The Essential Question (Part 4): The Good News Changes LivesSample

Spiritual Mentor

Prepare: Who are your spiritual heroes from history and the present? What do you admire about these people? Are you a spiritual hero to someone?

Read: Acts 9:19b-31

Reflect: In 1938, a British schoolboy named John Stott accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior because of a talk given by a Scripture Union staff worker named Eric Nash (AKA, "Bash"). Stott went on to become one of the most influential biblical scholars, authors and evangelical leaders in the world until his death in 2011.

But what many don't know is that for the five years following his conversion, Stott received a weekly letter from Bash, who took the time to help the new believer understand and grow in the faith.

That's what Barnabas did for Saul: he befriended and defended him (9:27-28). Imagine how different the world might be today if Barnabas had left Saul on his own. We'll never know for sure, but Barnabas's willingness to advocate for a person no one else trusted was a critical factor in the growth of the church. Barnabas demonstrated that the long-term impact of a spiritual mentor to new believers, especially those recovering from a major failure in life, is incalculable.

It's interesting that Saul wasted no time sharing his newfound faith. "At once he began to preach" (9:20). He didn't calculate what his conversion might do to his reputation, his friends, his career or anything else. Saul knew that if Jesus is alive, everything else is secondary. Having that sense of priority in life is the engine that drives our effectiveness for God.

But Saul wasn't the only one who had undergone a transition. The religious leaders were used to being respected and honored in the community. Now, momentum had definitely turned against them. First, they lost one of their star players (9:21). Next, they were beaten in public debate (9:22, 29). Finally, their opposition, the church, was growing. Literally in a flash, the Jewish chiefs in Damascus had gone from religious leaders to religious losers, and they were obsessed with striking back (9:23-24).

I wonder if Saul had a sense of buyer's remorse as he made his getaway in that basket (9:25). Oh sure, what happened on the Damascus Road was a life-changing experience. But now former colleagues hated him and his new "friends" were fearful and distrustful of him. We need to remember that conversion isn't the endgame of ministry. New Christians need extra care and encouragement to keep them from turning back. Saying "yes" to Jesus can happen in a moment, but learning how to be his follower takes a lifetime of discipleship.

Apply: Is there a new Christian you know, one who still has a lot of rough edges, who needs a faithful friend? What would it take for you to become a spiritual mentor?

The Essential Question (Part 5): The Good News Is for Everyone

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