Lection: Acts 9

May 4, 2025

Acts 9:1-6
John 21:1-19

“Turn and Feed my Sheep”

I love this Season of Easter, when our Sunday readings include all these wonderful stories of Jesus’ Resurrection appearances. After all the worry, stress, pain, and regret of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution… And after the strange and unsettling realization that his body was no longer in the tomb on the third day… Jesus shows up for his friends and followers to assure them that he is actually alive again!

He appears to them. He speaks to them. He shares food with them. He allows them to touch him and to see that he is really alive. And in doing that, he assures them and us that God is more powerful that hatred, violence, and even death itself. Though he was dead, he is alive again! And though we also will die, we also will live forever with God.

But today’s two stories – from the Gospel of John and the Book of Acts are particularly important for the church. They are important because they are Jesus’ encounters with Peter and Paul, who will become two of the most influential leaders of the Christian Church.

Most of you have probably heard that I had the privilege last … Read more »

May 5, 2019

Acts 9:1-20
John 21:1-19

“Converted for Mission”

This week I was drawn into the story from the Book of Acts about Saul’s conversion to Christianity. Saul, the Pharisee, who was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus, who was making plans to arrest any he found who belonged to the Way…

Saul was going along and approaching Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard the voice of Jesus. And to make a long story short, he was converted from a persecutor of Christians to one of the most influential Apostles of Christ, who brought the Gospel to the Gentiles and recorded the Good News in writings and letters for generations to come.

Reading the story of Saul’s conversion makes me think about other stories I’ve heard about people in our time coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Some of them even have stories as dramatic as Saul’s experience! I remember someone telling such a dramatic story many years ago when I was in university. I was at a Christian gathering on campus and there was a young man named Stephen telling his story of coming to faith, giving his testimony.

Stephen told us … Read more »

April 14, 2013

Acts 9:1-20
John 21:1-19

“Converted For Mission”

This week I was drawn into the story from the Book of Acts about Saul’s conversion to Christianity. Saul, the Pharisee, who was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus, who was making plans to arrest any he found who belonged to the Way… Saul was going along and approaching Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard the voice of Jesus. And to make a long story short, he was converted from a persecutor of Christians to one of the most influential Apostles of Christ, who brought the Gospel to the Gentiles and recorded the Good News in writings and letters for generations to come.

Early in the week, I invited folks, with whom I shared the story, to think about their own stories of coming to faith in Jesus Christ. I wondered if some might have a story as dramatic as Saul’s experience. I remembered someone telling such a dramatic story many years ago when I was in university. I was at a Christian gathering on campus and there was a young man named Stephen telling his story of coming to faith, giving … Read more »

February 20, 2011

John 10:11-16
Acts 9:10-19
Ezekiel 34:1-6, 11-16

When you’re preparing to become a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada there are a number of steps in the process before ordination. One of those steps is to attend a Guidance Conference. A group of divinity students gathers at Crieff Hills Conference Centre near Guelph Ontario, along with a team of ministers and lay leaders within the Presbyterian Church. And we spend three days in personal and small group reflection on our call to ministry in the church.

The process includes a series of interviews and discussions that each student goes through with three counsellors. I don’t remember very much of the content of those conversations when I attended the Guidance Conference, but I do remember that at one point, someone asked me to think about what image I would choose to represent what my role would be as a minister in the church.

I remember that I paused for a moment to think about what image to choose. And then I said, “Well, often people use the image of a shepherd for the minister. But I’m not sure how I feel about that. I don’t think that’s the image that I would use for my … Read more »