“PAUL MEETS JESUS”
YEAH! CHURCH - SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022
"Doing Life with Jesus”
Today’s Lesson - “Paul Meets Jesus”
Video Story/Resource:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXuvwAKsaDU (Pursue God Kids – Saul Meets Jesus)
Paul Meets Jesus
Acts 9:1-19a, NLT
“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.
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?”
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.”
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.
10 Now there was a believer[b] in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord!” he replied.
11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers[c] in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.”
Saul believed in God and had even studied the Scriptures. But he did not think that Jesus was God’s promised Messiah and so tried to eradicate the Christians. He thought they were teaching false doctrine about God and he wanted to put a stop to it. But Saul was wrong…and Jesus ended up putting a stop to him!
Saul had gotten letters from the high priest allowing him to travel to other cities in order to imprison anyone he found who believed in Jesus. The early believers were scared of Saul and for good reason…he not only arrested people, but some Christians were then also killed. Saul set out for Damascus to do the same thing in that city, but he had a surprise encounter on the way.
Jesus showed up! Saul saw a light that was so bright it left him blind and he heard Jesus asking him why he was so determined to fight against Jesus. Paul didn’t have a good answer and had to be led by the hand into Damascus. He spent the next three days praying and fasting…he realized that he had been completely wrong about Jesus and the Christians.
God sent a man named Ananias to heal Saul. He was a little afraid to do so because of Saul’s reputation, but Jesus assured him that Saul had been chosen for a very important and very difficult job. After Ananias prayed for Saul, he was once again able to see. He was immediately was baptized and began to teach people that Jesus was the Messiah!
Engage:
• Paul had trained as a Pharisee and was devoted to God. So, why did he not understand that Jesus was God’s promised rescuer?
• He thought the teaching about Jesus was wrong and needed to be stopped. How did he attempt to do this?
• Paul got special letters from the high priest and set out for Damascus to arrest any Christians he found there. Who did he meet on the way?
• Paul was blinded and remained that way for three days. How did he get his sight back?
• Ananias was a little afraid to meet with Paul because of his nasty reputation. How do we know that Paul had changed?
Weekly verse:
1 Timothy 1:16, NLT – “But God had mercy on me, Paul, 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.”
2022 Theme verses:
Colossians 2:6-7, NLT – “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Prayer – Dear GoYEAH! CHURCH - SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022