Bible Study Connection:
Examine the evangelism model of Jesus demonstrated in His encounter with the woman at the well (John 4:4-10,13-18,24-26).
This model creative sermon is a monologue based on the Apostle Paul’s testimony as told by a first century businessman who meets Paul on several occasions.
Worship Suggestions:
Before the monologue and earlier in the service, you should present some introductory information about the book of Acts and Paul’s testimony. I suggest doing this a part of a Scripture reading and announce that we have a special guest for the sermon. Though not required, it is effective to wear a biblical/Middle-eastern costume.
Context:
The Book of Acts covers a period of almost thirty years, which means Luke demonstrated careful selection of events to provide a summary of the expansion of the early church. To appreciate the selectivity, you can compare the twenty-eight chapters of Acts covering 30 years to the Gospels which basically cover three years, after the Christmas story. Obviously, Luke did not record every visit, every sermon, or every witnessing experience. Often years separate events that seem to flow in close proximity as you read the text. For example, chapter eighteen says Paul stayed in Corinth for some time and then sailed for Syria and later to Ephesus. The ministry in just these three cites combined takes place over several years. With such a wide time span, one would not expect to find stories repeated, which is what we find except for two significant items.
First, the story of the Holy Spirit coming upon Cornelius is told at Peter’s visit to Cornelius’s home and later retold as Peter shares with the Jews in Jerusalem that, “God granted the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
The second repeated story is the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Not only is it repeated, it is told three times in the Book of Acts. Why? Some suggest it was Luke’s attempt to establish the apostleship of Paul. This view has some merit, but it does not provide a reason for three accounts of the same story. I am convinced that Luke recorded the story three times, not because he heard Paul share the story three times, but he heard the story three thousand times! The lesson for us apply to our lives is that sharing your personal testimony is a powerful model for effective witnessing.
Stephonos Monologue:
My name is Stephonos. I was a businessman during the first century. I specialized in precious metals and traveled throughout the Roman Empire. During my travels I met a fascinating young man named Saul of Tarsus.
I first met Saul in Jerusalem. I was doing business with the Greek Jews in the city. These Greek Jews were very upset with a man named Saul of Tarsus who was teaching about a Messiah who had been raised from the dead. I wasn’t interested in some crucified religious leader, but I was impressed with Saul. I tried to recruit Saul to work for me. He had outstanding qualifications:
highly educatedgood public speakermulti-lingualRoman citizen which would allow him unrestricted travel in the empire.I told him, “Hey, if your own people, the Jews, are not interested in this Jesus who was crucified as a criminal, then come and work for me. You are too talented to waste your life preaching a message that no one believes. I want to give you a great opportunity to make a difference in the world, and you can make a nice living for yourself as well as your family.” Paul said, “Did I tell you what happened to me on the road to Damascus. I saw a light brighter than the noonday sun, and I heard the Lord say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? I want to give you eternal life and use you to share the gospel with the Gentiles.” Saul declined and prayed a strange prayer for me. “Lord, open his eyes that he may see and open his ears that he may hear.” I always thought Paul’s prayer was strange because I could see and hear just fine.
Fifteen years later in Lystra as we were leaving the city, we saw a man being stoned. When we got close enough to see the man, I was stunned to see that it was Saul. I tried once again to recruit Saul to come and work for me. I told him he was wasting his life. The Jews did not believe your message, and the Gentiles don’t believe it either. You are too talented to travel around telling people a story they don’t want to hear. Saul I want to give you an opportunity to have a positive impact on people and to make a lot of money. He declined and said, “Stephanos, did I tell you what happened to me on the road to Damascus. I saw a light brighter than the noonday sun, and I heard the Lord say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? I want to give you eternal life and use you to share the gospel with the Gentiles.” The he prayed that same strange prayer, “Lord, open his eyes that he may see and open his ears that he may hear.” I still remember watching that beaten and bloodied man walking back into the city where he had just been stoned, so he could keep preaching the message of Jesus.
Five or six years later in Ephesus, I was in the city working on one of my largest accounts. The city used a great deal of silver in idol production. A riot had broken out, and guess who was right in the middle of the controversy? That’s right, it was Saul of Tarsus. Apparently the Jesus message had started to appeal to some in Ephesus because they began discarding idols, which made the merchants unhappy. Once again, I told Saul to stop wasting his life. I offered him safety, financial security, and significance in the world instead of a life as a poor insignificant preacher. I told him I would give him the opportunity to leave a mighty legacy by becoming a success in the world. I pleaded with Saul knowing he would soon die a pauper in total anonymity without anyone ever remembering that Saul of Tarsus lived in the first century. He looked directly into my eyes and said, “Stephanos, did I ever tell you what happened to me on the road to Damascus? I saw a light brighter than the noonday sun, and I heard the Lord Jesus say, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me. I want to give you eternal life and use you to take the gospel to the Gentiles.” Then he prayed that strange prayer, “Lord open his eyes that he may see and his ears that he may hear.”
Five or six years later I was in Rome. From my window I saw a group of prisoners being led past the palace. They were all in chains, most looked beaten and dejected, but there was one who looked different. He walked with his head help up, not in arrogance, but with confidence. The prisoner was engaged in a conversation with one of the guards. When they got closer I realized it was Saul. I ran to meet him. I told him that I would talk to Caesar and pay whatever fine to set him free. Saul said, “My chains are a badge of honor for my Lord Jesus, the Messiah.” The he said, “Stephonos, did I ever tell you what happened to me on the road to Damascus? I saw a light brighter than the noonday sun, and I heard the Lord Jesus say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? I want to give you eternal life and use you to share the gospel with the Gentiles.” Before he could continue the conversation, one of the Roman guards jerked on the chain and commanded the prisoners to keep moving. As I watched Saul being taken away, I fell to my knees and prayed, “Lord, open my eyes that I may see and open my ears that I may hear.”