#GOFAMINTDailyDevotion Thur. 3/12/2015

QUARTER’S THEME: PAUL – THE DYNAMIC MISSIONARY EVANGELIST

UNIT 1: His Early Judaism Life (Lessons 1-2)

LESSON 1      6/12/2015

THE BACKGROUND OF APOSTLE PAUL

Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 258, 259

Devotional Reading: Prov. 22:1-8

Topic For Adults: Give Your Child A Good Foundation

Topic For Youths: Your Foundation Is Important

Topic For Intermediates: Listen To The Voice Of The Elders

Scripture Lesson: Acts 4:13, 22:3, 5:34, 18:3, Phil. 3:7-8; Phil. 3:5, Acts 21:39, Phil. 3:20; Gal. 1:4, Phil. 3:4-6, Acts 23:6, Acts 6:9

Memory verse: “… and was zealous toward God as you all are today (Acts 22:3c) NKJV

DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING

Thur. 3/12/2015

The Birth And Early Life Of Paul

Acts 22:3, 27-29; Phil. 3:5

Paul lived during the time of the early church. His exact age isn’t known, but he was probably about the age of Peter. He was born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia. In spite of this, he was brought up in the Jewish religious ways. He was circumcised the eight day, he was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers. He became a Pharisee just like his father. Although raised in a Jewish family, he was a Roman citizen due to his birth in a free city. The first appearance of Paul (Saul) in the Bible was as a zealous young man who witnessed the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7). Saul led a major persecution against Christians in Jerusalem, then travelled to Damascus to find still more believers. God confronted him while on the road to Damascus and caused him to repent. He received baptism and began a dynamic thirty-five year evangelistic career as the apostle Paul. Paul was opportuned to grow in a good religious environment although this did not guarantee his knowing Christ, he however had a wrong zeal about the things of God until he met with Christ on the road to Damascus.

Point of Emphasis:   The circumstances of our birth will not determine our salvation.

Prayer Point:   Lord, help us to know the truth and not depend on false premises for our salvation and the knowledge of God.