WEBVTT - 334: Bravery and a New Beginning

0:00:02.080 --> 0:00:06.360
<v Speaker 1>Hello again, and welcome back to Kid's Bible Stories. Today's

0:00:06.360 --> 0:00:10.840
<v Speaker 1>story is called Bravery and a New Beginning. This comes

0:00:10.840 --> 0:00:14.200
<v Speaker 1>from Acts chapter nine, verses ten through nineteen, and as

0:00:14.280 --> 0:00:19.360
<v Speaker 1>part of our Hidden Jim's series. We are thrilled to

0:00:19.480 --> 0:00:22.720
<v Speaker 1>have you join us as we continue our enthralling series

0:00:22.880 --> 0:00:26.160
<v Speaker 1>Hidden Gems, where we on Earth and shine a light

0:00:26.200 --> 0:00:29.080
<v Speaker 1>on some of the Bible's lesser known people and their

0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:34.360
<v Speaker 1>extraordinary real life stories. I want to introduce who we

0:00:34.400 --> 0:00:38.040
<v Speaker 1>are talking about today. We have Anonius.

0:00:38.720 --> 0:00:40.440
<v Speaker 2>Hello.

0:00:40.760 --> 0:00:45.680
<v Speaker 1>Anonius loved Jesus and followed his ways. He was a

0:00:45.720 --> 0:00:54.200
<v Speaker 1>disciple of Jesus. And then we have Saul Hello. Now,

0:00:54.480 --> 0:00:57.320
<v Speaker 1>Saul was a man whose name struck fear in the

0:00:57.360 --> 0:01:01.360
<v Speaker 1>hearts of Christians because he made it his mission to

0:01:01.480 --> 0:01:05.440
<v Speaker 1>crush the Christian faith. He didn't agree with what they

0:01:05.480 --> 0:01:08.319
<v Speaker 1>believed and tried to find them so that he could

0:01:08.319 --> 0:01:13.560
<v Speaker 1>even throw them in prison. Now that you know who

0:01:13.640 --> 0:01:18.760
<v Speaker 1>they are, let's embark on this adventure together, discovering God's

0:01:18.760 --> 0:01:23.160
<v Speaker 1>word and learning how each act of bravery and faithfulness

0:01:23.480 --> 0:01:29.200
<v Speaker 1>can lead to new beginnings. We begin our story here

0:01:33.040 --> 0:01:37.840
<v Speaker 1>in the heart of Damascus. Their lived disciple named Annonaeus

0:01:39.680 --> 0:01:44.360
<v Speaker 1>Damascus was a bustling city. Markets lined the streets as

0:01:44.400 --> 0:01:48.279
<v Speaker 1>people sold their wares good for sale.

0:01:48.600 --> 0:01:49.960
<v Speaker 3>Get your fresh bread here.

0:01:52.080 --> 0:01:56.440
<v Speaker 1>Vibrant blue and yellow linens hung on ropes. They flapped

0:01:56.440 --> 0:02:01.520
<v Speaker 1>in the breeze, displaying that they too were for sale.

0:02:02.480 --> 0:02:07.200
<v Speaker 1>This was a city alive with culture and history. Yet

0:02:08.000 --> 0:02:15.840
<v Speaker 1>beneath the surface, a storm was brewing, a storm centered

0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:21.560
<v Speaker 1>around a man named Saul. An Annius was here in

0:02:21.639 --> 0:02:31.519
<v Speaker 1>Damascus when the Lord called to him in a vision. Annius, yes,

0:02:31.639 --> 0:02:39.440
<v Speaker 1>Lord Anonius answered, this wasn't just any day for Anonius.

0:02:40.120 --> 0:02:42.440
<v Speaker 1>It was the day his faith would be tested like

0:02:42.639 --> 0:02:49.519
<v Speaker 1>never before. Imagine Anonius perhaps sitting quietly in his home,

0:02:50.200 --> 0:02:55.880
<v Speaker 1>cooking or reading, when suddenly God himself speaks to him.

