There are many people in this world who think that high school students are too young to hear about religion or spiritual matters. But I disagree. As a pastor and educator, I believe that high school students have the capacity to understand concepts of faith and the importance of spirituality. The key is to find ways to present these ideas in ways that work for kids at this age.you are privy to a litany of relevant information on short powerful sermons, sermon to encourage students, topic to preach in school, heart touching sermons for youth and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics.
Let’s look at some examples from the Bible of how we can communicate spiritual truths in a way that kids will understand:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” John 10:1 This passage is easy for kids to relate to, because it’s simple and straightforward, and it uses familiar words like “shepherd” and “want.” In fact, it’s only 11 words long! This kind of writing is perfect for kids who are still learning how to read fluently. And it’s even easier if you just get them started by reading it aloud first, before they try reading it themselves. Or maybe your student has trouble understanding what “longing” means? It’s an abstract concept—it doesn’t mean what we usually think of when we say “yearning.” Instead, longing is more like wishing something would happen or hoping.
Heart Touching Sermons for Youth
10 MINUTE SERMON TOPIC:
Burden for the Lost
KEY OBJECTIVES:
This lesson introduces students to what it means to develop a genuine burden for those who don’t know Christ.
SCRIPTURE:
Romans 9:1-5
MAIN POINTS
- Discovering a burden for the lost.
- Seeing people as God sees them encourages students to find something in common with others that will develop the burden for the lost.
- What stops you from sharing the gospel?
- I’m scared of rejection, I don’t know enough, haven’t thought about the consequences — these are common reasons that stop students from sharing the gospel.
- So Now What?
- Pray for the lost.
- Ask God for a burden.
- Show that you care.
SAMPLE ILLUSTRATION
Your church is full of people who know Christ because someone saw them as God did. Someone reached out, took a risk, and shared the story of Christ with them. Have a person share a short testimony of their faith and talk about who it was that reached out to them and saw them from God’s perspective. This would be a great encouragement/challenge to have a student share in this way. Keep in mind, you may have to plan ahead to do this. If you can’t schedule someone to share, consider sharing your own story, or even searching on the internet for a short video testimony (there are tons!).
Short powerful sermons for youth
Topic for Ten-Minute Sermon: Burden of the Lost
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: Students will learn what it means to genuinely feel burdened for people who do not know Christ in this lesson.
READING: Romans 9:1–5
PRIMARY POINTS
finding a weight for the deceased.
Students are encouraged to identify common ground with others in order to build a burden for the lost by viewing people as God sees them.
What prevents you from spreading the good news?
Students frequently cease sharing the gospel for the following reasons: I don’t know enough, I’m afraid of rejection, and I haven’t considered the implications.
So What Happens Next?
Offer up prayers for the deceased.
Seek a load from God.
Demonstrate your concern.
A MODEL ILLUSTRATION
People who know Christ because someone saw them as God did are all over your church. Someone took a chance, reached out, and told them the gospel of Christ. Ask someone to provide a brief account of their faith and to discuss the person who reached out to them and saw them from God’s viewpoint. Getting a learner to contribute in this way would be a terrific challenge and source of inspiration. Remember that you might need to schedule this in advance. If you are unable to find someone to share, think about telling your own story or perhaps looking for a brief video testimonies online (there are many!).
Sermon series: Jeremiah 1: The Person God Uses, Make No Excuses
Jeremiah 8:9 Let Your Heart Be Broken
Conquer Despondency: Jeremiah 20
Sermon: Hold on to your obedience (Jeremiah 37, 38)
Text: Jeremiah 1:14–19, 17–19
Overview
We really are good at coming up with excuses, don’t we? “I don’t know how.” “I didn’t understand.” “I couldn’t find the right tools.” “The voices told me to clean all the guns today.” “I threw out my back bowling.” “I have a Doctor’s appointment.” “There’s been a death in the family.” “The hazmat crew is here and won’t let me out of the house.” “I have a relative coming in from Hawaii and I need to pick them up at the airport.” And lastly, my all-time favorite: “I took two Ex-Lax by mistake this morning in addition to my Prozac when I woke up.” I feel good about it, even if I can’t get off the John.”
