Teach the children the account of sauls conversion to the church of jesus christ as found in acts 9. Saul went to the synagogue and started preaching that jesus was the son of god. They set as their lifes ambition to try to destroy christianity. In the conversion of saul we see 1 selective confrontation, 2 sincere contrition, 3 serious concern, and 4 scandalous conversion. The steps that saul took can teach us a lot about what it takes to become a christian a. Prepare your messages about saul with sermon outlines or an entire sermon series. The following is a sample of how to teach the lesson.
Sauls dramatic conversion grace valley christian center. Pauls conversion is like most conversions we know of, from an immoral to a moral life. Saved himself, he was able to show others the way of salvation. An encouraging lesson from pauls conversion answers. Saul the destroyer when stephen was martyred for preaching the gospel.
Paul s was a model conversion in the factors that led up to it. Saul was very religious and very zealous for his faith. But what about what happened after sauls conversion. The power of god is revealed in the conversion of saul the power of conversion acts 9. Meanwhile, saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the lords disciples. The conversion of saul of tarsus was one of the most remarkable facts in christian history. Jesus transforms sauls life give bibles to students who need one. Overflowing grace for all who believe the conversion of the chief of sinners resource by john piper. These are other accounts of pauls conversion experience, as luke related the apostles own words near the end of his evangelistic career and indeed, just a couple of years most likely from the end of his life.
Watkins on the conversion of saul, who would become the apostle paul. It is an undoubted truth, however paradoxical it may seem to natural men, that whosoever will live godly in christ jesus, shall suffer persecution. Everyone was amazed because they knew that saul was one who was against jesus. The conversion of saul of tarsus new boston church of christ. Acts 9 conversion of saul object lesson for children. Ananias obeys and several days later there is saul, preaching jesus in the synagogue and, soon after, finding himself a target of a plot by his former friends to kill him. When i come to the end of this sermon, im going to close with two. In this second sermon on the life of paul, i continue to use charles swindolls book, paul. Ministry to helps you tell kids about jesus by providing ageappropriate bible study material and sunday school curriculum all 100% free online we believe that god is the loving father of all kids. Jan 25, 2014 and jesus christ met him on the road to damascus to give him through that forgiveness the gift of conversion. On the way to damascus, a bright light appeared and saul heard the voice of jesus saying, saul, saul, why are you persecuting.
To study and understand the conversion of saul so that we may explain it to others. Even saul of tarsus, though called by christ himself, is taught the way of faith by a fellow man. Saul received a new lord, new sight, and a new dynamic. I would say beyond the person of our lord jesus christ himself that paul has had the greatest influence on my life, and that influence has been going on for most of my life. Before his conversion, paul was known as saul and was a zealous pharisee who intensely persecuted the followers of christ. Overflowing grace for all who believe desiring god.
But an unexpected meeting changed his mind and heart. After that meeting with jesus, saul s life was transformed. In the new york times, recently there was a fullpage ad for columbia university. But, saul got stronger and stronger and surprised and confused the jews who lived in damascus with his preaching about christ. His testimony that it was the resurrected jesus who appeared to him b. The conversion of saul is given a great deal of space in the new testament. Ponder the conversion of paul, the sovereignty of christ, and what pauls sins have to do with your salvation. But saul s conversion is also valuable for insights regarding the process of conversion. The conversion of saul sermon by russell rhodes, acts 9. Once there was a woman who testified to the conversion and transformation in her life that had resulted from becoming a christian. In the beginning of acts 9 we have the record of the conversion of saul of tarsus, and immediately we discover that something was going on in. Mar 10, 2008 ponder the conversion of paul, the sovereignty of christ, and what pauls sins have to do with your salvation. Apr 19, 2012 the reason i tell you this, is because we are in acts 9.
Pauls road to damascus conversion bible study guide. In the beginning of acts 9 we have the record of the conversion of saul of tarsus, and immediately we discover that something was going on in saul s conscience before the lord met him on the damascus road. Meanwhile, saul, still breathing threats and murder against the. Who became paul the apostle, persecuted by his jewish brethren in this lesson we shall consider why saul s conversion serves as strong evidence for the resurrection of jesus. Pauls experience on the damascus road ligonier ministries.
