~

This is the audio from the April 19, 2026 sermon, “Lessons From the Road: A Road of CHANGE!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Acts 9:1-31

• Conviction:  Acts 9:1-6

  • The road of change generally begins with a conviction that change is necessary.  Even when you are convinced you are doing everything right, God may not agree with your conclusion.  When God’s Spirit and His Word convict us of “sin, righteousness, and the judgment”, we can either choose the road of change or continue in a path which leads to destruction.  Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus and brought about a conviction that change was necessary. 

• Humility:  Acts 9:7-16

  • The road of change is continued on when we choose to respond to godly conviction with humility.  Needing to change and having the humility necessary to admit we need to change are two different things.  Not only is humility needed by us when we need to change, it is also needed by us when God is calling others to change.  Saul being struck blind on the road led to a somewhat forced humility as others led him to where he needed to be.  Ananias knew of Saul’s reputation and had a well-founded fear, yet at God’s request humbled himself to be obedient to what God wanted.

• Action:  Acts 9:17-19

  • The road of change needs conviction and humility, but it really begins to take shape when it becomes a road of action.  Change begins in our mind, it’s why the Bible tells us we must be transformed by a renewing of our mind, but the change takes on flesh when we put it into action.  Ananias went to where God told him to go.  Saul got up and was immersed into Christ.  Knowing what we ought to do becomes godly change when we begin to do it.

• Notice:  Acts 9:20-25

  • The road of change will result in others noticing something is different.  The difference may be small or it may be large, but it will be noticeable.  While many were likely skeptical, the Christians noticed Saul who was preaching Jesus was the same Saul who had been persecuting them days earlier.  When we allow the transforming power of the blood of Jesus to work in our life, we notice a difference.  As we live out that difference, others notice that we too have been with Jesus.

• Gentleness:  Acts 9:26-27

  • The road of change is best responded to with gentleness.  We learn gentleness in the midst of change through God’s gentleness with us.  When we do experience this transforming change, we must be careful in how we treat others who may also need to change.  It is in gentleness that Barnabas became a mediator between Saul and the disciples in Jerusalem who had plenty of reasons to be afraid.  

• Encouragement:  Acts 9:28-31

  • The road of change is a path which brings encouragement to us and from us.  It is important to live with an awareness of how God changes us so that we can encourage others who may be ready to give up hope that things will ever change.  While we often want things to change such as the circumstances of life, God is more concerned about us changing.  It is this road of change that we continually walk upon which brings us more and more into the image of Christ each day that we live.  As we become more like Christ, we find great encouragement in being united with Him and with one another.

Today, how will you walk with Jesus on this road of CHANGE?