Within the Christian community, numerous justifications exist for disobeying God’s command, such as “Preaching is the preacher’s job.” “It’s not my gift.” “I’ve already served, let someone else do it.” “I’m too busy or too tired or too old or too young.”
It has been said that “Excuses are tools of the incompetent, and those who specialize in them seldom go far.” “He who is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else,” as Ben Franklin once said. “He who excuses himself, accuses himself,” said Gabriel Meurier.
When God summoned Jeremiah to be a prophet, he was prepared with all the justifications. His justifications are frequently our justifications for disobeying God’s voice when it calls. Every justification was met with a pledge from God.
I. Justification: The Work is Demanding
Unlike his father and grandfather, Jeremiah was called to be “a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5). A prophet was a selected and appointed representative of God who gave the people the Word of God. Prophets are typically associated with being able to predict the future. However, a prophet conveyed messages to the present that would have an impact on the future. They called the people back to their covenantal obligations before God and revealed their faults, acting more as forthtellers than prophesiers.
There was more work involved in being a prophet than a priest. The priests’ tasks were known in advance. Everything was spelled out in the legislation. The prophet had no idea what the Lord would ask him to say or accomplish on any given day. The priest’s main purpose in life was to protect the past. In order for the country to have a future, the prophet worked hard to alter the current. Whereas the prophet attempted to reach out and transform hearts, priests dealt with externals such as rites, offerings, sacrifices, and ceremonies. Priests provided primary ministry to people with a range of needs. Prophets, on the other hand, spoke to entire nations, and most of the time, the people they spoke to were hostile to their message. While prophets may come from any tribe and had to demonstrate their divine calling, priests belonged to a certain tribe and were consequently respected and in a position of authority. Prophets had no assurance of money, but priests were supported by the people’s contributions and sacrifices.
It was said that Jesus was a prophet as well. He went from place to place urging people to make changes in order to ensure their position in heaven. Jesus addressed people’s hearts. The majority rejected his call for repentance because they were unwilling to change.
The Assured
Even if God has given you a difficult assignment, his call keeps us continuing even when we want to give up. God’s purpose is promised to us. “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born'” Jeremiah 1:5. There is much more to the verb know than just being aware of. It conveys the sense of appreciating the value and significance of the known person. Jeremiah was chosen, known, and appointed by God. He was called by name, chosen specifically by God, and given a duty to carry out. One gets a strong sense of purpose from their deeds. We can accept God’s plan fearlessly and let go of our own plans because God’s purpose is promised. We must acknowledge that, like Jeremiah and Jesus, we do not control our destiny. God owns us. He has a clear intention and goal for our life.
II. The Justification: My Skill is Insufficient “However, I objected, saying, ‘Oh no, Lord, GOD! Look, being a young person, I have no idea how to speak.” (Jer. 1:6). Being a public speaker, Jeremiah felt unprepared. By the way, Moses offered this defense as well (Ex. 4:10).
Most folks in my hometown assumed the news carrier had made a mistake when they learned that I had been called to preach. You must not mean that Ricky has a calling to preach. You have to mean Micky, his twin brother. Ricky speaks too little. I felt flattered but woefully inadequate when God called. My deficiency in skill was apparent. My meek, quiet personality worked against me.
I had a strong Calvin Miller-like feeling. Regarding his call, he wrote:
As I grew older, even the neighbors saw how inferior I was and told my mother so. When I was in my late teens, one of my sisters felt prompted by God to assist me in discovering who I was. She told me that if God had called me to do anything, he must have had the incorrect number, and her view was as accurate as the King James Bible. My preacher was worried that I could have had a bad connection when I told him I was called to preach, but he didn’t necessarily think God had a wrong number.”
