Pastor's Sunday School Blog
Sunday School Lesson
“The Messenger:Converted and Called”
January 21, 2018
Acts 9:1-25
Pastor’s Notes:
Saul’s conversion is the story of God’s amazing grace; how God seeks sinners, draws them by His Spirit, redeems them through His Son, adopts them into His family, and sets them apart for His service, and enables them, by His power, to do what He asks.
Saul is confronted by the Savior he opposes (Acts 9:1-9).
“Saul” – See Philippians 3:4-6 to gain a perspective of who Saul was (Saul’s resume of self-righteousness).
For all of Saul’s religion and righteousness, he was unredeemed.
Discuss how religion and righteousness are used as a security blanket, and discuss Galatians 2:21.
Saul received documents from the High Priest granting him authority to arrest and bring to judgment anyone who follow the “way” (were followers of Jesus Christ).
Note – Saul was complicit in the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:59).
Saul sought to end Christianity; God sought to change his mind and change his heart.
Where we think judgment should have been administered, love and mercy ruled.
Salvation is always a miraculous experience; God revealing Himself to sinful man.
Before there can be a conversion there has to be a confrontation…
Saul knew he was experiencing a Divine encounter, “Lord” (verse 5)
IMPORTANT – Salvation involves an encounter with, and instructions from the Divine.
Saul’s blindness was both physical and spiritual (See 2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Saul is served by a believer who obeys (Acts 9:10-19).
God’s calling Ananias to minister to Saul is no different than God’s calling believers today to carry the Gospel to a lost world. It matters not that the world stands in opposition to the Gospel.
Reality – sometimes it is difficult to share the Gospel with those who are opposed (Share a time when you may have been afraid to share with someone, but you were obedient).
Ananias’ obedience served to confirm to Saul the truth of Jesus Christ.
Not sure when Saul was redeemed, but know that he was because he was filled with the Spirit.
After his initial salvation experience he was baptized to evidence his new relationship with Jesus Christ.
Verse 19 reveals discipleship in the early church. The disciples took Saul and taught him.
Saul is compelled to proclaim Jesus as Messiah (Acts 9:20-25).
“Immediately” – Saul was so over-joyed by the grace of God that he wanted others to know what he had come to know. His witness was not in the most receptive location (synagogue).
His conversion (change) drew the attention of others; their curiosity became an open door for the Apostle.
Saul used his knowledge of the Old Testament to present Jesus as the long awaited Messiah.
Living and proclaiming the Gospel as the TRUTH often results in persecution (See 2 Timothy 3:12
Theological Theme: Conversion to Christ comes with a calling to ministry.
Christological/Christ Connection: A real relationship with Christ has transformative powers (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Missional Application: The Gospel, not us, changes lives. Our responsibility is to share the Word of God, which is the power of God to change a person’s heart.