"From Persecutor to Preacher"

  • Series: "Pandemic" - The Gospel Unleashed
  • by: Chris Mayfield 03/28/10

Acts 9:20-31 "From Persecutor to Preacher"

Having encountered Christ on the Damascus road, Saul now began to boldly proclaim Jesus as the Christ. Dramatic conversions like this are certainly possible, but we shouldn’t look at our own lives and try to compare. We all have our own stories of how God worked in our lives and the circumstances he used to bring us to salvation. Each story is unique and beautiful. It doesn’t have to be dramatic to be powerful. Our actions do have to line up with our words before others will see the power of God in our lives though. Just like the disciples weren’t willing to accept Saul until they saw that his actions and words were consistent with each other, the people in our lives won’t accept the changes we speak of until we actually live them out.

 

Engage the Text

1. What might have helped Saul confound the Jews who lived in Damascus when he was proving Jesus was the Christ as it says in vs. 22?

2. How did the disciples react to Saul when he attempted to join them in Jerusalem? Who vouched for Saul? Why did he?

3. How long did it take for the Jews to try to kill Saul? Why did they want to kill him?

4. What was the result of Saulʼs preaching, both to him and the church in that area?

5. In what specific ways do you think the Holy Spirit strengthened the church?

 

From Thought to Action

1. Saul sought out community quickly after conversion, and although at first uncomfortable because of the disciplesʼ hesitance to accept him, he joined the other believers in Jerusalem. Do you seek community or is it a struggle to put yourself in an environment where other people can speak into your life? What causes this? How does gospel community help you?

2. What does your life look like when you are “walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit”? Identify and write down the obstacles that prevent you from living this way. What strengthens your ability to walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit?

3. Who is it in our society that is the outcast and avoided? Are you engaging them? Why or why not?

4. Saul faced opposition from people who wanted to kill him soon after he began preaching, and rather than becoming scared and retreating, he gained strength and grew in confidence in Christ. How do you respond to opposition when it is because of the outward expression of your faith? Have you ever faced opposition in this way?

 

 

Acts 9:20-31 From Persecutor to Preacher

Having encountered Christ on the Damascus road, Saul now began to boldly proclaim Jesus as the Christ. Dramatic conversions like this are certainly possible, but we shouldn’t look at our own lives and try to compare. We all have our own stories of how God worked in our lives and the circumstances he used to bring us to salvation. Each story is unique and beautiful. It doesn’t have to be dramatic to be powerful. Our actions do have to line up with our words before others will see the power of God in our lives though. Just like the disciples weren’t willing to accept Saul until they saw that his actions and words were consistent with each other, the people in our lives won’t accept the changes we speak of until we actually live them out.

Engage the Text

  1. What might have helped Saul confound the Jews who lived in Damascus when he was proving Jesus was the Christ as it says in vs. 22?
  2. How did the disciples react to Saul when he attempted to join them in Jerusalem? Who vouched for Saul? Why did he?
  3. How long did it take for the Jews to try to kill Saul? Why did they want to kill him?
  4. What was the result of Saulʼs preaching, both to him and the church in that area?
  5. In what specific ways do you think the Holy Spirit strengthened the church?
 

From Thought to Action

  1. Saul sought out community quickly after conversion, and although at first uncomfortable because of the disciplesʼ hesitance to accept him, he joined the other believers in Jerusalem. Do you seek community or is it a struggle to put yourself in an environment where other people can speak into your life? What causes this? How does gospel community help you?
  2. What does your life look like when you are “walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit”? Identify and write down the obstacles that prevent you from living this way. What strengthens your ability to walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit?
  3. Who is it in our society that is the outcast and avoided? Are you engaging them? Why or why not?
  4. Saul faced opposition from people who wanted to kill him soon after he began preaching, and rather than becoming scared and retreating, he gained strength and grew in confidence in Christ. How do you respond to opposition when it is because of the outward expression of your faith? Have you ever faced opposition in this way?

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