Does God not have a means to surpass our frailty and shortcomings? But as time has shown me, the one who is most conscious of his own weakness is also typically the one who is most reliant on God’s supply. Because of my insufficiency, I have to rely on God. My frailty makes his strength flawless. It’s my imperfections that reveal His glory.
The Assured
Even when we don’t seem like we have enough talent, God always supplies what he calls. “Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with My words” (Jer. 1:9). This is the promise of God’s provision for us. The touch was more intended to elevate and inspire than to purify. It was a representation of Jeremiah’s gift of prophecy.
Jesus was visibly and profoundly touched by this touch. The moment Jesus emerged from the water after his baptism, the heavens parted and the Spirit of God settled like a dove over him. “This is My beloved Son,” said God. In Him, I rejoice (Matt. 3:17).
The person whose tongue has come into contact with coals from the altar is the one blessed by God, not the orator with a silver tongue. God employs those who have been touched by his hand rather than the most brilliant and skilled individual. God has the ability to rock a church, a community, or a country through the most unlikely people. Never undervalue the power of touch, particularly when it comes from God.
III. The Justification: The Appropriate Moment
As Jeremiah declared to God in Jeremiah 1:6, “I am only a youth” The term “youth,” which is regrettably translated as “child” in certain Bible translations, often refers to a young, single guy who is in his teens or early twenties. According to most academics, Jeremiah was between twenty and twenty-five years old when he was called. His response reveals a strong sense of immaturity rather than his age. Because of his lack of experience and the enormity of the mission God was calling him to, he felt inadequate and unprepared.
The Assured
God never sends out his servant in isolation, even though his call may come at an inconvenient time. The LORD then said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth,’ for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.'” This gives us hope for God’s presence. You need not fear anyone because I shall be there to deliver you. The LORD has declared this (Jer. 1:7-8).
Please take note of this promise’s condition. Jeremiah had to travel where God sent him, speak what God taught him, and reject fear before he could feel God’s presence. It was once said that when God calls us to a work, he doesn’t just provide us the directions and leave us to figure it out on our own. God goes with us on our walks. We are strengthened to withstand every attack by his presence.
Jesus was aware of the same Presence. He was one with the Father. Because God walked with him, he was able to continue.
Knowing that someone is accompanying us when we are being sent makes such a difference. We are aware that we have a traveling partner and do not need to travel the lonely road alone.
IV. The Justification: Instruction Is Risky
Jeremiah was given a terrible message of judgment by the Lord instead of a happy one of deliverance. Jeremiah would so be misinterpreted, attacked, detained, and put in jail. He was threatened with death multiple times. The truth was not what the populace wanted to hear. Jeremiah made it very clear to them that they were going to face judgment, breaking the law, and defying the Lord.
God conveyed his impending wrath by using the metaphor of a boiling pot. “Once more, the LORD asked me, ‘What do you see?’ through the word. “I see a boiling pot with its lip tilted from the north to the south,” I said. (Jer. 1:13). A sizable cooking or washing pot with a broad mouth would be found in Jewish houses. The pot that Jeremiah observed was peculiar in that it was uneven. Away from the north was the title. The saucepan can suddenly spout its boiling contents southward, scorching the people of Judah. The pot stood stand for the Babylonian nation that would attack and subjugate Israel. Israel’s disobedience to God’s just will and idolatry were the causes of the judgment.
Jesus taught a message of forgiveness and punishment, kindness and judgment. The teachings of Jesus were also perilous. Actually, he lost his life because of the lessons he taught.
The Assured
Even when what God speaks through us could be harmful, God gives us the stamina to persevere. The promise of God’s victory is with us. “I am the One who has turned you into a walled city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls today, defending you against the entire region, including the people, the officials, the priests, and the kings of Judah. They will battle you, but they will never win because I am coming to your aid to save you (Jer. 1:18–19).
Take note of the architectural terms: bronze walls, an iron pillar, and a walled city. Like the God who created them and the prophet they would later come to represent, they are steadfast and unwavering. Jeremiah was encouraged by God: “They will attack you, but they cannot overcome you.”
The one who takes God’s side will win out. A saying goes, “One with God is a majority.” We are powerless on our own. We are victorious because of God.
During the Roman Empire, the enormous Coliseum in Rome was packed with spectators who came to watch the state games, where humans would fight against wild animals or against one other until one or both of them perished. The crowd’s greatest joy came from witnessing a human being die. A Syrian monk named Telemachus jumped onto the Coliseum floor in 404 A.D. while the large crowd watched the contest during Honorius’ reign as Rome’s emperor. He was so upset by the complete indifference to the worth of human life that he exclaimed, “This is not right in the name of God! This has to end in the name of God.”
The onlookers were furious with this brave man. They hurled items at him and made fun of him. The gladiators assaulted him because they were excited, and a sword went through him. The kind monk collapsed to the earth.
All of Coliseum quieted down. The bloodthirsty people realized for the first time how horrible what they had termed amusement was. Thinking people’s consciences and hearts were sparked by Telemachus. According to history, his valiant deed caused the gladiatorial fights to diminish after a few months and eventually disappear from the scene. Why? because one man had the courage to stand up for what he thought was right. His message was perilous because it questioned the populace’s pleasures and delights. Despite Telemachus’s demise, his message was accepted.
V. The Justification: Must I Leave Now?
God was hoping Jeremiah would act right away. God spoke, “Prepare now. Tell them all that I have commanded you to do, and get up” (Jer. 1:17). To run or work in Jeremiah’s day, the men had to fasten their loose robes together with a belt. Jeremiah had a battle ahead of him. He was dealing with a fight. Thus, “gird up your loins” or “dress yourself for work” were metaphors for “Get ready for action!” We’d say, “Roll up your sleeves!” today.
Acting, God summoned Jeremiah. He received a call to relocate out in public. His call intended to deliver a derogatory message. Neither acceptance nor welcome would be extended to him. He’d make his hearers angry.
The Assured
God demands compliance right away; otherwise, we risk facing God’s wrath. God’s power is promised to us. “Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them” (Jer. 1:7). When God summons, the only proper answer is immediate obedience.
Jesus followed through. Whatever your opinion of Jesus, keep in mind that he had a ready and submissive heart. He always followed his father’s instructions. There was no second-guessing, no evading, nothing. Just take quick action.
Has God given you a call? After that, he will accomplish his goal in you, provide you with what you need, make it possible for you, guard you, and go with you. Are you following his instructions? Then, he is at your side to keep you safe. Are you spreading the news? Then, regardless of how people react, he will achieve his goals.
Short Sermons for High School Students
Be present
Being present means being aware and awake. It means being in the moment, fully engaged and attentive to what is going on around you. Being present requires that you are conscious, aware of yourself, your surroundings, and the current situation.
When we are not present, we can leave our thoughts wandering back to the past or looking ahead to an imagined future. We may also lose touch with our emotions and become numb to pain or sadness by remaining unaware of these feelings temporarily as they pass through us. This can be a very dangerous state for us as humans because it means we have lost touch with reality for at least some period of time!
Be humble
I want to emphasize the importance of humility. If we are humble, then we will not be delusional about our own abilities. We will not be ashamed of our flaws and weaknesses. In fact, one of the greatest strengths that a person can have is knowing their limitations and being able to admit them without feeling like they’re incapable or defective in any way!
Humility also means not being arrogant—and this is an issue that many high school students face as they enter college because some people mistake confidence for arrogance. Confidence is having a healthy self-esteem; it means believing in yourself and your abilities so that you can accomplish whatever goals you set for yourself (or even if you don’t set goals). But true confidence does not mean thinking highly of yourself above everyone else! True confidence comes from knowing who we are as individuals while also recognizing our place within society as part of humanity at large (not just as exceptional individuals). Remember: arrogance makes us look down upon other people instead
of seeing ourselves as equal members of society with them!
