This Is The Way

This Is The Way Pastor Greg Stansel Acts 9:1-22 February 27, 2022 Snap shot: Knowing Jesus as the exalted Christ sets us on mission for Him I. Jesus corrects our mission focus (9:1–9) II. Jesus calls us to participate in His mission (9:10–16) III. Jesus empowers us for His mission (9:17–22) Connect Can you recall a time you headed in the right direction, but you were completely off course? Study Point 1: Jesus corrects our mission focus (9:1–9) READ 2 Chronicles 33:1–20 1) In the beginning of his ministry, what was Manasseh’s mission focus? Before you became a believer, what was your focus? 2) What changed Manasseh’s focus? How is this similar to Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus? How does the Lord change our focus today? What do we learn about following the Lord from Manasseh? Point 2: Jesus calls us to participate in His mission (9:10–16) READ Ephesians 2:10 3) What does it mean that we are “his workmanship”? What are the good works we are created for? What was the purpose of God preparing works for us beforehand? What hope does God preparing work for us inspire? 4) What are the steps we can take to understand how to participate with Jesus in His mission to redeem His people? In your life, what are the things that hinder you from participating with Jesus? Point 3: Jesus empowers us for His mission (9:17–22) READ 2 Timothy 1:5–14 5) What fears keep you from being on mission with Jesus? What are the promises that we receive in this passage about the spirit in us? Turn these promises into a daily prayer (as a group or individually . . . and then actually pray it). 6) What is the purpose for having a spirit of power, love, and self-control? How do we suffer for the gospel? What does it mean to suffer by the power of God? What are specific examples of how you are going to live out your holy calling? By what power will you live out your holy calling? Practical Applications 1. Head – Spend time studying and meditating on 2 Timothy 1:5–14. 2. Heart – Write out a prayer from this passage and pray it with faith that the Lord can use you to expand His Kingdom, even if you don’t understand how. 3. Hands – Determine how the Lord is calling you to participate in building His Kingdom and share that with someone who will keep you accountable (or someone who can help you train to fulfill that calling). Pray the passage O gracious and merciful Lord, we praise you as our one and only King. We confess that we, like Paul, fought against our Kingdom before we were awakened by your gracious love and undeserved mercy. We ask that you would forgive us for not living on mission for you as we should, but often times being apathetic or selfishly focused on our own kingdom. Would you turn our hearts into obedient hearts like Ananias, who hear your call and obey. We are your chosen instruments, even though we do not understand why you would use weak vessels like us. We trust that we do not go alone but have received your Holy Spirit and areempowering us to do your will. Strengthen our church to proclaim the name of Jesus, to boldly share our testimonies, and to live for you each day of our lives. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. Memorize & Meditate “And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God’” (Acts 9:20). Preparing for next week Read: Acts 9:23-31 Ask: questions of the text. Pray: through text, for pastor as he prepares, for your heart to hear, for the congregation to hear, for all of us to be obedient.