Church School Lesson: The Challenges of Change

Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 9:30 AM

"The Challenges of Change"

May 28, 2023

Background: Acts 9:1-31; Print: Acts 9:9-17;

Key Verse: Acts 9:17; Devotional: Philippians 3:1-14

Acts 9:9-17 (ESV)
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.”

Acts Chapter 9 (Commentary)

9:9-14 While this was happening, the Lord spoke to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, told him in a vision where he could find Saul, and commanded him to go and heal his sight (9:9-12). But Ananias wasn’t exactly ready to jump at the opportunity. He had heard that Saul was causing much harm to the saints in Jerusalem and had come to Damascus to arrest others (9:13-14). Ananias was probably thinking, “You want me to go talk to the man who’s in town to arrest believers—like me?” But even when it looks like obedience could result in trouble, God calls us to trust and obey. He is usually up to something much bigger than we realize.

9:15-19 The Lord revealed to Ananias that Saul was his chosen instrument to speak about him to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites (9:15). Here is another indication, then, that divine election is to service and not eternal life. Saul would suffer for the name of Jesus (9:16). So Ananias went to Saul, explained that he had been sent by the same Lord Jesus who had appeared to him, and put his hands on him so that he would be healed and filled with the Holy Spirit (9:17). Then Saul regained his sight and was baptized (9:18).

Event Location

Palestine Missionary Baptist Church • 15787 Wyoming Avenue • Detroit, MI 48238 • US

Contact Information

Contact: Rev. Ronald Burks
Phone: 13133417605
E-mail:
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