Sunday Focus
3rd August 2025
Welcome to this weeks Sunday Focus, we pray you will be blessed.
This week we look at Acts 9:10-19
Hymn - Alleluia Sing to Jesus
Song - King of Kings, Majesty
Gracious God,
faithful and true,
Your Spirit is the Life Force in everything that is.
From the beginning of the world You have been at work,
creating, designing, imagining,
with such beauty and intricate detail –
honey bees to moons, wild grass to incredible people –
all a labour of love in every moment of every day You give us,
as clouds shift formation, tides rise and recede,
little children say new words and play new games.
How dependable You are, God,
keeping us right in the ever-changing seasons around us and within –
storm and calm, harmony and upset,
You never walk out on us.
So, if today is a turbulent time in our hearts;
if we are sitting with anger against ourselves or someone else;
if there is disquiet, robbing us of peace or making us feel isolated…
Come and help us, come near with Your faithful love,
for You see our secret hurts; You know our unspoken regrets.
Come and help us move a little way out of that cave
into Your waiting arms.
Soothe us, soften us, help us to heal.
Bring us back to ourselves, back to each other, back to You,
where we belong and where You long for us to be.
All this we pray in Jesus' name,
our friend and our Saviour,
Amen
Song - Change My Heart O God
Acts 9:10-19
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
In the verses before this passage we see Saul of Tarsus (Paul was his Roman name) persecuting the followers of Jesus. A bright light blinds him and he hears the voice of Jesus asking him why he is persecuting Him.
Ananias can't quite believe what Jesus is asking him to do. Surely someone like Saul could never change! This passage tells us that no one is beyond the reach of Jesus, no matter what we have done. The risen Christ transformed Saul from persecutor to preacher. The good news is that Jesus saves even the most unlikely people! We just have to ask Him.
You can find out more about what it means to become a Christian
HERE.
Song - All My Boast is in Jesus
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Song- Because of Jesus
Let the majesty of the Father
be the light by which you walk,
the compassion of the Son
be the love by which you walk,
the presence of the Spirit
be the power by which you walk.
Amen