What A New Christian Needs

Lectionary readings for the Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 9:1-6
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19

TEXT: Acts 9:1-19

LISTENING TO THE TEXT

The lectionary narrative reading for today from Acts 9 focuses on the conversion of Saul. This is clearly a great text for preaching. For the purposes of this sermon, however, the text is expanded to include the role of Ananias in Saul's life. Ananias plays a simple but critical role in the early spiritual development of this new Christian. His ministry to Saul is instructive for any of us who would come alongside a new believer to mentor them in the way of Jesus.

There are several features of the story of Ananias and Saul that become teaching points for us in thinking about the ministry of spiritual direction. One is that God clearly orchestrated this whole thing. This relationship was not in the thinking of Ananias or of Saul. It was the result of God's specific call to Ananias to become involved in Saul's life.
There is also the reality that Paul apparently wasn't expecting any help and Ananias was terrified when the Lord gave him this directive. Saul's reputation preceded him as a persecutor of Christians and Ananias really wanted nothing to do with him. But God's vision of Saul was much different than Ananias'. The Lord says to Ananias, "This man [Saul] is my chosen instrument (v. 15)."

It's remarkable, then, what happens when Ananias obeys the Lord in spite of his concern. His whole vision and attitude toward Saul changes. In verse 13 he calls Saul "this man." In verse 17 he calls him "brother." Think of what must have happened in Saul's heart when he heard this mature Christian call him "brother!" Saul knew that in spite of his terrible sin, he would be accepted and loved by the grace-filled Christian community.

Through Ananias' act of obedience, and through his ministry of presence with Saul, the soon-to-be "great apostle" is renewed and receives strength. One wonders how much of Paul's effectiveness as a Christian and missionary was related to Ananias' obedience to offer timely spiritual direction at a time of great disorientation for Saul.

ENGAGING THE TEXT
THE NEED

Everyone has the need for a sounding board in his or her life. This is especially true of our Christian journey. We need someone to listen to us, someone who can name the activity of God in our experience. We need someone to teach us the principles and truths of discipleship and to give judicious suggestions as we are trying to learn to walk the way of Jesus. We need someone to pray with us and for us. This is why God designed Christian community. We have a responsibility to mentor one another in the Christian faith. There are no Lone Rangers on the Christian road. It has something to do with the priesthood of all believers.

One dilemma that is raised by this text is how one should respond when God asks us to minister to a rascal. Sometimes fear can keep us from engaging persons who we know would be tough to love. It almost seems that God delights in giving us those kinds of assignments.

GOD'S ANSWER

God's answer in this story is to be found in two ways. One is in his call and the other is in the result of this relationship. God has designed that we should be involved in each other's lives. We need mentors and we need to mentor. This is a major corrective to the contemporary fallacy of private Christian faith. There is no such thing. God calls us to get involved in giving spiritual direction to new Christians, even if it seems scary or hard to us. Secondly, the result of this relationship shows how important spiritual direction is in the community of faith. Saul's life was transformed by Jesus Christ, but it was also changed by the faithful ministry of Christ's servant, Ananias.

OUR RESPONSE

Too often the church has worked with the mindset that when someone "gets saved" our job is done. We know that isn't correct. New Christians need someone to come alongside and offer the ministry of spiritual mentoring. This sermon is really a challenge to Christians to repent from a self-protective manner of life and give themselves to serve others in the way that Ananias served Saul.

PREACHING THE TEXT

(For a full manuscript of this sermon, go to www.preachersmagazine.org).
This message can begin by helping the congregation to think about important sounding board type people are in our lives. Perhaps personal stories can be shared of those who have given themselves to this mentoring ministry. There is also illustrative material from the lives of great Christian leaders across the centuries, nearly all of whom have had spiritual mentors.

Then the preacher can run the story of what happened between Ananias and Saul, noting the features listed above that are so instructive to us in thinking about our relationships with new believers. Finally, application is drawn challenging Christians to look around their lives and see who is in need of this kind of mentoring ministry. Practical suggestions can be given for how to enter this kind of relationship and the kinds of mentoring that new Christians need. Once, I preached this sermon on a Sunday night and also included some very specific instruction and training and how to come alongside someone who has responded to the gospel by coming to the altar for prayer. This is a great opportunity to do some congregational altar worker training.