VBS 2021 Burrows Memorial

VBS 2021 Burrows Memorial

by Cynthia Reed

​Welcome to VBS. The power of Jesus to do hard things

• ​Lets start with the story of a man that thought he was right to do bad things to people. His name is Saul.

Multiple Choice

Who is the Lord's disciples?

• students, learners, or followers of Jesus' teachings

• men and women that tell God how to be in their lives

• Church people

• People that discipline others

Multiple Choice

Who are people that belonged to the Way?

• Anyone that does what they think is the right way to live

• People that practice doing good deeds and go to church

• Believers or followers of Jesus the Messiah

• Believers or followers that believe Jesus was a good person

Multiple Select

Who is Jesus (check all that apply)

• The Son of God

• Paid the price for our sins against God

• The only way or path to God

• The one that reveals who God is

• The One that tells us how to be born again for salvation

​Saul's vendetta against people of the Way (9:1-2)

​Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

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 ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem1.

Open Ended

Saul's murderous threats. His hatred for the Jerusalem Christians (9:1) and the Damascus Christians (9:2) is known by his words of murderous threats and his actions going out to persecute believers in Damascus.  What should the people of the Way do? How did they feel?

​Saul's vision of Jesus

​³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

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⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

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⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

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⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Multiple Choice

On the Damascus road, Saul sees a ______ and ______light from heaven. How can we describe the light?

• Dark and Dingy

• Brilliant and Blinding

• Blurry and Blustery

• Cold and Calculating

Open Ended

The voice said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Google the term persecute and tell me what you think Paul did to the people of the Way?

​The results of the vision

​The results (9:7-9): Saul's traveling companions lead him into Damascus blind, and he consumes neither food nor water for the next three days.

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​To stop eating and drinking for a period of time is called fasting. Have you ever fasted? If so, why or why not? Why do you think Paul was fasting?

​Saul's Visit from Ananias--the events

1. ​God appears to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias

2. ​God instructs Ananias to go and minister to Saul.

3. ​Knowing Saul's past, Ananias is afraid to go.

4. ​God assures Ananias that Saul is now a believer.

Poll

Have you or any one you know have or had a vision?  Do you believe God can speak to you in a vision?

• Yes, I or someone I know have or had a vision

• No, neither I or anyone I know has never had a vision

• Yes, I believe God can speak to me in a vision

• No, I do not believe God speaks to people in visions

Saul's Visit with Ananias--eyes opened

• Two things happened when Ananias layed hands on Saul

  • His physical eyes were opened--the scales fell away

  • His spiritual eyes were opened--He was filled with the Holy Spirit​

The Wrap Up​

Two take aways from the lesson​

Open Ended

Saul--sometimes we think we are doing God's work by hurting others.  What do you think? Why?

Open Ended

Ananias--God asks his disciples to do difficult things; even when we will be physically harmed. Have you considered following Jesus even when things will not go well?