Kernan Community Groups
Sermon Discussion Guide
July 13, 2025
FORWARD: Saul’s Conversion
Acts 9:1-31
Today we’re talking about complete life transformation. Can anyone think of an example of someone who did a complete “180” or completely turned their life around? This could be a real person or a fictional character.
Acts 8:3
[3] But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Acts 9:1-9
[1] But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest [2] and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. [3] Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. [4] And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” [5] And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [6] But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” [7] The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. [8] Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. [9] And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Acts 9:17-22
[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.” [18] And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; [19] and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. [20] And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” [21] And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” [22] But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
There’s three truths this story teaches us about our salvation in Christ.
1. We are all “unlikely converts”. :
“I considered myself an atheist… I lived in lesbian relationships and politically supported LGBT causes. I coauthored Syracuse University's first successful domestic partnership policy while working there as a professor of English and women's studies. I was terrified to affiliate on any level with a worldview that called me, my life, my community, my scholarly interest, and my relationship sin… I approached the Bible with an agenda to tear it down because I firmly believed that it was threatening, dangerous, and irrational… But when I came to Christ, I experienced what nineteenth-century Scottish theologian Thomas Chalmers called "the expulsive power of a new affection." At the time of my conversion, my lesbian identity and feelings did not vanish. As my union with Christ grew, the sanctification that it birthed put a wedge between my old self and my new one. In time, this contradiction exploded, and I was able to claim identity in Christ alone.”
- Rosaria Butterfield
When we read stories like Saul’s and Rosaria’s, we are filled with amazement at the grace of God bringing them to salvation. However, any person who has been rescued by the supernatural power of God’s grace through Jesus was an “unlikely convert”, and that’s every Christian! So why might we be tempted to think our testimony isn’t so amazing?
Why is there no such thing as a boring testimony?
Pastor Andrew said last Sunday that for some Christians, our salvation experience will be similar to Saul’s (a defining moment where everything clicked), but for many of us, it will seem more like a slow sunrise, where over time we see God’s hand was leading us to himself little by little. Which illustration better describes your experience? Why?
2. God will redeem your past.
What do you think some of the Christians in Jerusalem had to say about Saul when they heard he was now a Christian? (Why might they be hesitant to accept him?)
Acts 9:15
[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.
God was determined to take the person doing the most harm and use him to do the most good! One of the greatest truths of the gospel is that Jesus redeems your past so he can use you to reach others for his glory. Why might it be hard for you to believe that about yourself, that God can really use you like that?
How is this kind of self-pity a form of pride?
As we seek to share the good news of Jesus with others, why is it important to use our personal testimonies to relate to non-Christians?
3. True salvation is evidenced by a changed life.
Acts 9:22 and 9:28
[22] But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
[28] So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
What do you think compelled Saul to live with such a newfound boldness?
Philippians 3:7-8
[7] But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Do these verses characterize your life? Do people see the change in you?
