What Are You Waiting For?

Introduction: It had been said, “patience is a virtue.” However, there are some things that are worth waiting for, and others things that are not.

Question: What is something that is worth waiting for?
Question: What is something you shouldn’t wait for?

We are going to talk about waiting, and we are going to ask the question: Should someone wait to get on track with their relationship with God?

Acts 22:3-5
– Paul was telling the story of his life before he became a Christian. (“Saul” also went by “Paul”)
– He said that he was just as zealous for God as many of the religious leaders were.

Question: How do you picture Saul? What king of guy do you imagine him to be?
Question: What does it mean to be zealous for God? Are there many zealous people for God today?
Question: How could Paul be so zealous for God, but be arresting and killing Christians at the same time?

Many people think that being sincere about God is enough. Paul was sincere. He was also sincerely lost. He was zealous for God, but was going in the wrong direction. Sincerity is not enough. There is a right way and a wrong way.

Acts 22:6-11
– Paul was talking about how Jesus blinded him to get his attention.
– Jesus spoke to him and told him that he was going in the wrong direction.

Question: What are some ways that God gets people’s attention nowadays?
Question: Was Paul’s blinding a harsh thing or a loving thing?

Sometimes we view the “harsh” circumstances in our lives as bad things, but God is actually using those things to steer us back to Him. Therefore, hard circumstances are a good thing and not a bad thing.

Acts 22:12-16
– Jesus directed Saul to go into Damascus and meet Ananias.
– He finally got there, and Ananias healed him.
– Ananias told him, “What are you waiting for…?”

Question: Why do you think Paul was hesitant to be baptized?
Question: What makes people hesitant to obey God nowadays?

Not rushing into things can often be a good thing. With God, though, there is no reason not to rush into a relationship with Him. Nothing bad could ever come out of it.

Challenge: Don’t hesitate to get on track with your relationship with God. Paul needed Ananias to push him, and we also need people to push us out of our comfort zone. Choose someone from this group to receive help from, and then go after your relationship with God!