Amazed by God’s Grace (Acts 9:1-31)
Mark Pitman, September 14, 2014Part of the Living Life Together series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
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Acts 9:1–31 (Listen)
9:1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 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. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 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. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “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.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 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. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
(ESV)
Sunday | Theme | Message | Scripture | Special Events |
1/6/13 | Finding Hope | Why are We Here, Where are We Going, How Do You Fit in? | Romans 15:2 | |
1/13/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus is Superior in Every Way | Hebrews 1:1-14 | |
1/20/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Deserves your Attention | Hebrews 2:1-8 | Sanctity of Human Life |
1/27/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Soften Your Heart | Hebrews 3:1-19 | |
2/3/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Rest | Hebrews 4:1-5 | |
2/10/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Hope | Hebrews 5:10 | Valentine’s Day |
2/17/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Help You Draw Near to God | Hebrews 7:1-28 | |
2/24/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Offers You a Better Promise | Hebrews 8:1-13 | |
3/3/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Shed His Blood for You | Hebrews 9:1-28 | |
3/10/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Confidence | Hebrews 10:1-39 | Daylight Savings begins; Gideon Speaker |
3/17/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus is Worthy of Your Faith | Hebrews 11:1-40 | |
3/24/13 | Finding Hope | Finding Hope from 5 Surprises at the Cross | Matthew 27:27 | Palm Sunday |
3/31/13 | Finding Hope | Finding Hope from Inside the Tomb | Acts 2:1-42 | Easter |
4/7/13 | Guest Speaker—Scott Towers | |||
4/14/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Taught Us to Endure | Hebrews 12:1-29 | Camp Selah |
4/21/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Taught Us to Change | Hebrews 13:1-25 | |
4/28/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Tears You Up | Matthew 6:25 | |
5/5/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Makes You Small | Matthew 6:25 | |
5/12/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Steals Your Hope | Matthew 6:26, 28-30 | Mother’s Day |
5/19/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Wastes You Time | Matthew 6:27 | |
5/26/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Offends Your Father | Matthew 6:26, 32 | Memorial Day Weekend |
6/2/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Leads You Astray | Matthew 6:32 | Honor Graduates |
6/9/13 | Guest Speaker–Christopher Avell | |||
6/16/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Turns Your Head | Matthew 6:33-34 | Father’s Day; Baby Dedication |
6/23/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #1 Grace | Genesis 39:1-40:8 | |
6/30/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #2 Encouragement | Ephesians 4:29 | FOURTH OF JULY—5th Sunday at the Pavilion following service |
7/7/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #3 Loyalty | 2 Samuel 23:8-17 | |
7/14/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #4 Forgiveness | Matt 18:15-35 | Communion |
7/21/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #5 Transparency | 1 John 1:1-2:2 | |
7/28/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #6 Perseverance | Hebrews 10:32-11:2; 12:1-3 | |
8/4/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Hope | 1 Cor 10:13 | |
8/11/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Finding Hope (or Ruin) in Becoming What We Worship | Isaiah 6 | |
8/18/13 | Guest Speaker—Mike and Carolyn Ballast (Missionaries) | I Cor 1 | VBS Sunday (Avalanche Ranch: A Wild Ride through God’s Word) | |
8/25/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Get in the Game | Eph 4:11-16 | Baptism & Family Night at PSR |
9/1/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Challenge of Hope | Ruth 1:1-15 | Labor Day |
9/8/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Contrast of Hope | Ruth 1:16-22 | |
9/15/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Providence of Hope | Ruth 2:1-13 | Randy and Adena Wildman (Missionaries)Men’s Outing (9/21)– Robert Houk’s home |
9/22/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Provision of Hope | Ruth 2:14-23 | SYATP (9/25) |
9/29/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Adventure of Hope | Ruth 3:1-13 | 5th Sunday—Harvest party at the Pavilion (Rides/camp fire, etc.); Shawn & Amanda (Missionaries); BCC 101 Class |
10/6/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Faithfulness of Hope | Ruth 3:14-18 | Communion |
10/13/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Resources of Hope | Ruth 4:1-12 | Columbus Day- 10/14 |
10/20/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Prodigy of Hope | Ruth 4:13-22 | (10/19) Harvest Party at The Fethers. |
10/27/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Foundation of Stewardship | Mark 12:1-12 | Testimony |
11/3/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Giving | Luke 19:11-27 | Testimony |
11/10/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Serving | 1 Cor 12:12-27 | Veteran’s Day—11/11; Testimony |
11/17/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Commitment | Joshua 24:14-28 | Testimony |
11/24/113 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Thanksgiving | Ps 107 | Thanksgiving; Decorate Church |
12/1/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Wonder of Your Eternal Home | 2 Cor 5:1-21 | HOPE;Advent Scripture– Isaiah; Communion |
12/8/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | Bowing Down Wisely | Ps 95:6 | PEACE; Advent Scripture– Micah 5:2, 4-5; Children’s Program |
12/15/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Beauty of Your Eternal Home | Rev 21 | JOY; Advent Scripture– Isaiah 9:6 -7 |
12/22/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Gift that Overcomes Death | 1 Cor 15:50-58 | LOVE; Advent Scripture– Isaiah 52:7-10 |
12/24/13 | Christmas Eve | The Perfection of Heaven | Ps 24:3-4 | |
12/29/13 | Preparing to Live by Preparing to Die | 2 Kings 18:13-19 | 5th Sunday |