20-Minute Sunday School Teaching Script

Paul’s New-Birth Experience

Acts 9:1–20

Theme

God can radically transform anyone and redirect their life for His purpose.

Main Point

Saul did not simply change his opinion about Jesus.

He received a new identity, a new direction, a new family, and a new purpose.

0:00–2:00

Opening and Icebreaker

Good morning, everyone.

Today we are studying one of the most dramatic conversion stories in the Bible, the transformation of Saul on the road to Damascus.

Before we begin, let me ask you a question:

Have you ever been completely convinced that you were right, only to discover later that you were wrong?

[Pause and allow two or three responses.]

Maybe it involved:

A person you misjudged

Directions you refused to follow

Advice you ignored

A belief you later discovered was incorrect

Here is the uncomfortable truth:

A person can be sincere and still be wrong.

A person can be passionate and still be moving in the wrong direction.

A person can even believe they are defending God while resisting what God is doing.

That is where we find Saul in Acts 9.

He is educated.

He is religious.

He is disciplined.

He is passionate.

But he is wrong.

Today’s lesson asks us a very personal question:

What happens when Jesus confronts a person who is confidently traveling in the wrong direction?

2:00–5:00

I. Saul’s Plan to Persecute Christians

Acts 9:1–2

Let us read Acts 9:1–2:

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”

Saul was not casually opposed to Christians.

Luke says he was “breathing out threatenings and slaughter.”

Persecution had become the atmosphere he lived in.

Just as breathing is constant, Saul’s hostility had become constant.

He was not simply having a bad day.

This had become part of his identity.

He believed Christians were dangerous.

He believed Jesus was a false Messiah.

He believed he was protecting the law of God.

Key principle

Religious zeal without spiritual revelation can become destructive.

It is possible to know Scripture and still misunderstand God’s heart.

It is possible to defend tradition while resisting truth.

It is possible to be active in religion while being disconnected from God’s purpose.

Storytelling Break: The Wrong Prescription

Imagine a doctor who sincerely believes he has prescribed the correct medicine.

He cares about the patient.

He is confident in his diagnosis.

But the medicine is wrong.

His sincerity does not make the prescription safe.

In the same way, sincerity does not make error truth.

Saul was sincere.

But Saul was sincerely wrong.

Audience Interaction

Let me ask the class:

Why do you think Saul believed persecuting Christians was a good thing?

[Allow responses.]

Possible answers:

He believed Christianity threatened Judaism

He misunderstood Jesus

He trusted his training

He followed respected religious leaders

He believed zeal automatically meant obedience

Here is the warning for us:

We must never become so certain of ourselves that we stop allowing God to correct us.

5:00–8:00

II. Saul Encounters Jesus

Acts 9:3–6

Let us continue:

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”

Notice the word “suddenly.”

Saul had his plans.

Saul had his documents.

Saul had his authority.

Saul knew where he was going.

Then suddenly, Jesus interrupted everything.

Key insight

Saul was traveling toward Damascus, but God was moving him toward destiny.

Saul thought he was going to arrest believers.

God knew Saul was going to become one.

Saul thought he was ending a movement.

God knew he would become one of its greatest messengers.

Important Detail

Jesus asked:

“Why persecutest thou me?”

Jesus did not say:

“Why are you persecuting them?”

He said:

“Why are you persecuting me?”

This shows how closely Jesus identifies with His church.

When Saul hurt believers, Jesus took it personally.

Key principle

How we treat the body of Christ matters to the Head of the church.

We cannot claim to love Jesus while constantly attacking, humiliating, or mistreating His people.

Illustration: The Body

If someone steps on your foot, your mouth says, “Ouch.”

The mouth was not stepped on, but the whole body feels the pain.

Christ and His church are connected.

Audience Interaction

Ask:

What does Jesus’ question reveal about how He views His people?

[Pause.]

It reveals that:

He sees their suffering

He identifies with their pain

He is not distant from persecution

Attacks against His people are taken personally

Then Saul asks:

“Who art thou, Lord?”

This is the first great question of conversion.

Before Saul can know what to do, he must know who Jesus is.

Jesus answers:

“I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.”

Saul discovers that the Jesus he rejected is alive.

The Jesus he opposed is Lord.

The Jesus he thought was defeated is speaking from heaven.

8:00–11:00

III. God Redirects Saul’s Steps

Acts 9:6–9

Saul then asks:

“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

This is the second great question of conversion.

The first question is:

Who are You, Lord?

The second is:

What do You want me to do?

Real conversion changes both belief and direction.

Saul does not merely say:

“I now understand who Jesus is.”

He asks:

“What must change in my life?”

Key principle

A genuine encounter with Jesus produces surrender.

Conversion is not adding Jesus to our plans.

Conversion is placing our plans under His authority.

Analogy: The GPS Reroute

Imagine driving for hours in the wrong direction.

Your GPS finally says:

“Turn around.”

You may feel embarrassed.

You may have already traveled far.

You may dislike the correction.

But the longer you refuse to turn, the farther away you get.

God’s correction is not designed to shame us.

It is designed to save us from continuing in the wrong direction.

Audience Interaction

Ask:

What is the difference between asking God to bless our plans and asking God to direct our plans?

[Allow responses.]

Saul had to stop telling God where he was going.

He had to ask God where he should go.

Saul’s Blindness

Saul rises from the ground, but he cannot see.

The man who thought he saw clearly is now physically blind.