There was no human explanation for sauls conversion. The accounts of pauls conversion experience describe it as miraculous, supernatural, or otherwise revelatory in nature. Not once, but continuously throughout the rest of his life serving as one of the greatest evidences for the resurrection of jesus. The conversion of saul of tarsus is a sermon outline on conversion preached by kevin cauley to the new boston church of christ located in new boston, texas. Free access to sermons on conversion saul, church sermons, illustrations on conversion saul, and powerpoints for preaching on conversion saul. The pharisee saul, who later became the missionary paul, saw this very early. The conversion of saul sermon by jerry shirley, acts 9. It is his divine will that young people come to faith in jesus christ and find salvation through the gospel and the work of the holy spirit to bring them to faith. Even a combative, antichristian like paul ultimately accepted jesus christ. Before his conversion, paul, also known as saul, was a pharisee of pharisees, who intensely persecuted the followers of jesus. Unlimited patience pauls conversion what do i need to know about the passage. Spurgeon at the music hall, royal surrey gardens and when we were.
It was his preaching that resulted in the conversion of many gentiles, and it was his writing his epistles to these saints which greatly strengthened them in their faith. Fundamental to the christian faith is the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead. It advertised seven fields of study in which a person can get a master of arts in liberal studies. Saul was undoubtedly challenged and convicted by the life and witness of stephen. For details about this sermon and for related resources, click here. When we consider these accounts together, we learn two things about sauls call and conversion. Not a musical instrument, but a tool that can be useful. The story of pauls conversion on the road to damascus is told in acts 9. Great things were expected from saul and he immediately began preaching. Oct 18, 2014 what can we learn from sauls conversion who later was called paul during his visitation with christ on the damascus road. God sometimes suffers a bad man to succeed in a bad cause, so as to make his arrest more abrupt, and his final failure more overwhelming. Everyone who heard saul preaching about jesusdoing the same thing that he had been arresting christians for doingwas amazed. It is important to be familiar with the passage enabling you to keep eye contact with each student as you tell the story so you can adapt to whatever is going on. From that day on, he became known as paul and instead of trying to destroy the church, he went from town to town preaching and teaching in the name of jesus.
He was even part of a group that stoned a man named stephen because he was preaching about jesus. Sermons on sauls conversion second presbyterian church. How surely fixed is the unseen limit beyond which rebellious sinners are not permitted to go. How did the jewish leaders react to sauls conversion. May, 2001 the greatest conversion story in the bible. Another line of thought is suggested in ananias, the helper in saul s conversion. People were amazed at the change that took place in paul s life. They believed that if they could disprove 2 claims of christianity, they could destroy peoples faith in it. It would be comparable to hearing that saddam hussein had gotten converted and had become an evangelist to the arabs. Of all the conversion stories in the bible, none is greater or more profound than the conversion of the man called saul of tarsus. Saul of tarsus, a pharisee in jerusalem after the crucifixion and resurrection of jesus christ, swore to wipe out the new christian church, called the way. One evidence for the resurrection is the transformation that took place in the lives of those who knew jesus. Sauls entire world, his very foundation, was turned upside down.
Some state that saul was saved on the road to damascus a. Two times in our readings before we have heard mention of this saul guy. For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see teaching from the scriptures, p. Years ago in england there were 2 brilliant antagonists of the christian faith. Saul the destroyer when stephen was martyred for preaching. They believed that if they could disprove 2 claims of christianity, they could destroy peoples.
But in acts 9saul was blinded by unbelief, then he was blinded by the light of christ before he was converted. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the gentiles and to more distant places. The conversion of paul was the conversion of an utterly committed opponent of christianity. America studies, ancient studies, east asian studies, islamic studies, jewish studies, medieval studies, and south asian studies. Saul of tarsus first presbyterian church, jackson, mississippi.
An amazing transformation that took place was that in the conversion of saul of tarsus. Help the children understand that this saul is not the man who was the first king of israel but is the man who became the great. For three days he refused to eat or drink, so mighty was the impact of what he had learned. Were going to try to kind of hurry our way through this 9th chapter. From the fact that three different accounts of sauls conversion are recorded in acts, we know this event had to play a crucial role in the expansion of the church. Through the centuries there have been many stories of people who were dramatically converted from sinners to servants of the savior, but none are as dramatic or has had as great an impact on the church as that of the conversion of saul of tarsus into paul, the apostle. We will look at the events that happened to saul in order. 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.
