Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Extraversion
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Introduction:
Attention Getting:
Everyone has their favorite kind of story.
For some it is action while for others, romance.
Some are drawn to comedies while others embrace tragedies.
in our text today is a story of great transformation.
Acts 9 is the 1st of three accounts of Saul’s conversion recorded by Luke.
Textual Segment:
Acts 9:1-19 is the account of Saul’s transformation on the road to Damascus.
Saul sets out on a murderous mission to find “followers of the way” and arrest them so he can bring them back to Jerusalem to face trial.
God had other plans.
On that road, Jesus appeared by voice and in a blinding light and Saul is dramatically converted!
Instead of arresting members of the church in Damascus, he joins them!
Relational Segment:
Every person who repents of their sins an believes in Jesus undergoes a similar transformation.
As children of God, we are not what we once were and our future is changed!
Let’s begin our study by looking at......
1.
A Man on a Murderous Mission
EX: Saul seeks to expand persecution:
(9:1-2)
He has plans to arrest Christians in Damascus
A. Saul’s Attitude
“Breathing threats and murder”
He is as furious as those who stoned Stephen.
Remember what the text said in Acts 7?
Saul is still in a murderous rampage and seeking to wipe out Christianity.
B. Saul’s Target
“disciples of the Lord”
Students of the Lord
Those who followed and taught His teachings.
“any who were of the Way”
the way of salvation
Jesus had said, “I am the way”
This phrase is used many times in Acts
In Damascus
GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE: DAMASCUS
• Large commercial center of Syria
• One of the ten cities in region called “Decapolis” (Mark 5:20; 7:31)
• Contained a large Jewish population
• Located 150 miles northeast of Jerusalem
Gangel, K. O. (1998).
Acts (Vol.
5, p. 136).
Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
C. Saul’s Scheme
Sought Letters
think of these as warrants authorizing him to seek out Christians and arrest them.
“Bring them bound to Jerusalem”
Why go to the trouble of tracking down Christians?
to seize Christians who had fled
To prevent the spread of Christianity to other major cities.
To keep Christians from causing trouble with Rome.
AP: Like Saul, we are traveling a destructive path before we are born again.
Dead in Sin
Walk around in the Darkness
IL:
2. A Marvelous Encounter
EX: God Interrupted Saul’s plans
A. The Lord Stopped Him
A light shone from Heaven
A voice spoke
B. The Lord Confronted Him
Why are you persecuting Me?
I am Jesus
C. The Lord Commanded Him
Go into Damascus and wait
AP: God’s plans always trump ours!
Recognize that seeking and doing God’s will is the most important priority for us
Recognize that boasting and acting upon our plans is a futile exercise.
3. A Man on a Merciful Mission
EX:
God sent Ananias to Saul
The Lord revealed His plan for Saul
Missionary to the Gentiles
Suffer much
God healed Saul
Ananias called him brother!
He accepted Saul
Based on God’s declaration, Ananias greeting him as a brother in Christ.
Scales fell off
His eyesight was restored.
These few days of blindness was just a foretaste of the suffering Paul would endure during his ministry.
Saul was baptized and joined the disciples.
imagine that scene!
The believers are gathered to share worship and Bible study.
In walks Saul and Ananias!
There had to panic at first.
Instead of arresting them, he joined them!
AP: Go where the Lord sends
Ananias sets a great example for us
He didn’t let fear stop him
He went were the Lord sent
He welcomed a new brother in spite of his past.
IL:
Conclusion:
RS: In this passage, we have examined the conversion of Saul.
God changed him from a persecutor of the church to a preacher of the gospel.
IS: God is in the transformation business.
If you are His child, you have gone from darkness to light.
He changed us and is still working on conforming us to the image of Jesus.
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