This Week’s Experience – 4/2/2023

Message

When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"”

-Acts 9:3-4

1. God is at in the lives of those He wants me to invite.

2. When someone is their will be more open to my invitation.

Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

-Acts 9:10-12

Lessons from Ananias:

1. God will give me , and instructions on who it is He wants me to invite.

2. Obeying God’s command to be a bridgebuilder will often take me out of my .

“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who worships your name.”

-Acts 9:13-14

Fear is not a to live in but rather a
to walkthrough.

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

-Acts 9:15-17

3. My is more important than my .

4. I can invite people to before they .

5. My evangelistic impact will be determined by one word… !

LIFE APPLICATION
To discuss during the week with your family, Life Group, or Campus.

1. 95% of followers off Jesus have never led someone else to become a follower. Why do you think that is?

2. What lessons for your own evangelistic efforts did you learn in today’s story of Saul and Ananias?

3. What else stood out to you in this message?

4. You’ve been challenged throughout this series to invite others to next Sunday’s Easter Worship Experience. Who have you invited so far? Have you followed up? Who do you still need to invite yet?

5. What next step is Jesus asking you to take as a result of this
message?