Lesson One
Reach

Pastor Jayson Combs

When was the last time you had to write something off? Maybe you realized it was just a bad investment and you were done with it? Maybe that steal-of-a-deal car you bought wasn’t a steal-of-a-deal. That Amazon buy that had great reviews wasn’t so great, or those promising college classes that have gotten you nowhere.

The term “to write something off” comes from eighteenth-century bookkeeping and accounting, where bookkeepers literally drew a line through or recorded a bad debt or broken asset “off the books, as a total financial loss.”

In Acts chapter nine, we come face to face with the “unreachable” man. The chapter begins with “Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” The word “still” refers back to the beginning of chapter eight, “And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison” (Acts 8:1-3).

Pastor John MacArthur describes Saul as a man with “impeccable Jewish credentials, son of a Pharisee who studied in Jerusalem under the most renowned rabbi of the day, Gamaliel. Saul was a Pharisee who wanted to see the blood of Christians.” Tony Merida says, “Only the spilling of more blood will satisfy his (Saul’s) obsessive hatred of Christians.” Kent Hughes says, “Paul was a callous, self-righteous, bigoted murderer.”

Saul later recounted his journey in Acts chapter 26, describing his initial conviction to oppose Jesus of Nazareth. “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” Acts 26:9-11

Persecuting Christians in Jerusalem was not enough for Saul, so he sought letters from the high priest—essentially arrest warrants—that he could present in Damascus to arrest any believers there. The phrase “the Way,” used in Acts 9:2, likely refers to the truth that Jesus proclaimed in John 14:6, “I am the way.”

In Acts chapter nine, we read of Saul’s journey to Damascus. It was about 150 miles, which was about a week’s journey.

1. Read Acts 9:3-9 and identify two things Paul learns about Jesus. If needed, refer to 1 Corinthians 15 for clarification.

2. Why would hearing and seeing Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:8) be so transformative for Saul? As per Acts 22:10, what was Saul’s response?

3. One book I was reading said, “All conversions involve a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.” The author went on to say that some are loud like that of the Philippian Jailer, and others are quiet like Lydia (both stories found in Acts 16). Do you agree? Can you share any loud or quiet conversions that have made a significant impact in your life?

4. How would you describe the stark contrast between Saul’s demeanor when he initially embarked on his journey and his current state, where he is led blindly into Damascus?

Tony Merida says, “The man who was going to wreak havoc on the Damascus church entered the city—led by his hand, blind, weak, impotent, frightened, and in despair. This was the midnight of his soul.”

5. Has there ever been a moment of profound humility in your life, akin to Saul’s transformation, where the Lord humbled you and brought you to a state of complete self-deprecation? Merida emphasizes that this transformation is about breaking free from our compulsive independence and arrogance and embracing Christ for salvation.

6. Based on Acts 9:10-14, what are Ananias’s thoughts on Saul? How shocked do you think he was when he discovered that Saul was a believer? Have you ever experienced a similar level of shock when someone you knew was saved by the Lord?

7. This story serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of God’s grace. How have you personally witnessed this grace in your own life?

“But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:16

8. Have you ever considered someone in your life as “written off” when it comes to their salvation or their relationship with the Lord? If so, what steps could you take to reengage with them to reach them with the Gospel of Jesus?

9. What are some ways that you could grow in clearly sharing the Gospel with people?