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)
Date | Series | Sermon | Scripture | Special Events |
5-Jan | Inclement Weather Day – No Services | |||
12-Jan | Living Life Together | Why Are We Here, Where Are We Going, and How Do You Fit In? | Ephesians 3:14-21 | |
19-Jan | Living Life Together | Living Together As the People of God | Exodus 1:1-2:10, 23-25 | Sanctity of Human Life; Baby Dedication |
26-Jan | Inclement Weather Day – No Services | |||
2-Feb | Living Life Together | Living Life Together Through a Growing Knowledge of Our God | Exodus 3:1-15; 4:1-17 | |
9-Feb | Living Life Together | Living Life Together by Selecting the Right God | Exodus 5:1-6:13 | |
16-Feb | Living Life Together | Living Life Together in the Joy of Our Redemption | Exodus 11:1-12:41 | Valentine’s Day |
23-Feb | Living Life Together | Living Life Together by Trusting Our Mighty Deliverer | Exodus 14 | |
2-Mar | Inclement Weather Day – No Services | |||
9-Mar | Living Life Together | Living Life Together by Rejoicing in a Shepherd Who Provides | Exodus 16 | Daylight Savings Time Begins; Gideon Speaker |
16-Mar | Living Life Together | Living Life Together by Joyful Obedience to Our Covenant | Exodus 19 | |
23-Mar | Guest Speaker | Chris Gendron | ||
30-Mar | Living Life Together | Living Life Together in Celebration of the Mercy of God | Exodus 32 | 5th Sunday; BCC 101 |
6-Apr | Friend Request | Joining the Celebration | Philippians 2:1-18 | Camp Selah |
13-Apr | Friend Request | The End of Blah, Blah, Blah | John 12:1-19 | Palm Sunday |
20-Apr | Friend Request | When You Give and Receive Nothing in Return | Matthew 26:42-56 | Easter |
27-Apr | Friend Request | Who’s Got Your Back? | 1 Samuel 18:1-16, 19:1-7, 20:1-42 | |
4-May | Friend Request | Strength in Numbers: Praying for One Another | Colossians 4:2-4 | |
11-May | Friend Request | Hospitality for Busy Lives | Romans 12:1-13 | Mother’s Day |
18-May | Friend Request | When You Need a Friend – Because Two is Better Than One | 1 Peter 1:-2:3, 3:13-18, 4:1-10, 12-19 | Congregational Business Meeting |
25-May | Guest Speaker | Scott Towers | Memorial Weekend | |
1-Jun | Friend of God | An Outrageous Possibility | James 2:14-26 | Honor Graduates |
8-Jun | Friend of God | God Dwelling With Us | 1 Corinthians 6:1-20 | Communion |
15-Jun | Friend of God | God Ruling Us – Coming to Grips with Jesus as Our Benevolent King | Romans 10:9-13 | Father’s Day; Baby Dedication |
22-Jun | Friend of God | God Loving Us | Romans 8:31-39 | |
29-Jun | Friend of God | God With Us | Isaiah 7:1-16 | 5th Sunday |
6-Jul | Friend of God | God Interceding For Us | Romans 8:12-27 | Independence Day |
13-Jul | Friend of God | God Our Father | Romans 8:12-17 | |
20-Jul | Friend of God | God Preparing For Us | Revelation 21:1-22:5 | Communion |
27-Jul | Living Life Together | Living Life Together Because Our Family Had a Great Beginning | Acts 11:1-11, 2:1-16 | |
3-Aug | Living Life Together | The Message That Draws Us Together | Acts 4:1-36 | VBS Day |
10-Aug | Living Life Together | Handling Our Finances with Generosity and Integrity | Acts 5:1-16 | |
17-Aug | Living Life Together | Proclaiming the Name | Acts 5:12-42 | |
24-Aug | Living Life Together | Solving Problems Quickly | Acts 6:1-7 | Baptism and Family Night |
31-Aug | Living Life Together | Facing Pressure Courageously | Acts 6:7-15, 51-60 | 5th Sunday |
7-Sep | Living Life Together | When Times Are Hard | Acts 8:1-40 | |
14-Sep | Living Life Together | Amazed by God’s Grace | Acts 9:1-31 | |
21-Sep | Living Life Together | Celebrating Everyone’s Place On The Team | Acts 9:32-42 | Communion; SYATP |
28-Sep | Living Life Together | Praying With Hearts of Faith | Acts 12:1-25 | |
5-Oct | Living Life Together | Properly Fulfilling the Mission | Acts 13:1-16, 38-52 | Hayride—Fall Party |
12-Oct | Living Life Together | Discerning God’s Will As A Family | Acts 15:1-35 | |
19-Oct | Living Life Together | Experiencing the Power of God | Acts 15:36-16:34 | BCC 101 |
26-Oct | Guest Speaker | Scott Towers | ||
2-Nov | Living Life Together | Making a Difference That Can’t Be Ignored | Acts 17:1-15 | Daylight Savings Time Ends |
9-Nov | Stewardship | LLT by Taking the Next Step in Your Financial Earning | Col 3:22-25 | |
16-Nov | Stewardship | The Next Step in Spending | Luke 12:13-33 | Thanksgiving Dinner |
23-Nov | Stewardship | The Next Step in Giving | 2 Cor 8:1-15; 9:14 | Communion |
30-Nov | That Crazy Family of Yours | Tis the Season for OCD | Philippians 3:1-16 | 5th Sunday |
7-Dec | That Crazy Family of Yours | Too Much Sugar, Too Many Presents | Deuteronomy 6:1-9 | |
14-Dec | That Crazy Family of Yours | Fixing Your Focus | Matthew 2:1-12 | Children’s program |
21-Dec | That Crazy Family of Yours | Loving Your Outlaws | Genesis 2:18-25 | |
24-Dec, Wednesday | That Crazy Family of Yours | Christmas Has Always Been Crazy | Luke 2:1-20 | Christmas Eve |
28- Dec | That Crazy Family of Yours | The Biggest Bill Has Been Paid | Colossians 2:1-15 |