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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

New vision

Saul sees the world from a different perspective when his sight is restored. (Acts 9:17-19)

 

Context

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

It is hard to imagine what it must have been like in Spain and Portugal during the power outage at the beginning of the week. Although there are times when we feel irritated by traffic lights we rely on them to give us a level of safety. What must it have been like to be driving home and to discover that all the lights (and so much more) were out?

Saul has two encounters:

  • The first on the way to Damascus takes away his sight.
  • In the second his sight is restored.

The effect of these encounters is that Saul sees the world in a different way. No longer is persecution appropriate. Now is the time for obedience.

There has been a change of government in Canada. It was not the overwhelming victory for the Liberals that had been predicted but it is clear that many people have changed the way in which they had previously voted. Something must have changed in their view of their nation (or possibly in their world view). Insight had caused a change and the change has caused action.

After a period of blindness Saul is given a new insight. His entire world view is changed and this encounter with the risen Christ demands action. Luke tells us that Saul is baptised. There is an immediacy to this action because in the next verse we are told that he has something to eat which gives him strength. The action demanded is urgent and requires immediate attention before even taking food.

The period following Easter is traditionally a time of joyful hope. Over Easter there was a 30 hour Russian ceasefire. Now a three day truce has been declared. If we are truly filled with resurrection joy and hope how will we look upon the truce?

Ananias was called by God to minister to a man who had been a great enemy to him and his brothers and sisters in Christ. In order to obey God he must have found in his heart the way to forgive Saul. If the truce leads to peace we will be challenged in the way we look upon President Putin and the Russian government.

 

Questions for discussion

  • Have you seen anything in the news that has led you to look upon a situation in a different way?
  • Thinking about how Ananias must have felt about Saul, are there people (groups or individuals) that you find it hard to offer love to?
  • How should our encounters with Jesus change the way we view the world?

Revd Stuart Wild is a methodist minister serving on the Lancashire coast.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

Only a few days ago a world record amount of people took part in the London Marathon. With over 56,000 runners that’s more people than the Etihad Stadium can hold!

Competing his second London Marathon this year was comedian Romesh Ranganathan. Well known for his hilarious travel shows and the newest host of BBC One’s Weakest Link, Romesh is a huge advocate for running, telling people all over the world the benefits of this often shunned exercise. His mission is to show that running is something everyone can do. However he didn’t always believe this.

Only a few years ago Romesh fully believed running was for the elite - only a certain group of people could access it, and he was not one of them. He hated the experience of running until one single encounter with a stranger completely changed his perspective, and his life.

A solid belief in one way of thinking changed by a single encounter - that’s Saul’s story. The inaccessible becoming accessible - that’s Saul’s story. And that can be many people’s story, including ours. With God anything is possible, hearts can be transformed, and views changed. Let’s take a moment to pray for such transformations to continue happening today so more may know God and seek peace.

Lindsay Wright is a freelance writer and designer from Lancashire (www.lwcreative.co.uk)

 

Views expressed are the authors' own. Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by Roots for Churches Ltd.

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