July 8, 2018

Flannelgraph Faith: When He Calls, Listen!
July 8, 2018
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

Open:

Most of us have seen a flannelgraph used to illustrate a story at some time in their early life. They were pictorial representations long before technology developed highly sophisticated visual aids. Can someone share a favorite memory using the flannelgraph?

This week we begin a new series using the modern version of the flannelgraph, choosing some of the familiar characters from the New Testament. With a technological visual depiction of our characters, we are going to “revisit” the lives of powerful people. Today we will focus on Saul who later was called by his Roman name, Paul

Focal Passages: Ephesians 4:1-7; Hebrews 12:1, Phil. 3:13

 

 

Discuss:

 

When He Calls, LISTEN!

  • Read Acts 22:3-4. What had Paul (at that time, Saul) been brought up to do as his life’s work? Did he feel he was doing God’s will?
  • Read Acts 9:1-2. With letters giving him authority to persecute followers of Jesus, he headed toward Damascus. What happened?

God’s Call is Unmistakable

  • Read Acts 9:3-4. What occurred next? Why would Jesus ask Paul to acknowledge to Christ what he was doing through persecuting His followers? (1 John 1:9). Does He ask us to acknowledge our sins?
  • Read Acts 22:14. Paul knew he was seeing Jesus yet had to hear it from the lips of Christ. Why?
  • None of us have had the experience Paul did. However, what are some ways God uses to speak to us? How do you know it is Him speaking to you?

God’s Call Can Be Confusing

  • Read 9:10-15. Ananias had been granted by God to know what was happening to Paul. How would you feel if God gave you a job to do such as He gave Ananias?
  • Sometimes God’s commands are not what we (or Paul) expect—or desire. Read Job 3:1-3, Jonah 1:1-3 and Ezekiel 3:14. These three great men were in “bitterness of spirit” such as we might feel. How can you overcome your fleshly desires and obey, such as Paul did?
  • How had God been using Paul’s lifetime background to be the incredible apostle that he became? What benefit came about because of his knowledge of prophecy and of the scriptures?
  • When we receive knowledge in our spirit that God has a job for us, what must we do?

God’s Call is Urgent

  • Read Acts 9:20-22. Paul did not waffle between continuing his former life and his new command from God. Why has that been so important to the church?
  • If Paul had not obeyed God, what would God have done (probably)? Has there been something in your life that you needed to do, but did not, and eventually someone else got the opportunity to serve God through those plans? (Answer in your heart if you’d rather).
  • We all feel that this earth has a limited time left, given the rise of sin and anti-Christian activities. Why does that make winning souls urgent?

 

Close:

The life of Paul is one of intense interest, as we see him raised in a strong Jewish home, studying the Scriptures in the Torah at the feet of the most revered teacher of the Pharisees, and passionate to do what he thought was God’s will. Unfortunately, just as today, those can be qualities that can be had, but the person can still be headed for Hell, as Paul was.

It took a miracle of huge proportions to bring about Paul’s vocation as the last apostle. It is like a page out of a novel to imagine the light of God, the voice, and godly Ananias being asked to go get the worst persecutor of Christians that existed, bring him to the house, and feed and care for him. Few of us would have had the courage to obey God’s will. Yet His will in our lives can be just as catastrophic for us: perhaps a relocation to another country where Christians are few, or perhaps a call to work in a Muslim country, helping them through their trials. God calls many to come to Christ because of the love they see from Christians. Perhaps He asks you to be single for life, or childless.

Whatever God has called you to do, do it as Paul did: immediately, urgently, and with all your might, thanking Him for using you.

 

Key Verse: Acts 9:20: Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (NKJV)

Focal Passages: Acts 9:1-22.

 

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