Madison Church

A busy week of small groups, service, and shared life sets the stage for one of the most unsettling turns in the early church: the moment an enemy knocks on the door and says, “I’m with you now.” We walk through Saul’s shock encounter with the risen Jesus and the identity crash that follows, then sit with Ananias’ very human hesitation. Why trust someone who hurt us? What does real repentance look like? And how do we protect the vulnerable while keeping our hearts open to redemption?We unpack the historical roots of Saul’s zeal as a Pharisee and why he believed he was defending God, not fighting Him. That context matters, because it shows how conviction can become a counterfeit identity—and how a holy disruption can reclaim a life. From there, we trace the tangible markers of change Scripture highlights: confession and baptism, a new public message proclaimed to old peers, time away for formation rather than a rush toward authority, and respect for boundaries set by wise leaders. With Barnabas advocating and