This sermon series is entitled the Voice of God. In this study we’ll be examining different ways in which God speaks to His world. Before beginning this study, pause and listen for His voice to guide you as you move through this sacred space in His Word.
What is your preferred writing instrument (pencil, pen, electronic…)? Why?
Read Acts 9:1-2 & Acts 7:54-8:3
1. How do you think Saul would have described the work he was doing to stop the early church?
2. How does Philippians 3:4-6 shed light on who Saul was prior to meeting Jesus?
Read Acts 9:3-6
3. Put yourself in Sauls’ place on the road to Damascus. What do you see in the words of Jesus to Saul?
In the Bible, we find 8 people whom God calls by name twice, and every time it is a sign of love and intimacy. Which one of these stories do you relate to most today?
- Abraham, Abraham – Sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22:11–13)
- Jacob, Jacob – A promise to see Joseph and that his descendants will be a great nation (Genesis 46:1–4).
- Moses, Moses – Speaking from the burning bush (Exodus 3:1–10).
- Samuel, Samuel – Calls to Samuel in the middle of the night (1 Samuel 3:1–10).
- Martha, Martha – Invitation for Martha to sit with Jesus (Luke 10:38–42).
- Simon, Simon – Foretelling Peter’s denial (Luke 22:31–32).
- Eli, Eli (My God, my God) – Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:46)
5. How does it encourage you to see that when God speaks to correct Saul, He does so with tenderness and love?
In Acts 9:10-19 God sends Ananias to Saul.
6. What would you have done if you were asked to do what Ananias was asked to do?
7. What do these verses show us about Paul’s conversion story?
8. What is your conversion story?
9. When did God call you from death to life?
10. How does it encourage you to be reminded that people come to faith in a variety of ways?
Read Galatians 1:13-16
11. How does this passage speak to the reality that Saul was set apart before he was born and then he was called on the road to Damascus?
12. What does this tell us about our lives?
Read 1 Timothy 1:12-16
13. When God speaks to correct His children, we often find that He uses our mistakes and failures to demonstrate the depth of His love and mercy. How have you seen the truth of 1 Timothy 1:12-16 play out in your story?
14. What does your story “display” about God (v.16)?
Read Acts 13:28-33a & Acts 26:22-23
15. What do these verses tell us about how God continues to confirm the same ongoing story of redemption?
16. How does it encourage you to remember that God doesn’t change the story based on circumstance, but He has always been at work bringing to completion the same story that started at creation?
17. Through the story of Saul’s conversion, we see that the voice of God calls, converts, corrects, and confirms. Is God speaking to you in one of these ways today?
The Voice of God…
- Calls – with love and compassion
- Converts – invites us to move from death to life
- Corrects – brings us back in line with the truth
- Confirms – affirms that God’s plan never changes
18. What do you think is God’s favorite writing instrument?
19. How does it encourage you today to be reminded that God never needs to erase anything, but is working to redeem everything?
Spend a few moments listening again for His voice. Allow your voice to proclaim praise for His goodness and grace…
