03 May 2026 - Peter van Breda - God Chooses and Uses the Foolish things of this World

May 04, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Blinded by Heaven’s Light

Saul gripped letters from the high priest, breathing murderous threats. Dust swirled as he neared Damascus. Suddenly, light brighter than the sun engulfed him. He fell, hearing a voice: “Why do you persecute me?” The risen Christ confronted religion’s fiercest defender. Heaven’s radiance exposed Saul’s blindness—both physical and spiritual. [01:22:23]

Jesus didn’t recruit Saul because of his zeal or education. He stopped him mid-stride to rewrite his story. God’s glory shatters human pretenses, revealing our need for mercy. The One who formed light out of darkness still interrupts destructive paths to claim unlikely builders for His church.

You’ve likely felt God interrupting your plans—a conviction during success, a humbling failure. His light exposes what you’ve clung to for identity. Where is He asking you to release control and acknowledge His lordship? What “letters” do you need to drop to follow Him fully?

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’”
(Acts 9:3-4, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal areas where you’ve resisted His authority. Confess self-reliance.
Challenge: Write down one ambition or fear you’ve prioritized over Christ. Burn or tear it as a surrender ritual.

Day 2: Chisel Marks of Grace

Michelangelo chiseled for months to free David from flawed marble. Saul, the “Hebrew of Hebrews,” seemed equally unusable—a violent extremist. Yet Christ saw an apostle buried under pride. God’s grace chisels away our jagged edges: Saul’s self-righteousness became Paul’s passion for Christ’s righteousness. [01:34:47]

Unlike human artists, Jesus transforms raw material without discarding it. He sanctifies our past—Paul’s training in Jewish law became a tool to reach Gentiles. Your failures, quirks, and scars aren’t obstacles to God’s plan. They’re raw material for His redemption.

What part of your story feels too broken for God’s use? Stop hiding it. Let His chisel expose how He’s repurposed your pain or pride. How might your weaknesses showcase Christ’s strength if surrendered to Him?

“We all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for a specific flaw He’s redeeming. Ask for courage to trust His sculpting.
Challenge: Text a trusted friend one area of weakness you’re asking God to transform.

Day 3: Three Days in Damascus’ Dark

Blind Saul groped in a stranger’s home, fasting for three days. The man who arrested Christians now depended on them for bread. Silence stripped Saul of old certainties. In the dark, Christ reshaped a persecutor into a pray-er—preparing him for Ananias’ healing touch. [01:33:29]

God often uses waiting to dismantle our self-sufficiency. Saul’s blindness mirrored his spiritual state—he’d been sightless to truth while condemning others. Seasons of helplessness teach us to receive grace, not earn it.

Are you in a “Damascus dark”—disoriented, waiting for direction? Don’t rush the process. What might God want you to release or relearn in this stillness? How could this delay deepen your dependence on Him?

“For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.”
(Acts 9:9, ESV)

Prayer: Confess impatience with God’s timing. Ask for grace to wait actively, not despairingly.
Challenge: Fast one meal today. Use the time to pray about a decision you’ve been rushing.

Day 4: The Shepherd’s Relentless Pursuit

Jesus compared Saul to a lost sheep—a creature too stubborn to return alone. Heaven’s King left the ninety-nine to intercept one raging Pharisee. Saul’s conversion wasn’t a human decision; it was divine rescue. The Shepherd tracked His enemy to turn him into family. [01:08:34]

God pursues those furthest from Him. Paul later wrote, “Christ Jesus came to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” Your doubts or loved ones’ rebellion don’t disqualify them from His chase. The cross proves no one is beyond His reach.

Who feels beyond hope in your circle? Stop calculating odds. Start declaring Christ’s power to save. When did God pursue you despite your resistance?

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
(Luke 15:7, ESV)

Prayer: Intercede by name for someone you’ve deemed “too far gone.” Thank God for His persistence.
Challenge: Send a handwritten note to someone you’re praying for, simply expressing care.

Day 5: Breathing Mercy Instead of Fire

Saul entered Damascus to arrest saints. He left preaching Christ. The man who approved Stephen’s stoning later wrote, “I am the worst of sinners, but I was shown mercy.” Grace turned his murderous breath into gospel proclamation. [01:13:39]

Your past doesn’t define your usefulness. Paul’s story assures us: those forgiven much love much. Every time you share how Christ changed you, you join the “cloud of witnesses” celebrating heaven’s joy over rescued sinners.

What shame or failure silences your testimony? Name it. How might declaring Christ’s work in that area ignite hope in others?

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”
(1 Timothy 1:15, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for a specific sin He’s forgiven. Ask for boldness to share your story.
Challenge: Tell one person this week how Christ interrupted your life. Be specific.