Accept the blessings that come your way
- Don’t be too proud to accept help. When you are offered a hand up, take it.
- Don’t be afraid to accept help. You may have grown up in a family that refused any kind of assistance, but they were wrong and you should go out of your way to counter their teachings by allowing yourself to lean on other people when needed—especially if you need someone’s strength or skill set in order for your dreams of success to come true!
- Don’t be afraid to accept compliments from others, especially if those compliments are about you as an individual instead of being about some idealized version of yourself that only exists inside other people’s heads (and not inside yours). You should never feel as though your self-esteem depends on what someone else thinks about how great or terrible it would be if your hair was straightened every morning instead of being left curly every morning… because… well… who cares?
The point here is simply this: don’t let pride get in the way! Accept everything and anything with grace, gratitude and humility – even if those things include stuff like love letters written by admirers who want nothing but happiness for themselves along with everyone else around them!
Focus on what you can control
While we can’t control everything in life, there’s a lot we can control.
- Our own thoughts and actions. We are responsible for our own thoughts and actions—and the consequences they bring. If you want to know how to get your parents to let you go to a concert on Sunday night, ask them! It all starts with how you approach the situation, so if things aren’t working out with your parents or friends, try approaching it differently. You may find that when you’re more respectful or less demanding of them that they’ll be more willing to help out!
- The thoughts/actions of people around us: Our world is full of people who are going through their own struggles as well as successes—it’s important for us not only ourselves but also those around us feel safe enough where they won’t have any reason not trust themselves anymore than anyone else would ever need from someone else who might be just like them (if not even worse) which means there’s always something good about having someone else stand up against an injustice because sometimes all it takes one person make all difference between success failure happiness sadness regret regret regret…
Give thanks for the small things
Every day, there are many things that we often take for granted. We may even forget to be grateful for some of the little things in our life. It is important to remember that gratitude is an important part of being happy, and it can improve your mental and physical health. Gratitude can also improve your relationships with others, because when you are thankful for what people do for you, it encourages them to want to help you out more often!
Some ways that students can practice gratitude:
- Thank people who work hard at their job or schoolwork (for example, teachers)
- Say thank you when someone gives them something they need (for example, a snack)
- Stop and appreciate nature around them
Faithful Youth Sermon
Scriptures: Acts 9:10-31
Introduction
Two boys collected a bucket of nuts underneath a great tree inside a cemetery on the outskirts of town. When the bucket was full, they sat down out of sight to divide the spoils.
“One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me,” said one boy, as the other watched intently. Their bucket was so full that some of the nuts had spilled out and rolled toward the fence.
It was dusk, and another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, “One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.”
The boy with the bike knew just what was happening, and his face went ghostly white. “Oh my,” he shuddered. “It’s Satan and the Lord dividing souls at the cemetery!”
He jumped back on his bike and rode off, desperately looking for a friend. Just around the bend he met an old, scowling man who hobbled along with a cane.
“Come with me, quick!” said the boy. “You won’t believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls!”
The man said, “Beat it, kid, can’t you see it’s hard for me to walk?” When the boy insisted, though, the man hobbled to the cemetery. When they arrived at the fence, they heard, “One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.
Ready to have a little fun, the old man whispered, “Boy, you’ve been tellin’ the truth. Let’s go inside, and see if we can see the Devil himself!”
The child was horrified, but the old man was already taking his first step toward the gate. Then they heard, “Okay, that’s the last of them. That’s all. Now let’s go get those two nuts by the fence, and we’ll be done.” They say the old guy made it back to town five minutes ahead of the boy! More than likely, he was looking for a friend.
Most people are constantly looking for friends. Some people are desperately looking for friendship. At times we all stand frozen with fear by the cemetery fence, so to speak, when life shakes us to the core. At times the legs don’t support, and a healthy heart nearly breaks. At times we can barely muster a prayer, and when it comes out, it’s a plea for a friend.
