Not-So-Quiet-Time: Acts 9
At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 11/2
Day 1: Verses 1-9
This story shows the awesome and loving power of God. Saul had made destroying the church his life’s mission. He was dead in his sin and an enemy of God. But God met him on the road, not to destroy him, but to save him. God didn’t merely offer Saul the opportunity to believe, He changed him. God still saves his enemies today. God still redeems sinners today. How did God work to save you from your sin and transform you from his enemy to his friend?
Day 2: Verses 10-19
Ananias had every reason to be afraid of Saul. He knew his story. He understood Saul’s mission. But God told Ananias to serve Saul, and so he went. Following Jesus can be very difficult. He really did say to love our enemies and to always forgive. These things can be hard and scary. But it is always rewarding to trust in Jesus, to obey Him, and to follow his example. Ask God to give you courage to follow Him today.
Day 3: Verse 20-25
People who had known Saul before would have been shocked to see how his life had been changed. Many couldn’t believe that such a radical change was even possible. But over time, Saul’s new track record became hard to ignore. When they doubted him, “Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ” (9:22). How does your life look different because you have been changed by Jesus?
Day 4: Verses 26-31
Barnabas is the friend Saul needed. When the apostles didn’t trust him and didn’t want to see him, Barnabas vouched for him. And this made all the difference. In fact, this was the start of a ministry partnership that God would use in big ways in the future. Who are the friends that help you follow Jesus? Who are the people that you help to live out their faith?
Day 5: Verses 32-43
God used Peter to heal in two different places. The outcome was that many people came to know and follow Jesus. Peter had not planned or strategized these healings so that there would be revival in these cities. Instead, he simply took the opportunities that God gave. And he was clear to give God all the glory. Are you on the look-out for opportunities to share Christ today?
Catechism Connection: WSC 29-32
How does someone who is dead in sin, like Saul, become alive in Christ? “The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ by creating faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling” (WSC 30). How does the Spirit call us? By “convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel” (WSC 31). God doesn’t just make salvation available, He actually saves sinners by giving us faith, changing our minds about sin, giving us new wills so that we love Christ. That is good news!
Day 1: Verses 1-9
This story shows the awesome and loving power of God. Saul had made destroying the church his life’s mission. He was dead in his sin and an enemy of God. But God met him on the road, not to destroy him, but to save him. God didn’t merely offer Saul the opportunity to believe, He changed him. God still saves his enemies today. God still redeems sinners today. How did God work to save you from your sin and transform you from his enemy to his friend?
Day 2: Verses 10-19
Ananias had every reason to be afraid of Saul. He knew his story. He understood Saul’s mission. But God told Ananias to serve Saul, and so he went. Following Jesus can be very difficult. He really did say to love our enemies and to always forgive. These things can be hard and scary. But it is always rewarding to trust in Jesus, to obey Him, and to follow his example. Ask God to give you courage to follow Him today.
Day 3: Verse 20-25
People who had known Saul before would have been shocked to see how his life had been changed. Many couldn’t believe that such a radical change was even possible. But over time, Saul’s new track record became hard to ignore. When they doubted him, “Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ” (9:22). How does your life look different because you have been changed by Jesus?
Day 4: Verses 26-31
Barnabas is the friend Saul needed. When the apostles didn’t trust him and didn’t want to see him, Barnabas vouched for him. And this made all the difference. In fact, this was the start of a ministry partnership that God would use in big ways in the future. Who are the friends that help you follow Jesus? Who are the people that you help to live out their faith?
Day 5: Verses 32-43
God used Peter to heal in two different places. The outcome was that many people came to know and follow Jesus. Peter had not planned or strategized these healings so that there would be revival in these cities. Instead, he simply took the opportunities that God gave. And he was clear to give God all the glory. Are you on the look-out for opportunities to share Christ today?
Catechism Connection: WSC 29-32
How does someone who is dead in sin, like Saul, become alive in Christ? “The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ by creating faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling” (WSC 30). How does the Spirit call us? By “convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel” (WSC 31). God doesn’t just make salvation available, He actually saves sinners by giving us faith, changing our minds about sin, giving us new wills so that we love Christ. That is good news!
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