Sermon Summary

An account of travel and ministry openings leads into a sustained exposition of Acts 9 that centers on divine reversal: God chooses and uses what the world calls weak, foolish, or worthless. The text contrasts human standards of selection with the pattern of Christ, who builds his church from living stones that the world would reject. Scriptural threads from Peter, Paul, and the Pauline epistles appear to show humanity’s moral bankruptcy apart from Christ and the radical provision of righteousness, sanctification, and redemption through faith.

The narrative highlights the conversion of Saul of Tarsus as the pivotal case of God’s sovereign grace. Saul moves from zealous persecutor to apostle; the Damascus encounter with overwhelming light and the voice of Jesus exposes sin, strips false self-righteousness, and inaugurates a new vocation that reshapes church history. The conversion repeats across Acts to underline its importance and to show that heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents.

The sermon weaves artistic metaphors from Michelangelo to describe sanctification. Rather than selecting flawless marble, Christ chisels and transforms flawed material into a dwelling for his Spirit. This shaped-life imagery emphasizes ongoing, practical growth: believers begin as rescued sinners and then undergo patient, sometimes painful, reshaping into Christlikeness.

Practical implications surface throughout: no one lies beyond redemption, church growth advances through ordinary people empowered by the Spirit, and personal holiness flows from union with the living stone. The historical and archaeological references buttress the narrative’s reality, while the call to respond moves from description to invitation. The closing acts—an appeal to those without Christ and the observance of communion—aim to translate doctrine into worshipful obedience and communal participation in the new covenant. The final charge sends listeners into daily life convinced that God sends each person with purpose, continuing the work of building his church one life at a time.

Key Takeaways

1. God chooses the weak and foolish God deliberately selects those whom human standards dismiss so that grace alone receives the credit. This selection exposes human pride and guarantees that no one can boast in personal merit; salvation remains a gift that overturns social hierarchies. Believers can live from vocation rather than status because God validates the lowly by his presence. [62:39]
2. A conversion that changes history Saul’s Damascus encounter demonstrates how one dramatic encounter with Christ can redirect a life and rewrite church history. The moment strips away moral self-sufficiency, replaces it with a new identity, and sets in motion apostolic ministry that multiplies across generations. The narrative insists that genuine conversion produces visible, lasting fruit. [67:25]
3. Ordinary people build the church The church advances not by perfect materials but through ordinary, transformed people empowered by the Spirit. Scripture treats believers as living stones fitted into a spiritual house, showing that corporate mission depends on daily obedience and witness. This view reorients ambition toward communal fidelity rather than personal prominence. [61:57]
4. Sanctification is a sculpting process Growth in Christ resembles an artist chiseling a block of marble: God removes what hides the true form rather than instantly polishing an already finished piece. That process includes seasons of discomfort, patient pruning, and persistent shaping by the Spirit toward Christlikeness. The promise holds that transformation continues from glory to glory as believers behold and reflect the Lord. [96:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[54:52] - Travel and London incident
[55:06] - Palm Springs meetings
[55:40] - Stockholm rally and outreach
[56:47] - Theme: God chooses the foolish
[57:01] - Michelangelo and the Pieta
[60:18] - Living stones and human worth
[62:39] - God chooses the weak
[66:54] - Introducing Paul’s conversion
[82:23] - The Damascus encounter
[94:16] - Sanctification as sculpting
[98:02] - Invitation and communion
[105:02] - Benediction and sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 9:1-9 (ESV)
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Observation Questions

In Acts 9:3-5, what specific details about Saul’s encounter with Jesus highlight the suddenness and authority of God’s intervention?
How does 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 contrast human standards of worth with God’s criteria for choosing people to fulfill His purposes?
The sermon compares believers to “living stones” (1 Peter 2:4-5). What does this metaphor reveal about how God builds His church? [01:00:18]
According to 2 Corinthians 3:18, what is the process and goal of sanctification described in the sermon? [01:37:29]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose Saul—a violent persecutor of Christians—as His instrument to spread the gospel, rather than someone already aligned with His mission?
The sermon states, “God chooses the weak and foolish” to expose human pride. How does this principle challenge cultural ideas about success or leadership in the church? [01:02:39]
Saul’s blindness after encountering Jesus (Acts 9:8-9) forced him to depend on others. What might this physical condition symbolize about spiritual transformation?
Michelangelo’s sculpting process involved “subtracting” marble to reveal the intended form. How does this analogy deepen our understanding of sanctification as a lifelong journey? [01:36:15]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate or unqualified for a task God placed in your life. How did His strength show up in your weakness?
Saul’s conversion radically redirected his life. What area of your life might God be inviting you to surrender or redirect for His purposes? [01:06:23]
The church is built through “ordinary people empowered by the Spirit.” What is one practical way you can use your unique gifts or experiences to serve others this week? [01:01:57]
Sanctification is compared to a sculptor chiseling away flaws. What is one habit, attitude, or thought pattern God might be “chiseling” in you right now? How can you cooperate with Him in this process? [01:34:16]
The sermon emphasizes that “no one lies beyond redemption.” Is there someone in your life you’ve struggled to believe God can save? How can you pray for or encourage them this week? [01:14:12]
Saul’s encounter with Jesus left him dependent on others. Who has God placed in your life to help you grow spiritually? How can you lean into community this week?