More than likely, you already know the story of Saul’s conversion very well. Whenever we come to a well-known passage of scripture like we have in Acts 9, we might even know the story too well.
Today, try to picture’s Paul’s experience from the vantage point of loneliness. In a matter of three days, Saul became lonelier than he’d ever been. He was probably begging God for a friend.
Saul must have been physically spent when he neared Damascus. He’d traveled some 120 dusty miles to stop the church from growing there. Then, just as the city came into view, just when he was nearing a hot shower and a good meal, Saul had lost his eyesight with one blinding light. All was dark, and all remained dark. With one deafening statement from heaven, he discovered that everything he believed to be true was false. Jesus wasn’t the enemy. Jesus was Lord!
In the darkness, Saul must have expected the very judgment of God. Would he even be allowed to live? In the three dark days that passed, loneliness, grief, and despair became Saul’s roommates.
In the depth of Paul’s loneliness, God was about to reveal the power of a faithful friend. Saul was about to meet, in fact, two of the best friends he’d ever have.
First, the Lord commanded Ananias to go to Saul. Though frightened, Ananias obeyed and became the first friend Saul found in his new family of faith.
Second, Barnabas became Saul’s advocate and friend in Jerusalem. If not for Barnabas, Saul might not have even met the frightened apostles.
Saul never got over the friends he found in Ananias and Barnabas. By becoming those faithful friends, they were about to change the world. It’s impossible to understate the power of a faithful friend, and it’s critically important that we be that friend to people in our lives.
By looking at these irreplaceable friends, we learn five characteristics of a faithful friend.
I. Be there
Have you already been thinking about the best friends you’ve had? If the faces of your favorite people have already come to mind, you’re remembering people who found a way to be with you. Many of them were with you in the routine of life. Maybe you attended class together. Perhaps you grew up in the same home. Maybe it’s a favorite tennis partner, or the fishing buddy. If you live long enough, the best friends of your life were also those who found a way to be with you during tough times. How many stories would we have today if we told of friends who drove hundreds of miles to be with you, who jumped on an airplane to stand by your side, or those who canceled appointments to join you? The details differ, butone thing is certain about faithful friends; they don’t stop with a phone call, letter, or an e-mail. They find a way to be there.
Imagine if you were in real need and you called on your best friend. He or she says, “I can’t help you. They’re showing a rerun of my favorite television show tonight.”
You’d know the truth. That person is not a friend. A friend will be with you, even if he or she must go to great trouble or expense to do so. A faithful friend simply ignores his or her own needs in order to help a friend.
But what if God asked you to befriend an enemy? Well, he has. In half a dozen places in Scripture, Jesus said, ” Love your enemies.” In Luke, Jesus said, “Do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great ” (Luke 6:35).
Ananias almost certainly had a family and a set of faithful friends. He lived in Damascus, kept up with the news, and knew a terrorist named Saul was on the loose.
“Ananias,” said the Lord, “I have a new friend for you.”
Before he fully understood, Ananias simply said, “Yes, Lord.” Before he had the details of the job, before he even knew the question, Ananias gave the correct answer. There’s an entire sermon in that, but for now this simple truth will do: Ananias was willing to become a friend to an enemy, despite his fear.
There is power in a personal visit. Salespeople know that; they sell far more products in person than they do over the phone, through the Internet, or by advertising. Therefore, salespeople get there.
So do faithful friends!
II. Know the power of a gentle touch
Most every culture uses touch in greeting – a handshake, a bear hug, a kiss on the cheek, a kiss on both cheeks! A touch can show sympathy, friendship, trust – sometimes powerful trust.
What a great gift Ananias gave when he came to see Saul for the first time. Luke records it in Acts 9:17: “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul . . .”
