The Life and Ministry of the Apostle Paul

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Session 1 - Groundwork (Sept. 21)
To discover what experiences in the Apostle Paul's formative years helped to prepare and position him for his call to serve Christ. To identify what experiences have helped to shape your life and faith and bring them to the point at which you find them today? ( Philippians 3:4b-6; Acts 6:1-15; Acts 7:1-2a, 7:51 - 8:3; Galatians 1:13-14 )

Session 2 - Conversion (Sept. 28)
Long before Paul chose Jesus, Paul had been chosen, singled out, prepared and confronted. Jesus once said, “You did not choose me; I chose you” (John 15:16). We will try to understand these words as they relate to our lives and faith. ( Acts 9:1-9; Acts 26:1-18 )

Session 3 - Surprising Commission! (Oct. 5)
There are times when God stuns us with his summons to carry out tasks that are both distasteful as well as unlikely. Yet, any reluctance to obey God's calling often demonstrates our bias and limited perspective and openness. We will look at God's summons of Ananias to carry out what must have seemed to him a very repugnant task. ( Acts 9:10-19a )

Session 4 - Transformation (Oct.12)
The “ deeper life ” is a subject greatly admired but rarely experienced. In a day when there appears to be so much superficiality among so many folks, how can we cultivate time that can be spent in solitude and quietness to enable us to go deeper into our relationship with Christ? ( Galatians 1:11-17, Acts 9:19b-25 )

Session 5 - Struggles (Oct. 19)
The process by which God shapes an individual for Christian service often seems a slow and tedious process. Yet, God knows what the finished product will look like. God calls us to trust and obey, even when we don't understand what is happening. ( Acts 9:19b-31 )

Session 6 - When the Time Is Right! (Oct. 26)
When the time was right, Barnabas and Paul re-connected. Together, they formed a perfect team and accomplished incredible things as they led one of the most remarkable revivals in the early Church. ( Acts 11:19-26; 13:1-3 )

Session 7 - Journey & Conflict (Nov. 2)
Saul (now called Paul -- Acts 13:9) and Barnabas are on their first missionary journey, along with young John Mark who joins them in their work. New challenges confront them and the challenges bring trial and conflict! ( Acts 14:1-28; 15:35-41 )

Session 8 - When There's No OnStar! (Nov. 9)
God provides numerous ways by which he guides us. By prayer, the Bible, the Spirit and the community of faith, God leads us in directions by which we may fulfill his will for us. But how can we be certain that we are hearing him? ( Acts 16:6-10 )

Session 9 Converts In Philippi ! (Nov. 17)
The Apostle Paul seemed ready at any moment to share the Gospel of Christ with the people he met. Jesus once said, “ But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting” (John 4:35). Like Paul, you and I need to be ready to share the Gospel of Christ with others. ( Acts 16:16-40 )