Acts 9: The Right Kind of Risk

252 – Acts 9: The Right Kind of Risk 

But 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 belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  …suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” ACTS 9:1-5 ESV

…But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. ACTS 9:13,15-16 ESV

GODLY RISK IS ALWAYS RIGHT

Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. ACTS 9:17 ESV

IF GOD CAN SAVE SAUL, THERE IS HOPE FOR EVERYONE

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.  1 TIMOTHY 1:15–16 NLT

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.  ACTS 9:26-27 ESV

DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR BARNABAS MOMENT

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ… 1 CORINTHIANS 4:15-17 ESV

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  ROMANS 15:1 ESV

SCARS TELL A BETTER STORY THAN FEARS


Community Group Discussion Guide:

  1. What are some risks you have taken that were worth it?
  2. What difficult circumstances in your life actually produced the most growth?
  3. In what ways has God disrupted your life?
  4. What did the experiences of the first 3 questions teach you about God?
  5. What did you learn about yourself?
  6. Where might God be currently inserting himself into your life or calling you to something difficult?

My Notes