0:02:57.160 --> 0:03:00.400
<v Speaker 1>The Lord had a mission for him that would sound

0:03:00.720 --> 0:03:08.519
<v Speaker 1>almost unbelievable. Let's listen it. The Lord told him.

0:03:09.919 --> 0:03:15.000
<v Speaker 3>Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and

0:03:15.200 --> 0:03:20.640
<v Speaker 3>ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, For he

0:03:20.880 --> 0:03:25.400
<v Speaker 3>is praying in a vision he has seen a man

0:03:25.880 --> 0:03:30.560
<v Speaker 3>named an Anius come and place his hands on him

0:03:30.760 --> 0:03:32.560
<v Speaker 3>to restore his sight.

0:03:35.960 --> 0:03:40.960
<v Speaker 1>Lord Annius answered, I've heard.

0:03:40.800 --> 0:03:44.120
<v Speaker 2>Many reports about Salon and all the harmonies done to

0:03:44.200 --> 0:03:48.200
<v Speaker 2>our holy people in Jerusalem and now, now he's here

0:03:48.760 --> 0:03:51.920
<v Speaker 2>with the authority from the chief priest to arrest all

0:03:51.920 --> 0:03:53.000
<v Speaker 2>who call on your name.

0:03:54.960 --> 0:03:59.839
<v Speaker 1>Let's pause, listeners. Does it sound like an Aonius knows

0:04:00.120 --> 0:04:08.200
<v Speaker 1>who Saul is? Yes, yep. News traveled quickly about Saul

0:04:08.280 --> 0:04:13.600
<v Speaker 1>because he treated Christians terribly. The very thought of Saul

0:04:13.680 --> 0:04:17.279
<v Speaker 1>could send shivers down the spine of the bravest believer.

0:04:19.120 --> 0:04:26.479
<v Speaker 1>But God wasn't finished. The Lord said to him.

0:04:25.440 --> 0:04:32.320
<v Speaker 3>Go, this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my

0:04:32.560 --> 0:04:36.760
<v Speaker 3>name to the gentiles and their kings and to the

0:04:36.839 --> 0:04:42.279
<v Speaker 3>people of Israel. I will show him how much he

0:04:42.360 --> 0:04:44.559
<v Speaker 3>must suffer for my name.

0:04:47.120 --> 0:04:51.120
<v Speaker 1>Can you imagine the whirlwind of emotions? And Anaias must

0:04:51.120 --> 0:04:57.680
<v Speaker 1>have felt fear, doubt, perhaps even a bit of disbelief.

0:04:58.880 --> 0:05:02.200
<v Speaker 2>That guy, Lord, you know who he is? Right?

0:05:03.200 --> 0:05:06.520
<v Speaker 1>Yet, in a moment that defines true trust in God,

0:05:07.240 --> 0:05:15.200
<v Speaker 1>and Anius chose obedience over fear with a deep breath.

0:05:16.920 --> 0:05:21.560
<v Speaker 1>Ah okay, and Anius set out on his mission to

0:05:21.640 --> 0:05:28.679
<v Speaker 1>find Saul. Maybe his heart was pounding, his mind raising

0:05:28.760 --> 0:05:33.960
<v Speaker 1>as he walked the streets of Damascus. What would Saul

0:05:34.000 --> 0:05:38.159
<v Speaker 1>look like? What would he say? How would a man

0:05:38.279 --> 0:05:42.279
<v Speaker 1>known for his cruelty react? To a visit from a Christian.

0:05:44.760 --> 0:05:48.239
<v Speaker 1>Finally he found the house the Lord had told him about.

0:05:50.120 --> 0:05:54.520
<v Speaker 1>Imagine and Anius standing before the door of Judas's house,

0:05:55.360 --> 0:05:59.440
<v Speaker 1>his hand hesitating for just a moment before he knocked.

