The Movement Unexpected

Acts 9:1-31

Recap:

• What did you take away from the story of Phillip and Simon (in last week's Connect Group Study and sermon)?

  • Have you reflected more on what it means to live life filled with the Spirit?

• This is our last bible study in Acts (we'll resume the series in term 4). Before we get into it, share what have been some of the highlights and key takeaways for you these past 10 weeks?

Read Acts 7:55-8:3; 9:1-2

• From this very brief intro, what sort of person do you think Saul was?

  • Do you think you would have liked him? Respected him? Feared him? Why/why not?

Read Acts 9:3-19a

• How does encountering Jesus affect Saul?

• How does encountering Jesus affect Ananias?

• How has encountering Jesus affected you?

  • Have your encounters with Jesus been like Saul's? Or Ananias's? Or has your experience been different to both of these? Share your stories with one another.

• Have another look at Jesus' words in verses 15-16:

  • What do you think these words meant to Ananias?

  • What did they go on to mean later to Saul/Paul?

  • What do they mean for you as you read them today?

Read Acts 9:19b-31

• Saul's life as a Jesus follower began very boldly (and somewhat chaotically!). Does anything about this surprise or challenge you?

• Can you see the hand of God at work in these verses? What is God up to here?

  • Does God continue to work in similar ways now? Have you seen similar things in your own experience? Why/why not?

• Spend some time praying for one another. Pray that we might be more obedient, like Ananias; more bold, like Paul; more encouraging, like Barnabas.