This past Sunday I had the honor of teaching through Acts 9:19-31 at Renovation Church. In this passage, we are given a glimpse into the transformation of Saul after he encounters Jesus on his way to Damascus. By looking at Saul’s transformation, we are given a glimpse into five pieces of evidence that should be in the life of every person who claims to be a follower of Jesus.
As always, we will be meeting this Wednesday at 8pm for an online small group where we will dig deeper into this text. The sermon discussion guide is below the video and all are invited to join us. Connection info can be found here: Connection Information
(The last few minutes of the message were cut off due to a technical glitch – sorry about that!)
Book of Acts – Week 25 – Acts 9:19-31
Discussion Guide
Before working on this discussion guide, please do the following:
1. Watch the message from this past Sunday if you were unable to attend the online service. You can find the message on our Facebook Page and on our website (renovationchurchsd.com).
2. Spend 5 minutes or so in prayer. You can either pray through the “Lord’s Prayer” or simply share what is on your heart. It is also good to spend at least 1 full minute in silence so that God can quiet your heart and mind as you prepare to study the Scriptures.
Discussion Questions
1. Read slowly and prayerfully through Acts 9:19-31. What stands out to you? What questions do you still have after reading through the text?
2. The first evidence that a person is truly a Christian is a strong desire to be with God’s people. This is evident during Saul’s time in both Damascus and Jerusalem (Acts 9:19; 26). Unfortunately, many people who self-identity as Christians in our culture rarely – if ever – attend church. Why do you think this is?
3. Saul proclaimed two things about Jesus in his message. First, he referred to Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 9:20) and the Messiah (Acts 9:22). Both of these titles are packed with meaning – especially in the first century. Explain in your own words what each of these titles mean and how they apply to our lives today.
4. When Saul arrived in Jerusalem the church wanted nothing to do with him – they were afraid of him. Barnabas came alongside of Saul as a mentor, friend, and a bridge to the rest of the church. The reality is, all of us need a “Barnabas” in our lives. Do you have a mentor in regards to your faith? If so, what are some of the things you have learned from them? Likewise, we are called to mentor those who are new to the faith. Who are you mentoring right now? If the answer is “no one” what are some steps you can take to become a mentor? (I know – there’s a lot of questions in this question but it’s vital to consider!)
5. In Acts 9:31, Luke says that the church was living in the fear of the Lord. Throughout Scripture, fear is generally viewed as a negative thing. What does it mean to “fear the Lord”? How is this different than regular fear? How can we develop this “fear of the Lord” in our own lives?
6. Also in Acts 9:31, Luke says that the early church experienced the encouragement of the Holy Spirit. This meant a variety of things but it especially included spiritual gifts that are given by the Holy Spirit to Christians for the purpose of building one another up. What do you know about spiritual gifts? How can the church become a better environment for people to exercise their spiritual gifts rather than just one person (me) exercising the gift of teaching?
7. Finally, what is at least one way you are seeking to apply this passage/message to your life this week?
Tyler Ramsbey 