0:06:05.760 --> 0:06:10.240
<v Speaker 1>The door opened, and there, in the dim light of

0:06:10.279 --> 0:06:17.400
<v Speaker 1>the room sat Saul. Saul was blinded from his encounter

0:06:17.480 --> 0:06:22.719
<v Speaker 1>with Jesus. He couldn't see Anonis enter. He could simply

0:06:22.800 --> 0:06:32.200
<v Speaker 1>listen to what was happening. Saul sat waiting, hoping, and praying,

0:06:35.200 --> 0:06:39.640
<v Speaker 1>probably with a gulp and a silent prayer for help.

0:06:40.440 --> 0:06:47.320
<v Speaker 1>Annaanaias slowly walked to Saul. He gently placed his hands

0:06:47.320 --> 0:06:48.640
<v Speaker 1>on him and.

0:06:48.720 --> 0:06:54.680
<v Speaker 4>Spoke, brother, Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you

0:06:54.760 --> 0:06:57.720
<v Speaker 4>on the road as you were coming here, has sent

0:06:57.800 --> 0:07:01.040
<v Speaker 4>me so that you may see again and be filled

0:07:01.480 --> 0:07:02.880
<v Speaker 4>with the Holy Spirit.

0:07:05.040 --> 0:07:10.640
<v Speaker 1>Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes and he

0:07:10.640 --> 0:07:16.560
<v Speaker 1>could see again. But what would Saul do next? Would

0:07:16.600 --> 0:07:20.880
<v Speaker 1>he try to arrest and Annius yell at him? What

0:07:20.920 --> 0:07:24.080
<v Speaker 1>would he do? What do you think he did?

0:07:28.560 --> 0:07:30.280
<v Speaker 2>He might be angry.

0:07:31.080 --> 0:07:38.240
<v Speaker 1>Thanks for sharing. Well, the Bible says that Saul got

0:07:38.360 --> 0:07:58.720
<v Speaker 1>up and was baptized. Well, that is it for a story. Today.

0:07:59.200 --> 0:08:03.440
<v Speaker 1>But before we go, let's think about what we just heard.

0:08:05.320 --> 0:08:09.160
<v Speaker 1>Who did God tell Ananius to go to shout out

0:08:09.160 --> 0:08:09.560
<v Speaker 1>his name?

0:08:11.440 --> 0:08:11.760
<v Speaker 3>Saul?

0:08:12.960 --> 0:08:17.080
<v Speaker 1>Great? And Saul was known for arresting Christians and being

0:08:17.200 --> 0:08:22.320
<v Speaker 1>so horrible to them. So how do you think Anonius

0:08:22.320 --> 0:08:25.120
<v Speaker 1>may have felt when he was told to go see Saul?

0:08:28.040 --> 0:08:30.840
<v Speaker 2>I would feel nervous and definitely not want to go.

0:08:32.480 --> 0:08:36.240
<v Speaker 1>I'm sure he did have some feelings about it. But

0:08:36.360 --> 0:08:43.359
<v Speaker 1>did he trust God and obey? Yes? Yes, Annius. Despite

0:08:43.520 --> 0:08:48.640
<v Speaker 1>maybe his initial fear, he stepped forward in obedience and kindness,

0:08:49.280 --> 0:08:55.000
<v Speaker 1>embodying a spirit of true discipleship. This act of courage

0:08:55.040 --> 0:08:58.720
<v Speaker 1>and faith changed not only the lives of these two men,

0:08:59.200 --> 0:09:04.760
<v Speaker 1>but impacted generations to come. Saul, a man who once

0:09:05.000 --> 0:09:09.360
<v Speaker 1>breathed threats and murder against the followers of Jesus, He's

0:09:09.480 --> 0:09:14.240
<v Speaker 1>now one of them, baptized, his site, restored not just

0:09:14.360 --> 0:09:22.640
<v Speaker 1>physically but spiritually ray ray. Through God choosing Saul and

0:09:22.800 --> 0:09:30.200
<v Speaker 1>using an Anius, Saul began a new life. Let me explain.