In the beginning of acts 9 we have the record of the conversion of saul of tarsus, and immediately we discover that something was going on in sauls conscience before the lord met him on the damascus road. The first of these accounts contains the words of jesus to ananias in damascus. A spiritual lsd, if you will the conversion of saul, pt. Meanwhile, saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the way, men or women, he might bring them. Ananias, sauls companions, or the other damascus disciples. Conversion is a miracle that happens when the life of god intersects with human personality. Acts 9 might be the most famous passage in acts because we are at the road to damascus, or sauls conversion. And this man, stephen, has been circulating among the hellenistic synagogues in jerusalem and preaching jesus christ.
Immediately, something like scales fell from saul s eyes and he could see again. God considers us to be vessels, or instruments, and saul is a great example of one for us. Apr 09, 2015 a clip from matt chandler s sermon entitled the life worth living for christ is a life worth losing at cross conference 20. What is the significance of the resurrection of jesus. This means that between pauls birth and his call on the damascus road. The conversion of saul 1992 all sermons by pastor john osteen. Until then, you may be religious and you may be a very good person and you may obey all the rules of the church, but you have not been converted. A sermon on sauls conversion road to damascus nathan. Humanly speaking, saul was not a likely candidate for salvation. At the end of chapter seven and the beginning of chapter eight we have been introduced to saul. The story of paul s conversion on the road to damascus is told in acts 9. Perhaps there has never happened an event of equal importance since the days.
Do you remember, at whose feet were the cloaks cast when stephen was stoned. How marvellous the condescension which induced the saviour to take notice of such a wretch as saul. Some call sauls conversion the most important conversion in history since millions upon millions of christians trace their spiritual roots to him. If christ was not raised, the apostles were liars cf. The spurgeon center the conversion of saul of tarsus. Pauls conversion bible story summary, study and lesson. Not only is his faith shifted, his identity is changed. That of saul of tarsus, chief persecutor of the early church ac 8. Once god enters the picture, your life will never be the same again. So well look at chapter 9 and just glance through it. A sermon on sauls conversion road to damascus, acts 9. In this study of that second great event of christianity, the conversion of saul of tarsus, i would like to examine three points. Spurgeon at the music hall, royal surrey gardens and when we were all fallen to the earth, i heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the hebrew tongue, saul, saul, why persecutest thou me.
For saul, preaching to greekspeaking jews was good practice, since his calling in life would be to evangelize the greek world. Our sermon ideas on saul will help you preach a powerful message. Then the lord said, i am jesus, whom you are persecuting. More sermons from the book of acts complete sermon archive books by rev. But there is no human explanation for any true conversion, because salvation is from the lord, not from man. Sep 01, 2008 from a ravenous wolf to a loving shepherd pauls encounter with christ acts 9. As demonstrated in the book of acts, why does preaching the gospel go handinhand with suffering. I challenged my church last week to pray for our church. Paul said that god set me apart before i was born, and then on the damascus road called me by his grace galatians 1. A lesson that many need to learn by people caught up in denominational teachings. Saul was of strictly jewish parentage, he received jewish education at jerusalem in the school of the pharisean rabbi. God uses men, and not angels, to point souls to salvation. Net sermon outlines bible lessons bible questions bulletin articles site index more.
In acts 9, we pick up the story of saul, who was briefly introduced at the end of. Convert a selected clip from one of your sermons into an animated video creatively styled. We sang that hymn, of course, because its based on the chapter were going to be looking at, acts 9 on the conversion of saul of tarsus. The first thing saul did was to get up and be baptized just as ananias had said. Raised a jew, trained as a rabbi, he became a violent persecutor of the early christian church. The conversion of saul of tarsus and when we were all fallen to the earth, i heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the hebrew tongue, saul, saul, why persecutest thou me. Pauls was a model conversion in the factors that led up to it. What can we learn from sauls conversion who later was called paul during his visitation with christ on the damascus road. We often talk about the conversion of saul later known as the apostle paul because of the important lessons to be found in it about how one becomes a christian.