Sermon Clips

42s

#UnlikelyInstrument

“Now the tool that God uses to carry the gospel throughout the Roman Empire was a very unlikely one. We saw him back in Acts chapter seven. We were introduced to him there. We saw what he did. We read in acts chapter eight that Saul was consenting to Stephen's death. But then he becomes God's tool by giving his life to Christ. He was radically changed as we all are when we come to Christ. Each one of us can probably remember what he was like before we were Christian. What was your life really like before you became a Christ follower?”

54s

#IAmJesusEncounter

“He realized he was dealing with something greater than even he could understand. And then comes the three words. That changes Saul's life and world history. I am Jesus. Now, let's stop for a moment. Here you are. You're on your way Damascus, 150 miles. You've gone about six days. It's the seventh day now and you encounter this bright light. You see this bright light and you fall down on the ground. In the night, something out of the light says, why are you persecuting me?”

33s

#BreathingFireToFaith

“No way, Jose. He woke up that day and he says, I'm on my way to Damascus breathing fire and it's a good day to kill Christians. He was Christ's greatest enemy. Acts chapter seven verse 58. At the death of Stephen, we meet him. The witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man by the name of Saul. Then in Acts chapter eight and verse one, there he is approving of their of Stephen's death. It is good that this man, Stephen, is being killed.”

56s

#MajestyRevealsUs

“The inference is that men are never touched and impressed by their insignificance until they contrast themselves with the majesty of God. Let me say that again. The inference here is that you and I, we are never touched and impressed with our own insignificance until we contrast ourselves with the majesty of God. Have you ever thought about how majestic God is? That he reached down one day and he touched me and he touched you and he turned your life around. But how many of us, once we've received Christ as our lord and savior, forget the majesty of god and we just go our own way.”

44s

#MercyForSinners

“Maybe there's one of those that you're praying for. Somebody that you deeply care about. Let me encourage you. Don't give up hope. Key text is one Timothy one verse 15. There's a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom. Now listen what Paul says. Of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason, I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus, might displace unlimited patience as an example to those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”

51s

#BlindAndBroken

“Instead of breathing threats and murder against the Christians, he entered the city helpless, blind, led by the hand. And then came three days of fasting and praying. So finally, each person here today and in the hearing that my voice can find personal hope in Saul's conversion. Secondly, Saul's conversion was for your sake. His moral life counted for nothing. You concerned about somebody else, don't lose hope. Let's be a church that is willing to go out and see what God can do. Let's trust him to work in the mighty ways here on this earth and in this area.”

44s

#ChosenLivingStones

“That we are those living stones that Christ selected to be part of his eternal temp temple. Kind of stones that any architect would reject. But Jesus, the master of craftsmen is selecting people every single day to build his eternal temple. And I believe Peter spoke of the building project in one Peter two because he will never forget the moment he first heard that building project through Christ's own words. He was useless in himself but he was made useful by the master craftsman by Jesus himself by transforming the power of almighty god through Christ's work in his life.”

37s

#BeingChiseledByGod

“Maybe the way, that's the way that God looks at us. Some of the time, figures powerful and poised, longing to be set free. Some of us are still partly done. We haven't been completed. In fact, I would say none of us are complete. God is working on us, chiseling away this part of our lives and that part of our lives, this part of our thinking as he molds us into the image that he has for us. Set free from the impediments, from the shackles of stone that bind and paralyze us.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Bellevue Church This sermon · AI assistant

What does God use to build his church?

Why was Saul's conversion significant for believers?

Who rejoices in heaven over one sinner?

03 May 2026 - Peter van Breda - God Chooses and Uses the Foolish things of this World

Devotional

Day 1: Blinded by Heaven’s Light

Day 2: Chisel Marks of Grace

Day 3: Three Days in Damascus’ Dark

Day 4: The Shepherd’s Relentless Pursuit

Day 5: Breathing Mercy Instead of Fire

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

03 May 2026 - Peter van Breda - God Chooses and Uses the Foolish things of this World

Share