This is more than punishment.

It is a lesson.

Saul had physical sight but spiritual blindness.

Now his physical condition reflects his spiritual condition.

He must be led by the hand.

The powerful man becomes dependent.

The confident man becomes uncertain.

The hunter becomes helpless.

Key insight

Sometimes God allows our strength to fail so we can discover how much we need Him.

11:00–14:00

IV. Ananias Must Welcome the Former Enemy

Acts 9:10–17

Now the story shifts to a disciple named Ananias.

God tells Ananias to go to Saul.

Ananias responds honestly:

“Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.”

In today’s language, Ananias is saying:

“Lord, are You sure?”

“This man arrests Christians.”

“This man destroys families.”

“This man came here looking for people like me.”

Ananias was not afraid without reason.

Saul’s reputation was real.

His violence was real.

The danger was real.

But God said:

“Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me.”

Key principle

God may see purpose in someone whose past makes us see only danger.

Ananias knew Saul’s history.

God knew Saul’s future.

Storytelling Break: The Burned House

Imagine walking past a house destroyed by fire.

All you see is ashes, broken walls, and smoke damage.

But an experienced builder looks at the same property and sees what can be restored.

We often see the damage.

God sees what grace can rebuild.

Ananias had to trust God’s vision of Saul more than Saul’s reputation.

Powerful Detail

When Ananias enters the house, he says:

“Brother Saul.”

Do not rush past that.

Saul had not yet preached a sermon.

He had not written an epistle.

He had not proven himself over many years.

Yet Ananias called him “Brother.”

That was grace.

Ananias welcomed the man who previously would have arrested him.

Key principle

The church must make room for people God is transforming.

We should not force people to remain prisoners of a past Jesus has forgiven.

Audience Interaction

Ask:

Why might it be difficult to accept someone who has caused real harm, even after they claim to have changed?

[Allow responses.]

Follow with:

Forgiveness does not mean wisdom disappears.

Trust may take time to rebuild.

But we must still leave room for genuine transformation.

14:00–17:00

V. Saul’s New-Birth Experience

Acts 9:17–18

Ananias says:

“Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 9:18 says:

“And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”

Notice the movement:

Jesus confronts Saul

Saul surrenders

Saul prays

Ananias ministers to him

Saul receives his sight

Saul is filled with the Holy Ghost

Saul is baptized

This is not merely a change of opinion.

This is a new-birth experience.

Key principle

Jesus did not simply make Saul nicer. Jesus made Saul new.

Saul’s old identity was built on:

Religious achievement

Education

Reputation

Heritage

Personal righteousness

After meeting Jesus, Saul learned that none of these could replace grace.

He later wrote:

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Analogy: Renovation Versus New Creation

Some people treat Christianity like repainting an old house.

They want Jesus to make the outside look better.

But Jesus does more than decorate the old life.

He changes the foundation, ownership, purpose, and direction.

He does not simply improve us.

He transforms us.

Discussion Cue

Ask:

What are some signs that a person has truly been transformed, not merely emotionally moved?

Possible answers:

Changed priorities

Repentance

Obedience

Humility

Love for people

New direction

Desire for God

Willingness to make wrongs right

17:00–19:00

VI. The Persecutor Becomes a Preacher

Acts 9:19–20

Acts 9:20 says:

“And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”

The same mouth that threatened Christians now preaches Christ.

The same feet that traveled to arrest believers now carry the gospel.

The same mind trained to oppose Jesus now explains Jesus.

The same passion that once destroyed is now redirected to build.

Key principle

God does not always remove our personality, energy, intelligence, or passion. He sanctifies and redirects them.

Saul was passionate before conversion.

He remained passionate after conversion.

The difference was his direction.

Illustration: A River

A river outside its banks can destroy homes and roads.

That same river, properly directed, can generate power, water crops, and sustain life.

Saul’s zeal was destructive when it was directed by pride and ignorance.

That same zeal became powerful when surrendered to Jesus.

Audience Interaction

Ask:

What ability, experience, or part of your personality could God redirect for His purpose?

[Pause for reflection.]

Maybe:

Leadership

Speaking

Business experience

Creativity

Administration

Boldness

Compassion

A painful testimony

God does not waste surrendered lives.

19:00–20:00

Closing Challenge and Prayer

Let us close with three questions.

1. Is God trying to redirect me?

Am I asking God to bless a road He is telling me to leave?

2. Is there a Saul I have written off?

Have I decided someone is too far gone for God to transform?

3. Am I willing to become an Ananias?

Will I obey God when He asks me to encourage, receive, or minister to someone I would not naturally choose?

Closing Summary

Saul began the chapter breathing threats.

He ended the passage preaching Christ.

He began with letters from the high priest.

He ended under the authority of Jesus.

He began trying to bind believers.

He ended by becoming their brother.

That is what Jesus does.

He confronts.

He humbles.

He forgives.

He fills.

He redirects.

He transforms.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that no life is beyond the reach of Your grace.

Search our hearts and show us where we may be sincere but wrong. Correct our thinking, redirect our steps, and help us surrender our plans to You.

Give us the courage of Ananias to welcome the people You are transforming. Deliver us from judging others only by their past.

Fill us with the Holy Ghost and make our lives evidence of Your transforming power.

Take our experiences, gifts, personalities, and even our failures, and redirect them for Your glory.

Help us welcome every person whom You call brother or sister.

In Jesus’ name, amen.