SURREY CHAPEL – Fellowship Group Notes for the 15th/16th January 2014
ACTS – CHURCH ON THE MOVE
(Theme Acts 1:8)
Chapter 9: 1-22 Opponent converted

F.B.Meyer states that Saul’s mission now to Damascus had been going on for about a year  in Jerusalem (Chapter8v3). How do you think the Christians were praying about this persecution? Were they praying for Saul’s conversion or their own safety in those days?

STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS   v1-9
v1-2 	Man on a mission. How would you describe Saul’s attitude from these verses?
‘the Way’ –see also Chapter 19v9&23; 22v4 & 24v14&23. Why this title?  (John14v6-7)
Why does Saul take this drastic action? (Remember he is a well trained Pharisee)
v4	cf.v1 - -Why does Jesus say to Saul ‘why do you persecute Me?’ (cf.Matt18v5-6)
v5	Saul’s response is interesting – using the word ‘Lord’ - -what does he mean by this question?
How do you think Saul felt being confronted by someone called ‘Jesus’?  Remember he was convinced that Jesus was a blasphemer who got the death he deserved. Now this Jesus is alive and confronting Saul and speaking to him by name.
v8	See how Jesus brought Saul into Damascus – in contrast to v2.
v9	Does this seem a hard way to begin your Christian life? Is the waiting time wasted?
Can people you know –who seem so opposed to the gospel, be converted?
How may this passage affect your prayer life?
‘It does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere’. How would you respond?

MEETING THE ENEMY    v10-19
If Saul was terrified meeting Jesus –how much more would Ananias have been with the Lord calling him (v11) to go to Saul? 
Take note how graciously God makes use of prepared people as partners in His work of salvation. Here God calls Saul and then uses Ananias to complete the follow up. How does this encourage and also challenge you?
v10	A willing response to God’s call. 
v13-14 A now hesitant man - -why the change?
v17	An obedient servant. How does Ananias demonstrates his acceptance of Saul?
Really no explanation should have been needed (v15-16) Ananias had his suspicions about Saul, but put them aside as the Lord had already accepted him.
God is patient with us (as an example of this see Exodus 3v11-4v17 –as God calls Moses)
v18-19a	How does Saul respond?
Would you have been ready to respond like Ananias or perhaps hesitant?
Are you ready to say ‘O use me Lord, use even me, just as you will, and when and where’?

PERSECUTOR TO PREACHER  v19b-22        
Charles Wesley –‘My heart is full of Christ and longs its glorious matter to declare’.
v19b 	What were those days like? Times of preparation and fellowship are needed.
v20	Why do you think he started preaching in the synagogues?
V21-22	A passionate preacher!! See what he majors on.
‘Jesus is the Christ’ – see also Hebrews 1.

												D.J.
PRAYER POINTS:                                                                                                     
Various things from the study –including our taking every opportunity to share the Gospel,
 and our acceptance of every believer in Christ.
The pastors and their families.
Tony and Len in their open air witness in the City each Saturday morning.