HOME GUIDE | August 9, 2020

HOME GUIDE | August 9, 2020
SUMMARY | Church on mission trust God to deal with opposition. (9:1-31)
Saul’s Conversion
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”“Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
INTRO | Having opposition can be difficult especially when the result has  life changing impact. In today’s lesson we re-discover once again where God’s plan plays out even when all looks dim. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |

1. [Children] Activity: Have the children draw what comes to mind throughout today’s discussion. Help them use their words to describe what GOD is doing in this storyline. 
   - Kids Video: youtube.com/watch?v=z-r0HjxJI_8
2. [Children - Adult] Can you think of a time when someone you considered to be bad ended up being good? Share this experience. 
3. [Children - Adults] Isn’t it interesting that Saul had a large amount of support from his friends and leaders to go and persecute members of “The Way?” (Define: persecute and the group the Way) Why do you think Saul had so much support? 
4. [Children - Adults] If you are following along in the story laid out in Acts you will see that Saul was there when Stephen gave his testimony about who Jesus was and how it connected to the larger biblical storyline.  Stephen’s message about Jesus being the Christ fueled Saul to ‘shut down’ these messages.   When Jesus appeared to Paul what do you think was running through Saul’s mind at the moment?
   - Have fun with this question, play it out in the room. (example: Older siblings play the role of Saul’s companions, the little will play Saul.  One of the parents play Jesus.  Blind fold “Saul” for the next few questions.  Have the child describe their senses.
5. [Teens - Adults] Starting in verse 3, Saul sees a bright light that causes him to humble himself before the light.  Consider the setting, Saul has all the confidence and support he needs then all a sudden something appears and ‘humbles Saul.”  Why do you think only Saul could see what was happening? 
6. [Children - Adults] Tell each other about a moment when you were afraid to do the right thing yet you did it anyway’s because it was the right thing. 
7. [Teens - Adults] Gentile: Non-Jewish person, likely not considered part of the Jewish God fearing community without specific steps of conversion.   Ananias, was a member of the Way who Saul originally set out to bring to trial.   God directs Ananias to give Saul his next steps in this process.  Take a moment and look at verses 17-30.  Discuss the things that happened and consider the change in Saul’s mission. 
8. [Teens - Adults] Consider a time when there were very few who believed in you and your mission. Who were the ones that believed in you?  See in verse 27, who befriended Saul and gave the apostles confidence in this man who will end up being a major role in our New Testament bibles. 
9. [Children - Adults] In today's lesson, Tim will make a similar statement "Church on mission trust God to deal with opposition." If you were to consider the conversation from the previous questions, what areas in your daily life do you see an urging to share the message of Christ? Maybe, you are called to support another person in their spiritual gift. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS | Family Activity for the summer
[Children - Adults] For several weeks now we have encouraged a family prayer board. How is that going?   Here is what that looks like: Find a blank piece of paper or a whiteboard, go around the room asking about any concerns or thanksgivings before a time of Prayer.   Leave this paper where you can see it all week, discuss them everyday and see where God might be working in them. [Deu 6]
Additional Resource | Mission and Vision of the West Side Church of Christ: https://www.westsidear.org/mission-and-vision.html