Saul had come to Damascus to literally bind the hands of Ananias. Instead, Ananias used those very hands to gently touch Saul. They had both originally anticipated a struggle, a fist-fight, even a battle to the death. Instead, a kind touch is extended from the hunted to the hunter.
Imagine how Saul might have felt before Ananias arrived. He’d had no food or drink for three days, and he likely hadn’t had much human touch. The men he came with would have been frightened at what happened on the road, and they could get no explanation from Saul. After three days, they’d become frustrated. Why, if Saul wanted to sit in the darkness and die of starvation, they couldn’t stop him! He was blind, frightened, and depressed. How simple a solution for Paul’s problem. He needed a friend!
Think of this. Before Saul heard a word from Ananias, a stranger, before he knew the answers to his questions, Saul felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. He turned toward the voice, his blind eyes trying to take in the face of a man who would touch him so kindly.
A faithful friend knows how to hold someone when he or she is hurting, how to communicate love with touch, even restore confidence with a special grip. A faithful friend understands the power of a hug, and isn’t embarrassed to hold on to the hug a little longer than necessary. Don’t underestimate the power of a gentle touch.
And if I look like I need it one day, how about a kiss on both cheeks?
III. Speak the right words at the right time
Here’s a trivia question. What was the second name Saul had in Scripture?
“Paul?” Wrong. Paul is the third name Saul had in Scripture.
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17)
You probably spotted it. The second name Saul had was Brother Saul.
It may not seem like a big deal to us, but you can bet Saul never forgot the day a man called him Brother for the first time. Imagine sitting in darkness for three days without food, drink, or encouragement and suddenly receiving a kind word. What a gift!
A faithful friend says not simply kind words, but the right words at the right time. Ananias shared the truth with Saul in a very gentle way and baptized him. The first person whom Saul saw after he heard the truth of the Holy Spirit was a God-sent friend.
Ananias showered Saul with some of the most precious gifts you can give another human being. He was there for Saul, he touched him like a friend who cared, and he spoke kindly to him, with the right words at the right time.
Over the next several days, he taught Saul, he encouraged him, and he introduced him to more people who had that same touch, that same kindness, that same love born of the Holy Spirit. What wonderful power Saul discovered in Damascus! The first form of that power he discovered was the power of faithful friends.
IV. Don’t waver in your support
In 1967, Stu Webber was in the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was brutal training for brutal times. The war with Vietnam was the backdrop for the young men trying to survive the heat, humidity, and the rigors of the camp.
Now a pastor and author, Webber writes of the day the raspy voice of the drill sergeant barked out his first, passionate speech. “We are here to save your lives,” he told the young men headed for combat. “First, we’re going to see to it that you overcome all your natural fears. … And second, we are going to show you just how much incredible stress the human mind and body can endure. And when we’re finished with you, you will be the U.S. Army’s best! America’s best. You will be confident. You will survive, even in combat. And you will accomplish your mission!”
Before he dismissed the formation, the sergeant gave Webber and his fellow recruits their first assignment. These guys were ready for anything. They had mentally prepared for a 10-mile run in full battle gear. They’d already envisioned rappelling down a sheer cliff. So what would be the tough guy’s first tough order?
“Find yourself a Ranger buddy,” he growled. “You will stick together. You will never leave each other. You will encourage each other, and, as necessary, you will carry each other.”
It was the army’s way of saying, difficult assignments require a friend. Together is better. (Stu Weber, Locking Arms, Sisters, Ore: Multnomah Books, 1995, 77-78).
During the first week of Saul’s spiritual training camp, he met Barnabas. He had no idea then that God had placed next to him the one man the church had already nicknamed “The Encourager” (Acts 4:36). What a Ranger-type buddy to have!
When Saul left Damascus, he walked back to Jerusalem, apparently learning all he could from the Christians who walked with him. The conversations must have been intense as Saul learned all he could about Jesus.He would have come to Capernaum as he returned to Jerusalem, and Saul would have seen, for the first time, the house where Jesus had lived. In Capernaum, he would have met men and women who had been healed by Jesus. He would have seen the light in their eyes as they told the stories of what had happened on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
All along the way, for more than 120 miles, Saul would have met people who had been changed by Jesus.
