God’s grace can transform even those who are hostile to Him.

Scripture: Acts 9:1-20 

Central Truth

While some of us seem too far away from Him to ever be saved, God shows His authority over sin. He calls everyone to repentance, and by His power, we are completely transformed and made into new creations.

Key Question

How does knowing God chose someone like Saul encourage you?

Keep in Mind

Sometimes it’s hard for our students to imagine God would want to use them. They know all of their weaknesses; they know their secret sins and disappointments. But here’s the thing: God knows them too. In fact, He knows us better than we know ourselves. And He still chooses to use us in amazing ways to further His kingdom. We get to be a part of His story of redemption in the world.

Students may feel intimidated by the idea that God wants to use them. They may feel they need to be older or wiser to make a difference in God’s kingdom. But we can point them to many examples in Scripture where God uses the foolish, unwise, and young to greatly impact the world. 

APPLICATION

Saul went back to the very people he once identified with. Who do you need to return to and share the gospel?

THE WIN

FOR THE STUDENT: When God changes us, He may also call us to go and share the gospel with people who knew us before. But isn’t this amazing? We have the opportunity to show others the transforming power of the gospel—both in our new actions and words.  

FOR THE LEADER: As leaders, we also have pasts which we may not be proud of, but God redeemed us. We may have people in our lives who we are called to return to in order to share the hope of the gospel with them. Allowing people from our past—people who we walked in sin with—to see our own transformations may give them hope that they can change through the grace of God as well.