Video EBlast for Sunday, August 19, 2018

Paul…

Stuck in the Spotlight of Change

This week, while you meet with your Faith Formation Group you may want to reflect on our Scripture passage by reading Acts 9:1-9 (printed below) and discuss the questions as a way to begin a conversation. 

    

Acts 9:1-9

Acts 9:1    Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. ² He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

Acts 9:3    As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

Acts 9:5    “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. 

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

⁶ Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Acts 9:7    The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! ⁸ Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. ⁹ He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

Questions for Consideration:

1. In this account, Saul traveled 150 miles to Damascus in order to expand what started as a local persecution against believers in Jerusalem. What does this tell you about him?
2. Have you ever been convinced or totally committed to something only to find out that you were wrong? What did it take for Saul (Paul) to change his perceived truth and begin a new path?
3. God had to almost hit Saul over the head with a 2x4 to get his attention, how has God worked to get your attention in life?
4. Why do you think Saul was blind and did not eat for the next three days, after meeting with Christ on the road to Damascus? What do you think is happening in his life during these three days?
5. How do you retreat to process the call of God in your life? What has been the impact when you have left the noise of your busy life to spend time with God?

As you meet this week, we encourage you to also take time to open yourselves up as a group and dialog on the following Wesley Challenge question:  Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful? (Pages 109-112 in The Wesley Challenge)