Act 9: Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Ministry Leadership 101 Acts The truth about ministry Exciting but just as easily mundane Quiet or feel like a fish in a bowl Safe and it can be brutal It can be fulfilling and lonely There is validation and distrust

Acts 6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.

Stephen Philip 3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 …and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

While seven were chosen, one or two shine Stephen, Philip and Peter Saul (Paul), Ananias and Barnabas

Acts 6 8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 7 2 And Stephen replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia…

52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. 53 You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.”

The result is predictable Ministry 101 When you attract attention… When you speak the truth… There are often consequences

58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died. 8 1 And Saul approved of their killing him.

Not everyone who believes in Christ is called to martyrdom Some have success and live long lives Some never suffer Some suffer a lot That is why we say it is a calling

Acts 8 4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.

The early church suffered at times We are told that people scattered because there was a persecution What was meant to destroy the church… Actually forced the church to spread

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit…

Sharing the Gospel Ministry 101 Some people believe Some people miss the point There is a lot of disappointment

18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money!

30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Acts 9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord…

He fell to the ground you will be told what you are to do 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Calling Ministry 101 God sometimes uses the most unlikely people Here we see the power of calling Saul is brought to his knees He is told what he will do He is forced to comply

Saul is sent to Ananias Ananias wants nothing to do with Saul Saul is well known He is not a nice man In the eyes of the church he is a murderer Saul is evil and he is not to be trusted

he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name I myself will show him how much he must suffer 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house.

Saul is called… Multicultural Multilingual Intelligent Seems to have no fear A man who will get the job done “he must suffer for my name”

23 After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him;

26 When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

29 He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him.

Putting it all together The word ministry is used to describe many things that take place in the church From serving tables to preaching All these ministries are important

Putting it all together Ministry can look good on paper The more you delve into ministry the more evident it becomes that is it complicated, difficult and at times painful We do not tend to do ministry for the sake of popularity

Putting it all together Ministry requires particular skills Being gifted It requires us to be ourselves To do what we like and what often comes natural to us

In serving Christ (ministry) There is a cost Anything of worth and value has a price Cheap things disappoint

In every generation, somewhere in the world there are difficulties God never abandons his church It grows as it struggles We can not be disheartened The Name of Christ will never cease to be proclaimed