Next study, Salvation

After completing the series "Making much of Jesus," from Genesis to Malachi (not sure where the last study went to), the Lord impressed my heart towards "Biblical Behavior."  I won't labor any one point but we discussed how each of the following can be used for good if one follows the bible on them or for ill if one doesn't; the tongue, the mind, wisdom, pride, keeping the heart, waiting on the Lord, time and what one does with it.

Today, I began; "Salvation."  I do not know the hearts of my students but the intent is for them to examine themselves in light of whether they have trusted the Lord Jesus.
An appropriate introduction seemed to look at the conversion of Saul.  Truly it was an epic beginning to the christian life of a man who formally wanted to imprison and kill Christians.
We started with something real and concrete the kids could see, touch and feel.  That is, the testimony of the lost pastor's wife who had been taught to go to church from an early age and whose lost daddy wanted her to observe "other kids" begin baptized; an 18 y.o. who the Lord began dealing with at the age of 6 before she surrendered, even though brought up in church but in a stormy household; and finally, a 16 y.o., who was a preachers grandson and saved at the tender age of 7 at home while playing ball by himself.  Thus, discrediting naysayers who might say the Grandfather Preacher coerced him into it.
We read about the conversion of Saul and how "the scales fell from his eyes." (Acts 1.18)  Then the next step in obedience to faith in the Lord Jesus, baptism.
Lord willing, it is on my heart to continue teaching about this conversion.  After that, the outline below:

Salvation, the lesson

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lets any man should boast.” (Eph 2.8, 9)

The Apostle Paul – what's his story?  Acts 9.1-22

The Apostle Paul's story:

• Jesus had already ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Ghost (Acts 2.4) as promised.
• The Holy Ghost is the one “called alongside to help.”
• The Lord's disciple, Stephen, had preached in the power of the Holy Ghost which had come in so much conviction that the people “stopped their ears” and “stoned” him: then “laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.” (Acts 7.57, 58) (Yes, conviction has the tendencey/power to make one MAD/SAD when one see's their sins as God see's them)
• The next scene finds “Saul consenting unto (Stephen's) death. And at that time there was 'great' persecution against the church...at Jerusalem...As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and (dragging off) men and women (and putting them into) prison.” (Acts 8.1-3)
• “And Saul. Yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters...that if he found any of this way whether...men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9.1,2)
• It goes without saying, that early christians were afraid of this man. He was known for killing or putting into prison, anyone who named the name of Christ. He was a religious Pharisee (Acts 23.6).

But something very significant in the birth of Christianity was getting ready to happen – this same “Saul” - well, read on

?ACTIVITY: children blind folded, “stumbling around in darkness until light is turned on”

READ Acts 9.1-31 for remainder of story, discuss talking points below – then listen to youtube (audio only) “The road to Damascus,” BibleVideos.org.

• Acts 9.1-18

I. “scales fell off his eyes” v18

• “suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:...And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”
• What does it mean when it says, “Scales fell off his eyes?
• Scales - (W)the small shell or crust which composes a part of the covering of a fish; any thin layer exfoliated or separated (G3013) to strip off the rind or husk, to peel
• If we are to take the meaning literally, “the covering or layer was separated like the peeling of the rind of a fruit or as one “husks” or “shucks” corn.
• So, if a layer needed to be “peeled or stripped” away, then something was being hidden behind that layer. What was being hidden from Saul, the killer of christians?
• It is obvious he didn't see what the Lord wanted him to see.
• Do you see clearly concerning things of God?
• Saul honestly thought he was doing the right thing by persecuting and killing christians.
• Have you ever thought you were doing the right thing and discovered by the scriptures that you were not?
• For example: We are told plainly in the 10 commandments, “Thou shalt not lie.” But when your mom asked if you had eaten all your peas, did you say “yes,” when you really covered them up or threw them out before she caught you? What made you “lie” and not tell the whole truth? Do you really believe the commandment, “thou shalt not lie,” or only as it applies to your logic?

While this is not as strong or seems as bad as what Saul was doing, it's the same principal. You honesly convinced yourself it was alright to lie in this instance.

I would add that if there “shone round about him a light from heaven,” then it reasons that he walked in darkness concerning things of God before that event. Just like the example above – he thought he was doing right when “the scales” fell off and the Lord was going to point him in the right direction.

Do you stumble around in darkness of what is right to do or do you see clearly from scriptures what is right to do?

Have you trusted the Lord to shine the light in your heart and repent of your sins and trust that He died for you, thus acknowledging that He took “the scales” from your eyes to see His way instead of yours?

Activity: have students relay, in their own words, what happened at the conversion of Saul/Paul

II. “strengthed with meat” v19 - “meat” is another word for scripture

III. immediately “preached Christ...the Son of God” - he never hesitated to tell who Jesus was and what He did for him

IV. all noticed his boldness in things of God v21 – folks will be “amazed” at you too when you know Him and testify of Him and they see a change in your life.