2025 Summer Bible Study Series: I Will Build My Church Lesson 3 (Expository Teaching Notes)

2025 Summer Bible Study Series: I Will Build My Church Lesson 3 - Author: Raymond Woodward

Review of Last Week’s Lesson

Last week we hit on two principles called Apostolic Agreement and, which are Apostolic Altar Calls based out of Acts 2:1.

Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Principle #4 - Apostolic Agreement

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.23 ὁμοθυμαδόν

ὁμοθυμαδόν

This means to be in unison, where the Holy Spirit - God - blends together the lives of multiple believers to work together in harmony. In other words, we must be in unity.

In order to be in unity with the church, you have to fellowship. This may mean being around people that aren’t your favorite people to be around - you still have to love them. You may get annoyed with them; irritated by them; or even frustrated by their manner or behaviorism, but you must still love them.

Some of the main one another commandments - out of the 58 listed - were:

Serve one another Galatians 5:13 

Accept one another Romans 15:7 

Forgive one another Colossians 3:13 

Greet one another Romans 16:16 

Bear one another's burdens Galatians 6:2 

Be devoted to one another Romans 12:10 

Honor one another Romans 12:10 

Teach one another Romans 15:14 

Submit to one another Ephesians 5:21 

Encourage one another 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

Again, we must be in fellowship in order to be in unity and to abide by the “one another” commandments.

Additionally, we covered Principle #5, which is Apostolic Altar Calls - people should be coming to our altars and getting saved in every service. This is a sign of a healthy Apostolic Church. It means we’re making connections and reaping God’s harvest. This comes from being a witnessing church, which requires you know how to use a testimony - you can adequately say what you have seen and heard.

Part 3: Principle #6 - The Power of a Testimony

Make sure to foot stomp that this is the first blank

Text: Acts 3:6, 4:13

 Acts 3:6 (KJV) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 

Acts 3:6 (NLT) But Peter said, “I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 

Acts 4:13 (KJV) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 

Acts 4:13 (NLT) The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 

The Power of a Testimony

Let’s look at Acts 3:1

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.”

highlight that Peter and John had already formed a habit of prayer and unity before the miraculous happened

We often fail to see the miraculous for two reasons:

Lack of faith

Lack of unity

I believe we have a church that prays, but we have a church that can be very agenda focused because guess what - we’re all people in this room. If you have this thing called flesh - you’re going to have your own agenda in mind.

To see the miraculous, you’re going to have to crucify your will and take on God’s. This must be done in prayer and in fasting.

Now to the lame man - Acts 3:2–5

“And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.”

Note that the lame man asked for alms - his physical need - before he even thinks about his spiritual need. “The lame man expects to receive help with his physical need before he even thinks about his spiritual need”

We fail to realize this in the church quite often. Ministering to peoples physical needs is important, but the primary function of the church is to see peoples souls saved and ready for heaven.

Peter and John didn’t have money, but they did have the anointing, which they through the power of God used to bless the man through a physical healing

Peter and John - they gave what they had - Acts 3:6

“Peter and John gave what they had.”

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

God’s miraculous work in one man’s life - Acts 3:9–11

“And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.”

“God’s miraculous work in one man’s life affects all the people.”

Peter uses the opportunity to Share a Testimony - Acts 3:12–13

“And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.”

Peter uses this opportunity to share a testimony

Acts 4:22 lets us know that this man had been crippled for more than 40 years … but Jesus didn’t do anything for the crippled man until HIS DISCIPLES reached out to him! (4:22) 

“Jesus didn’t do anything for the crippled man until HIS Disciples reached out to him!”

How many people haven’t been touched by Jesus because you haven’t reached out? Now notice that currently has a “reached out yet” attached to it. One day it will be to late… don’t wait

This encounter coupled with prayer brings more BOLDNESS to witness (4:31) How do you learn to pray? Start praying! How do you learn to witness? Start witnessing! 

Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

“The encounter coupled with prayer brings more BOLDNESS to witness.”

A PERSONAL TESTIMONY IS STILL THE MOST PERSUASIVE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION! 

It is unique – there are no others just like it. 

It is personal and easy to understand. 

I am the authority on it, so it is difficult to argue with. 

People love a personal story – and remember it. 

People can relate to it, so it builds a relational bridge. 

In a postmodern world, it is the most effective witness. 

Forming Your Testimony

The four parts of my testimony:

What my life was like before I met Christ

What common circumstances and personal emotions would an unbeliever identify with? 

What substitute for God did you use to find meaning in your life? 

2. How I realized I needed Christ

What significant steps led up to your conversion? 

What needs, hurts or problems made you dissatisfied with the way you were living without God? 

3. How I committed my life to Christ 

What specifically did you do? 

Where did it happen? 

What did you say in your prayer? (be specific) 

4. The difference Christ has made in my life 

What benefits have you experienced or felt? 

What problems have been resolved? (give current example) 

How has Jesus helped you change for the better? 

How has Jesus helped you in your relationships? 

S U G G E S T I O N S F O R P R E P A R I N G 

Pray and ask God to give you the right words. 

Keep it short and to the point. Avoid excessive, unnecessary details. 

Refer to experiences most people have in common. 

Don’t imply that all of your problems ended at conversion. 

Spend the most time on the difference Christ has made in your life. 

Emphasize WHY you received Christ (the benefits of doing it). 

Mention the benefit of being certain of your destiny when you die. 

Don’t exaggerate or brag about pre-conversion sins. 

Don’t make negative remarks about other religions or people. 

Don’t quote a lot of Scripture (a maximum of one or two verses). 

Don’t answer questions they haven’t asked. 

The more specific you are, the more dynamic it will be. 

Avoid using dates, names and ages. It doesn’t matter to them. 

Speak casually and informally, in a matter-of-fact tone. 

Don’t dramatize or embellish your story. 

Don’t share mystical experiences. Share on THEIR level, not yours. 

Don’t talk down to people. Don’t sound “preachy.” 

Use humor – it reduces tension and relaxes people. Smile! 

Choose a central theme for your testimony. 

Refer to projector for Suggestions for Possible Testimony themes…

Remember that you have more than one testimony! 

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

The Bible doesn’t tell us to share our faith, but it does tell us to share the reason for our hope. Faith is the fact that you believe in Jesus and what His Word says.

Faith is what you believe; hope is the benefit of what you believe - the reason of your hope is what formulates your testimony

Romans 10:14–15 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

People need teaching and preaching

The next step from your testimony is often a Bible Study with your friend

However, people also need hope! Hope is experiencing the goodness of God in both the present and the future! This is often transmitted through our personal testimonies.

“Jesus called out, ‘Come follow me and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men.’” (Matthew 4:19, LB) 

Following and fishing go together! 

We are to be matchmakers, not salesmen. 

We are to be fishermen, not hunters. 

SEE Projector For HUNTING AND FISHING TABLE

Three Keys to Spiritual Fishing

1. Identify your fishing pond. 

2. Learn about the kind of fish in your pond. 

3. Remember fish get hungry at different times. 

My Fishing Pond -

Acts 1:8 My Church Myself

Jerusalem - Panama City - Family

Judea - Florida - Relatives

Samaria - USA - Friends

The World - Every Country - Acquaintances

It is impossible to build an Apostolic church without YOUR TESTIMONY – that’s why God saved you! 

Acts 4:20 (KJV) For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

Acts 4:20 (NLT) We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard.