Journey Church: Boot Camp 2015
Introductions and Ground Zero, Part 1 of 2
Sept 20, 2015
Primary Texts: Acts 6-9 and Romans 1-3*
Laying a military metaphor or analogy over the walk of a Christian today, we will eventually focus on content from the book of Romans. To begin, the author of Romans was named Paul. Today we will invest some time looking at his life, the good and the bad. We examine him because of his extremes. As the major contributor to the New Testament, understanding his background will give us a framework for his writings.
Introduction
We all remember where we were during 9/11. The feelings that day pulled out of each of us varied as much as we did. Regardless, we all know what we were doing and it is as real and poignant as it took place last month! This is now memorialized in NYC at Ground Zero.
Direct Instruction
Notes, comments, questions and answers may go here during today’s teaching.
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Break out
In partners, address the assigned questions after reading your passage and appoint the speaker as the one with the earlier birthday. (ie, April is before June. APril speaks.)
1. Paul speaks of a Ground Zero type point in his life in Acts 9. Read verses Acts 7: 54 – 60 and Acts 8:1 and Acts 9: 1-8, then infer from the clues about his behavior or belief toward himself, Christians and God.
a. Himself ______________________________________________
b. Christians ______________________________________________
c. God ______________________________________________
2. Are there any parallels from Paul’s life to your own life you would like to share with your partner?
a. ______________________________________________
b. Are any we all need to hear? ___________________________________
3. It mentioned Paul was without sight, and neither ate nor drank for 3 days. Describe what may he may have been thinking during this time?
a. ______________________________________________
b. What might you think if you could not see, eat or drink for three days? ______________________________________________
4. In Acts 9:10-19, a story begins to unfold about what happened next.* A man named Ananias was “sent” to “lay hands” on Paul. Why did he object?
a. _______________________________________________________________
b. Who introduced you to Jesus? ______________________________________
c. Describe your life at that time. ______________________________________________________________________
5. After reading Acts 9:20-25, we see Paul jumping right into the fray. He seemed to be working as hard for the Gospel as he was working against the Gospel prior to his conversion by doing what? ______________________________________________
a. Who was trying to get him killed? ____________________________________
b. Why might that matter to Paul? ____________________________________
c. Why might it matter to us who our enemies are?_______________________
d. What effect did this seem to have on Paul? ______________________________________
6. From Acts 9: 26- 31, describe the problems facing Paul as a new believer.____________________
a. What was the root or reason for the problem? ____________________________
b. What solutions were necessary?________________________________________
c. How did those solutions come about?___________________________________
7. Consider problems, obstacles or struggles from your past. ________________________
a. What are a few of the positive results? ___________________________________________________________________
b. Have there been negative consequences you would like to share too?
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8. Today, we have been looking at changed lives. We see the before, during and after in Paul. The intensity of Paul’s turn-around was fairly deep. Our 9/11 was also very deep. When was that deep moment in your life? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. * Additional details of Paul’s conversation are found elsewhere, especially in Acts. Homework for next week is to locate and read about the rest of the story from at least 2 other sources and be prepared to discuss Paul’s reaction to his experience before, during and after the Road to Damascus. List those two sources and additional details here.
a. First source __________Details:____________________________________
b. Second source___________ Details:___________________________________
10. Suggestion: Get an ESV Bible (English Standard Version), a Journal, a Concordance (Some Bibles already have one attached) and think about your introduction to Jesus. For your first post in your new journal, consider what your life was like before that, during the encounter and since and jot a few notes in preparation to discuss these questions: Has the road been easy? Are things easier now? Are they better now? Are they actually worse? In what ways?
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