0:09:31.160 --> 0:09:35.520
<v Speaker 1>Raise your hand if you've heard of Paul, yep, Paul

0:09:35.640 --> 0:09:41.240
<v Speaker 1>with a p Well, that Paul, the apostle who loved Jesus,

0:09:41.840 --> 0:09:45.400
<v Speaker 1>who even wrote books of our Bible. He was once

0:09:46.360 --> 0:09:52.760
<v Speaker 1>that Saul no way, yep, Saul is Paul, and Paul

0:09:52.880 --> 0:09:57.160
<v Speaker 1>is Saul. The one you'd least expect to proudly proclaim

0:09:57.240 --> 0:10:01.040
<v Speaker 1>the good news of Jesus became the one who devoted

0:10:01.040 --> 0:10:04.040
<v Speaker 1>the rest of his life teaching others about Jesus.

0:10:05.520 --> 0:10:06.000
<v Speaker 3>Wow.

0:10:07.880 --> 0:10:11.079
<v Speaker 1>Do you think God can use your words and actions

0:10:11.480 --> 0:10:15.079
<v Speaker 1>to teach others about Him to change their life because

0:10:15.120 --> 0:10:15.840
<v Speaker 1>of Him?

0:10:17.800 --> 0:10:18.120
<v Speaker 2>Yes?

0:10:18.640 --> 0:10:23.720
<v Speaker 1>Absolutely. Like Anonius, we are often called to act kindly

0:10:23.800 --> 0:10:29.480
<v Speaker 1>and courageously, even when it seems difficult. Remember, because we

0:10:29.520 --> 0:10:32.719
<v Speaker 1>can trust God, we can obey what he says to do,

0:10:33.960 --> 0:10:36.960
<v Speaker 1>and no action is too small when it's done with

0:10:37.000 --> 0:10:41.400
<v Speaker 1>great love and faith. Let us step out bravely into

0:10:41.440 --> 0:10:45.160
<v Speaker 1>the world, inspired by the lessons of Anonius and Saul,

0:10:46.240 --> 0:10:50.040
<v Speaker 1>and see how many new beginnings we can inspire in

0:10:50.080 --> 0:10:55.800
<v Speaker 1>our own schools and neighborhoods. Thank you for listening to

0:10:55.800 --> 0:10:59.600
<v Speaker 1>today's episode. This episode features fun bonus sheets for kids

0:10:59.640 --> 0:11:02.680
<v Speaker 1>to enjoy while listening, which also helps reinforce what they've

0:11:02.679 --> 0:11:06.360
<v Speaker 1>heard and offers a creative outlet. We have a lot

0:11:06.400 --> 0:11:08.760
<v Speaker 1>to offer on our Patreon page. Check it out at

0:11:08.840 --> 0:11:13.640
<v Speaker 1>kbspodcast dot com and click bonus content. By joining, you're

0:11:13.679 --> 0:11:16.160
<v Speaker 1>not only giving your kids a fun activity, but you're

0:11:16.200 --> 0:11:21.000
<v Speaker 1>also supporting our podcast, allowing others to listen for free.

0:11:21.200 --> 0:11:23.200
<v Speaker 1>The link is also in the show notes for you.

0:11:23.480 --> 0:11:25.480
<v Speaker 1>And on that note, we would like to thank our

0:11:25.480 --> 0:11:29.640
<v Speaker 1>newest Patreon members who helped make today's episode possible. Thank

0:11:29.720 --> 0:11:34.840
<v Speaker 1>you to Aaron, Joe, gh Amy, Scott, Caitlin and Emily.

0:11:35.200 --> 0:11:40.040
<v Speaker 1>Thank you so much for joining us. Thanks again everyone,

0:11:40.320 --> 0:11:43.800
<v Speaker 1>and as always, bye for now