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Service and Bible Study are Cancelled Tomorrow, January 25, 2026

Today's Sermon

You are Called

I love the account of the Apostle Paul. We make it all through the Gospels with no mention of him. He first appears at the stoning of Stephen, one of the men chosen in Acts 6 to help care for the Greek widows and the first martyr of the Christian church. He is often called the first deacon, because these 7 men in Acts 6 were to serve the widows–diakaneo means to serve. He is martyred by execution—by Saul. Chapter 8’s terse account of the moment is haunting: “And Saul approved of his execution.” This great Pharisee of Pharisees does so even though the charges against Stephen are bunk. Today’s reading tells us how bad Saul is, “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” Two points standout here: first Saul goes to the high priest, the top Jewish religious, authority, to sanction his pursuit to murder Christians. Second, he gets letters to double down on sanctioning his persecuting efforts. He is not messing around. He makes his murdering official business of the Jewish establishment. He is an official Christ-follower cleanser!

This history makes his Saul's  so powerful. The ascended Jesus chooses his staunchest enemy to be his main New Testament apostle—at least in terms of amount of  writing. Caravaggio captures the power of the moment with all its mystery and innuendo.  

Take a moment to look at the painting. What is your first impression? There is a lot going on here. Four men fill the painting: the Apostle Paul at the bottom, blocking his eyes from the light that fills the painting from top right to lower left. Caravaggio is using a technique that he helped to develop in Italy in the early 17th century. It’s call chiaroscuro—chiar meaning light and oscuro meaning dark. The idea is that the light and dark pattern highlights the themes of the painting. Darkness surrounds the scene but light moves powerfully onto Paul, in the same direction the man is reaching down in the top right. The cherub holds this man back, while the soldier just tries to protect Saul. Yet, the man reaching down from the upper right does so almost gently while the soldier barely maintains control. The powerful horse almost seems caught in the midst of all that’s going on.

Caravaggio also painted another photo of Saul’s conversion—a very different portrayal. 

Here the entire focus is on Saul. There is no soldier, no angel, no man reaching down. It is rather an attendant with Saul, holding the horse. Both the horse and attendant seem to look at Saul suspiciously: “Who are you?” Even the horse's right, front paw lifted suggests that he does not want to touch Saul because it might hurt! Saul no longer shields his eyes from the blinding light but rather holds his hands up to it, inviting more of its brightness and warmth. Saul seems to welcome Jesus, resigning himself to his calling!

The call of Saul, who will don his new name "Paul" in Acts 13, teaches us several things about our Lord. First, he gets to decide whom he calls. The most important conclusion is not that he can call anybody. The most important conclusion is that you and and do not get to decide. No one would have picked Paul. No one would have eaten with sinners and tax collectors either. Jesus calls whom he wants. Second, the call of Jesus is not always pretty. The first painting is chaotic and unsettling, almost a battle. Yet, the Lord Jesus continues to reach down from the upper right corner to Saul through the messy scene. His angelic secures the scene to make it possible. Jesus does what he does, holding his hands out to Saul lovingly and openly. It’s powerful in effect, even though it does not look like much. Eventually, Saul resigns and now invites Jesus to call him. 

Once called, the Apostle Paul cannot be stopped. He gives his whole life to Jesus. He considers everything rubbish in comparison to  knowing Jesus (cf. Phl 3:8). The reason is straightforward: Jesus has saved him. Jesus has transformed him. Jesus has freed Paul from himself. To know Jesus becomes Paul’s purpose. So he preaches anywhere and everywhere in the name of Jesus! 

What about you? Do you need to be jolted with a heavenly encounter? Probably, we all do! Yet, rest assured you have already been called. The Word of God is always active, sharper than a two-edge sword. Every time you here the Word of God the Holy Spirit is working to draw you closer to Him. Baptism is a good place to start. God calls you with a new idenity, claiming you as his own there. That’s a form of a call: “She’s mine!” God calls you through His Word, as you read His story, in which the unlovable know the love of God, and the rich will not always rule by their power, and the poor in spirt and meek are blessed. You are called when you read how Noah continued to build what God told him to build as those around him partied and mocked him! You are called repeatedly, with stories like these—true stories of God’s people doing his work in creation. Joseph forgives his brother even though he could have avenged his wrongful treatment by killing them. The list goes on and on. Mary at the tomb! Matthew the Tax Collector. And you are called with a foretaste of the feast to come in His Supper. Not only does his supper effect and recall the forgiveness he gives you, it brings Jesus into the moment for you. It’s heaven—Jesus—on earth for you. Nothing glorious. It never is—born in a stable, son of a carpenter, dying on a Roman cross. Yet, in His Supper that He gives you, you are called—like Saul/Paul. Don’t dismiss it. Embrace it. You are called to be and do something in God’s kingdom today. Maybe you’ve responded to his call—repeatedly. Wait for it: it never ends. Maybe you’ve never experienced what it feels like to be called to do something in the name of Jesus. Well, your here today. You hear it today! Do something in his name for someone!

I served as a Clinial Pastoral Education student for one summer at Laclede Groves Senior Care Center in Webster Groves, MO, a suburb of St. Louis. I’ve shared several stories from there. How about this one. Elsie Kammeyer is 97 years old—thin and short with nice white hair. Her features were more pointed than rounded. She always was well dressed when she was out on the floor: slacks, blouse, makeup, and hair done. Normally, she would read, talk with people—including staff—eat, nap, and participate in activities. Tuesdays were off limits, though. That was her evangelism day. After breakfast, after getting dressed, she would begin making her rounds on the floor to remind people to come hear the story of Jesus that afternoon. We chaplains would teach Bible Study every Tuesday afternoon. She would go room-by-room to invite people, “There’s Bible Study this afternoon at 1. ARE YOU COMING?” She was a hardcore saleswoman, asking upfront for the sale. It wasn’t just, “There’s a Bible Study this afternoon.” She wanted more: are you in. Are you coming? Will you come to hear and discuss the greatest story--the story of Jesus. Her tone was clear: you should. AT 97 Elsie knew her calling, in a nursing home, on one floor of the nursing home, on Tuesdays. 

Jesus calls you to be with Paul and Elsie. In doing so, he assures you that your sins are no more. He assures you that you already now have His Holy Spirit. He assures you that nothing can separate you from the love of God. He assures you that you have an identity—you are his. You are called to be part of the, His greatest story—no the greatest person—ever told. Paul’s conversion is powerful. So is yours. You are called! Amen.

Tuesday

Bible Study at 1 p.m. (cancelled for 1/20)

Thursday

Men's Bible Study at 8 a.m.

Sunday 

Sunday School/Adult Bible Study at 9:15 a.m. 

 Divine Service at 10:30 a.m.

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