Imagine his excitement as he returned to Jerusalem. Finally, he would meet Peter, and John, and James. He’d sit down with Bartholomew, Andrew, and Simon the Zealot, and have dinner with Thomas. He would meet them all, these men who had walked with Jesus. He would tire them out with his questions, he would wait on their every need, he would pour over the Torah with them, looking for the marks of Jesus in the Scripture.
But when he arrived, he couldn’t find a single disciple. Every time he got close to tracking someone down, he found an empty house. Every time he was ready to hold out his hand in friendship, he grasped nothing but air. After a few days, the truth seemed obvious. The disciples were hiding from Saul. They had heard that he’d become a believer, but they didn’t believe it. They were terrified of him (Acts 9:26).
At that point, Saul needed a friend to stand with him, and he didn’t have far to look.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. (Acts 9:27-28)
What a beautiful example Barnabas was. As it was then, it is today. A faithful friend stands with you, stands up for you, and doesn’t waver in his support. If you’ve found such a friend, you’ve found a great source of power. If you are that friend, God’s power is working through you!
A faithful friend will stay with you.
Barnabas’ friendship wasn’t just short term. When he became a friend to Saul, Barnabas made a commitment for the long haul.
After meeting the disciples, Saul took some time off. He retreated for three years of study, prayer, and reflection, spending some of that time in Tarsus, the town of his birth, some in Arabia, and some back in Damascus (Acts 9:30; Gal. 1:17-18). In time, the church wondered what had happened to the passionate convert named Saul. At that point, a friend went to find Saul.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. (Acts 11:25-26)
Barnabas stayed with Saul for a whole year. And beyond that year, Barnabas stayed with Saul for a lifetime. They started churches together, they grew missionaries together, and they even stayed together in the midst of disagreement. In short, Barnabas was the kind of friend Saul needed, for Saul needed a man to stay with him.
Think about the way Ananias and Barnabas helped change the world. Saul – who became known as Paul – eventually would become the most important missionary in Christian history, a leader the equal of Peter and John in the early church, and the most prolific writer in the New Testament.
How many millions, becoming Christians, have been freed by the concept of salvation by grace, and not by works? How many marriages have been saved by the words of 1 Corinthians 13, “The Love Chapter?” How many anxious hearts have been calmed by the peace that passes all understanding, or the knowledge that God can work good in every situation? God has used those scriptural concepts for centuries, for millions upon millions of believers. I’ve been changed by those words, and you have, too.
Paul wrote them. What a dynamic, confident, irrepressible, crucial leader.
Flashback now to the day when this same man lay crumpled in the dirt on the outskirts of Damascus. A bright light and an overwhelming Savior had just taken his eyesight, his spiritual foundation, and his emotional health.
As Saul stumbled into the city, he didn’t want food, and he didn’t want water. But he needed a friend. So God reached down to two men and asked them to help change the world. God spoke to Ananias, and to Barnabas, and asked them to be a friend to a man who desperately needed them.
And the world was changed.
God works in simple ways. Somewhere, perhaps today, a person near you needs a faithful friend. If you answer God’s call to be that friend, it might be you who changes the world.
It’s not how much you have but what you do and feel about it that matters.
As you probably know, many students in your school have much less than most, and some have nothing at all. There are also students who come from difficult backgrounds and who have faced great loss in their lives. This can make it very hard to be happy with what you have.
It’s important to remember that it’s not how much money or possessions you have that matters; rather, it’s what you do and feel about them that matters. You may need to work hard for the things that are important to you, but those things will be yours forever if they’re earned through hard work and perseverance — unlike money or possessions which can be taken away from us at any time.
As St Francis of Assisi said: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone who is richly dressed to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”