In this sermon, we looked in Acts 9 to see the grace of God at work in providing Saul with a fresh start. Saul was one of the early Church's biggest opponents: he watched approvingly as Stephen was stoned for his faith, and he obtained special permission to arrest anyone who followed Jesus. On his way to arrest believers in Damascus, he encountered Jesus, who asked, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul was blinded by the encounter so his travel companions led him into the city, where he met a man named Ananias who God had sent to heal him by the power of the Holy Spirit. Saul believed in Jesus, was baptized, and became one of the most passionate evangelists and defenders of Christianity ever to live. This story reminds us that we all need a fresh start. However, it's not the new year or resolutions that provide this fresh start; it's the enduring, persistent grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
