Acts 9

Intro

stories of change and of continuation

of God’s mystery and of his purpose then and now

Saul

going out to imprison more followers of the way

wanted to bring this horrible and destructive movement to an end

a light from heaven and the voice of Jesus

those with him hear the voice as well

he becomes blind and is led for three days to Ananias

this is whom God has chosen to do his will and spread his gospel throughout the world, the foremost Jew of Jerusalem who persecuted the church the most

Saul’s response to encountering Jesus also included baptism as a central part

who he was before is no more

now he proclaims Jesus and is sought after to be killed just as he was doing to others before

Barnabas speaks up for him in Jerusalem and he continues to preach there as well

the church is at peace and being built up even though these are the situations they are living in

Peter

Peter is also going around working for the kingdom as the rest are

healing the paralyzed as Jesus did before him

even raising the dead

giving hope where there is none

Jesus’ power and life are shown to continue on through his followers

Application

you have the words of life that give people hope

you have what it takes to change someone’s life for the better

you can do that just by being here

you can show that just by living always like this group of people and the life and hope and truth that we all share is the most important thing to you

nothing comes before it, nothing is as necessary or imperative to have in your life

Saul is converted and he realizes this immediately

the people that Paul and Phillip and Peter share the gospel with act like this

its easy to say that this is one of the important things in your life

its difficult to make it the most prevalent thing in your whole life

live and act like this has changed you