CCC Gainesville | Blog
There is something really amazing that happens during the Opening Ceremonies of each Olympics, seeing all the different nations participating walking into the arena, together. This year 193 Independent Countries and 11 territories will be sending athletes to compete in the games. That’s 204 nations from around the world, 204 different people groups who will be brought together for games.
Not all of the 204 nations like each other, and it is always possible that unlikely friendships will arise from two weeks of competing together, through life changing experiences. In fact this description can be found on the website of the International Olympic Committee “The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind, in a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
On day one of our Olympics we are going to learn about a very unlikely friendship that develops in Acts 9:1-22. We will meet a man named Saul. Saul is a man who is setting out on a journey to Damascus with the purpose of persecuting anyone who clams to be a follower of Jesus. Like many of the athletes we will see traveling to London from the far corners of the planet, Saul is traveling very far from home. While the Olympic athletes are on a more peaceable journey, Saul is not. His mission is not one of games but one of stopping the growth of the Christan church. At least he thinks that’s his mission until God meets him on the road and changes his path to the road of following Jesus.
In our first lesson we are going to see God change Saul’s heart so completely that he is no longer racing to Damascus to catch the followers of Jesus but to join up with them in their race. God changes Saul so completely that he becomes a new person all together, and even changes his name to Paul.
Paul becomes a friend of Jesus!
Family Discussion
Have you ever known someone who you didn’t think you could be friends with? Why did you think that?
Talk together about friends who have changed your life and helped you on your road to following Jesus.
What are ways that God has re-routed you, and put you back on the road of following Jesus?
Spread the word!
