HOLY FAMILY CATECHESIS
THE CONVERSION[i] of SAINT PAUL the APOSTLE
January 25, 2021
Read: Acts 26:9-21; Psalm 67, Galatians 1: 11-24, Matthew 10: 16-25
1. Why is it important for us to know about Saint Paul?
a. God spoke to Paul directly and inspired him to write 13 books of the Bible.
b. Look at your New Testament Table of Contents for these books: Romans, 1Corinthians, 2Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1Thessalonians, 2Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2Timothy, Titus, Philemon.
c. These letters that he wrote spread the Good News of Jesus and His LOVE for ALL throughout the world to all of God’s people.
d. We can learn to share our story of how God loves us and is helping us grow into the best versions of ourselves by Saint Paul’s example.
2. Who was Paul?
a. Paul, who was first called Saul was a Roman citizen who had been taught by the Greeks
b. He lived during the time Jesus was fulfilling God’s ministry on earth, teaching about God’s Kingdom, feeding the hungry and healing the sick, and casting out demons.
c. Paul was also a very well educated Jew who tried to do what HE thought was right for “his religion”.
d. He never met Jesus but did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah who would be sent by God to save His people.
e. Saul hated Christians, and he had many of them arrested. He wanted to stamp out this new religion, until the resurrected Jesus came and spoke to him directly.
3. Watch the conversion of Saint Paul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3JfPCFFcfA
a. Saul was led to Damascus where three days later, Jesus restored his sight.
b. Saul himself wrote in his letter to the Galatians 1:15: that he now knew that God had set him apart BEFORE he was born . (Remember what we learned from our discussion of Jeremiah 1:5: God the Father set apart Jesus His only Son before Creation, Jeremiah, and each of us for His special purpose.)
c. After Saul’s conversion, he was called Paul, was baptized and went away (just like Jesus did) to be with God FIRST, to listen, learn, and pray about how he was going live the rest of his life, SURRENDERED to God’s WILL.
d. God appointed him and gave him the wisdom and power to reveal the saving grace and TRUTH of Jesus, who brings NEW life to all who believe in Him.
4. What can we learn from Saint Paul?
a. God had a purpose and plan for Paul before he was in his mother’s womb.
b. Paul thought he would do things his way and kept resisting God’s plan
c. God had Paul meet directly with Jesus to set him on the right path.
d. Paul received Jesus’ way, truth, and life AFTER meeting with the resurrected Jesus.
e. Paul continued to listen, learn, and pray before he took action to spread God’s love and truth.
f. St. Paul persevered against all challenges because God was always with him.
g. Think of yourself in place of Paul in the story above.
h. What do you hear from God?
i. What will you do to obey?
[i] Conversion: being convinced by God to change one’s beliefs about the identity of Jesus Christ, Son of God.
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