Hide It Under a Bushel? No!

A Message For All

I know what a Bushel is… now, at least (8 gallons).

Sharing the Gospel with others: it doesn’t have to be about being addicting to “hookers and blow” in a past life.

Testimonies: Sharing experiences.

OPT 1: Explain a thing that has happened.

OPT 2: Explain a state of how things are.

Doesn’t have to be a Hallmark movie! <— Can be related to the world around you, epiphanies, etc.

You don’t have “a testimony”; your life is many testimonies!

I think a great example of a testimony is perhaps what we see in Acts 2, often referred to as “the first sermon”.

Acts 2:1–8 CSB

1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language?

Acts 2:12–13 CSB

12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon

Establishes observable or experienced events… Acts 2:14-15

Acts 2:14–15 CSB

14 Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.

Points events towards God… Acts 2:16-21

Acts 2:16–21 CSB

16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy. 19 I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Provides truth pointing towards Christ… Acts 2:32-36

Peter begins explaining things in such a way that the audience understands it. Verse 5 calls the audience “devout Jews”. Peter speaks their language to explain events in such a way that it points to Christ with verses 32-36 providing the final crescendo!

Acts 2:32–36 CSB

32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

The objective of a testimony should be to frame individual or corporate events and experiences in such a way that the listener can see Christ in it the same as you do.

The point isn’t that someone walks away amazed at what God did in your life; its that they walk away realize what God can do in theirs!

Read Acts 2:1-13 and think about the amazing experience the Christians were having and how confused the “devout Jews” in the crowd were. When have you experienced something that confused others or when have you had a response to a life event that made others talk because they didn’t have the same Jesus-perspective?

Sharing A Part Of Yourself

When discussing testimonies, what you’re more likely to hear are lessons from Acts 22 when Paul recounts his experience on the road to Damascus.

Acts 21:39–22:5 CSB

39 Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people.” 40 After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in Aramaic: 1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” 2 When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, they became even quieter. 3 He continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of our ancestral law. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail, 5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

FIRST: Paul ensured he had a welcomed ear… even in the midst of a hostile crowd.

SECOND: Paul establishes who he is and relates to the crowd (“I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.” v3).

Acts 22:6–21 CSB

6 “As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 “I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 “I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus. 12 Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there, 13 came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, 15 since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ 17 “After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’ 21 “He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

THIRD: Paul explains the event, experience, or state which befell him to know God more.

FOURTH: Paul explains what this drove him to do or how this caused him to act different.

Paul’s testimony reflects a desire to share what he as experienced (1) for the benefit of others, and (2) for the glory of God.

Read Paul’s testimony in Acts 21:39-Acts 22:21. Notice how Paul made sure he had receptive ears, then related to his crowd before sharing his story. Have you ever experienced someone so excited to tell you about God that they didn’t seem to bother finding out if you wanted to listen? How does the over-zealousness of individuals who don't bother to relate to their audience make their testimony less effective? What kind of message or priority does it convey to the listener? Testimonies should be about the benefiting others through sharing God’s glory. What are different ways a testimony can benefit others (educating? comforting? accountability? ...).

Testimonies are least useful when used as a form of “God bragging”; they’re more effective when used to benefit the listener.

We are surrounded by situations and states of being which are worth of testimony.

Sharing the Gospel is something we are all called to do, and testimonies are the most organic, simple way to do it… just share where you’ve seen God working in your life.

CALL TO ACTION: So what are your testimonies? More importantly, are you hiding that testimony in the dark… under a bushel… or are you using the blessings God has shown you to bless those around you?