:00 - 8:00 AM
Wednesday, February 17 from 7:00 - 8:00 AM
Wednesday, February 24 from 7:00 - 8:00 AM
Wednesday, March 2 from 7:00 - 8:00 AM
We are a group of imperfect people pursuing a perfect God. We exist to help each other find and follow Christ. We aim to passionately love Jesus, ruthlessly eliminate ego, courageously live in grace and truth, confidently know who we are in Christ, unconditionally trust God, intentionally live better stories, and selflessly extend compassion.
These are some things we want to be true of our group:
- We create a safe and honest environment, staying transparent and authentic.
- We keep it inside the circle. Confidentiality is necessary for a healthy group.
- We look together to the Bible for help and guidance, and keep out our own politics, sales, or agendas.
- We do not try to fix each other, preach sermons, or give unsolicited advice. We instead encourage, listen to, and celebrate each other.
- We handle conflict between us quickly and honestly by going to the person, owning our part, and practicing forgiveness.
- We respect each others’ time by starting and ending when we say we will.
- We trust that it is God’s role to change people, not ours.
- We believe that in Jesus Christ, there is hope for everyone.
Comeback stories manage to strike a chord inside the very core of our beings, making us realize that our circumstances do not always get the final say in our lives. In this series, we'll explore some of the remarkable comeback stories found in the bible, only to see that in the ind, our story is a comeback story too.
This week we looked at the life of Paul, one of the most influential and recognizable names in the history of the Church. But it wasn't always that way... Paul was known for persecuting, imprisoning, and killing men and women who chose to follow Jesus; until things got personal with Jesus. It was only then that God started to use Paul's comeback story to tell HIS story to a watching world.
CONNECT
- What's your favorite comeback story or moment? (could be yours or someone else's)
- Why do you think people love comeback stories so much? What makes them so exciting?
DISCOVER
The book of Acts is a book of history, detailing how the early church spread throughout the world immediately after Jesus' death and resurrection.
Read Acts 9:3-21 together.
(3) As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. (4) He 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.”
(7) The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. (8) Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. (9) For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
(10) In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
(11) The 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. (12) In 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. (14) And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
(15) But 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. (16) I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
(17) Then 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.” (18) Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, (19) and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. (20) At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (21) All 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?
- What stands out to you the most about the story of Paul meeting Jesus? What is surprising, confusing, or interesting?
- Knowing Paul's history as a religious leader that persecuted and killed Christians, how do you think he felt when Jesus stopped him on the road?
- Why do you think Jesus decided to bring Ananias into Paul's comeback story, since He clearly didn't need any help encountering Paul?
- How does verse 21 help us understand why God chose Paul to tell so many people about Him?
APPLY
- Who's the Ananias in your comeback story? Who has helped you see God more clearly?
- We are all in different spots on the journey toward God. Where are you in your own comeback story? Where do you want to be?
- What keeps you from sharing your comeback story? How could you be more intentional about letting God tell His story to a watching world through you and your story?
EXPERIENCE
Mike encouraged us all to share our comeback stories! Each one is powerful, and deserves to be heard. Follow the instructions below to share your comeback story and tell your world how God has transformed your life!
*or pick up printed questions at Connection Point on a Sunday*
COMEBACK...
...to a God Who Is Personal (Paul)
...to a God Who Redeems (Naomi)
...to a God Who Forgives (David)
...OUR Comeback
LESSON FROM PAUL’S COMEBACK
When it gets personal with Jesus, God is able to transform a life to tell His story to a watching world.
STOPPING POINTS ON PAUL’S STORY
PAUL’S RESUMÉ BEFORE JESUS
Philippians 3:5-6
(...4) If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: (5) circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; (6) as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
PAUL HATES CHRISTIANS
Acts 7:55-58
(55) But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (56) “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
(57) At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, (58) dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Acts 9:1-2
(1) Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest (2) and 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.
PAUL’S COMEBACK BEGINS
Acts 9:3-21
(3) As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. (4) He 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.”
(7) The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
(10) In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
(11) The 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. (12) In 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. (14) And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
(15) But 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. (16) I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
(17) Then 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.” (18) Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, (19) and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. (20) At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (21) All 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?
Philippians 3:7-9
(7) But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. (8) What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.
PAUL’S #MYCOMEBACKSTORY
1 Corinthians 15:3-10
(3) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (5) and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. (6) After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. (7) Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, (8) and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
(9) For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (10) But by the grace of God I am what I am.