What Proof Does My Testimony Offer?

A Life Before Christ

Acts 26:2–5 ESV

2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.

Paul is imitating first basic evangelism principle here: What was your life like before meeting Jesus?

How does relate to Paul’s beliefs?

Acts 4:20 ESV

20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

What freaks you out or holds you back from sharing your faith?

What is the absolutely worst thing that could realistically happen if you spoke to someone about Jesus this week? (Hint: it’s probably not going to!) Now, what’s the most wonderful, amazing thing that could happen if you did?

4. If you were raised in a Christian home, was evangelism part of your family culture? How so?

If you were raised in a Christian home, was evangelism part of your family culture? How so?

Lack of knowledge: It’s not your job or mine to answer every question unbelievers have. Release yourself from the pressure of being the Bible Answer Man. The Bible’s purpose is not to be a reference book or an answer to a list of spiritual FAQs.

Jesus: A Life-Changing Experience

Acts 26:12–18 ESV

12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Acts 26:

How did Jesus change your life? (Include both an explanation of the gospel and the circumstances when you trusted him.)

A Life Lived For Christ

Acts 26:24–26 ESV

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.

Acts 26:

How is your life changing from when you met him until now?

How did Jesus change your life? (Include both an explanation of the gospel and the circumstances when you trusted him.) How is your life changing from when you met him until now?

We also do good works to show others the reality of Christianity in our lives. Jesus said in

Matthew 5:16 ESV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Notice how natural Paul’s testimony is - woven in conversational format

What if we spent less time giving people scripted evangelistic presentations and instead simply learned to introduce Jesus into the normal conversations we already have?

How is your life changing from when you met him until now?

What if talking about Jesus were not awkward, but became as normal as talking about other things we enjoy?

Why is it so hard to evangelize?

Despite all the remarkable programs we have in evangelism, a LifeWay study showed 61 percent of evangelical Christians had not told a soul about Christ in the previous six months.Why do you think that is?

How did Jesus change your life? (Include both an explanation of the gospel and the circumstances when you trusted him.) How is your life changing from when you met him until now?

I’m not sure what freaks you out. But if you’re a follower of Jesus and really want to be freaked out, picture walking up to someone to boldly tell him about Jesus. You know, like talking to your church-loathing coworker, atheist family member, or that neighbor (the one who freaks you out).

What if I told you the God who spoke and created the universe made you uniquely in his image, in such a way that you— uniquely from everything else in creation— can worship, glorify, and serve him, and that we’ve overcomplicated things?

Despite all the remarkable programs we have in evangelism, a LifeWay study showed 61 percent of evangelical Christians had not told a soul about Christ in the previous six months.

FACT: The vast majority of Christians to spend most of our time around saved people, with little interaction with lost people. We live in Christian bubbles

Do We Really Need Formal Classes to Learn to Evangelize?

Think about this: God created you for his glory, to advance his gospel with the gifts, talents, and opportunities he gave to you.

Principle 1: God created you for his glory, to advance his gospel with the gifts, talents, and opportunities he gave to you.

You are no theologian, but you know Jesus has changed your life, your perspective, and your hope.

Lost people are more amazed at our silence than offended at our message.

Matthew 5:16 ESV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Our good works bring glory to God. We don’t do good works to earn anything from God. We can’t earn anything from God! But we do good works because God is good and we want to be like him. We also do good works to show others the reality of Christianity in our lives. Jesus said in

Great tool: https://thestoryfilm.com

Principle 2: In order to share Jesus confidently and consistently with others, first share him confidently and consistently with yourself.

We have a tendency today to make the gospel of Jesus more about what happens after we die than how we live today. Praise God it is about the afterlife! We have eternal hope. We have victory over death, hell, and the grave. But we also have hope in this life.

How Not To Evangelize

CRITICISM #1: LONG-WINDEDNESS

Pay attention to the other person’s body language while you tell your story. Are their eyes darting? Are they slowly crossing their arms and inhaling deeply as you drone on?

Keep your story brief and allow your listener the chance to ask a few follow-up questions. Leave them wanting more

CRITICISM #2: FUZZINESS

The only thing worse than a long story is a long story that is incoherent. Here’s a common occurrence: I’ll ask, “How did you come to faith in Christ?” And in response, I hear half a dozen plot lines about sixteen main characters. I hear of books they have read and supernatural situations they have experienced and conferences they attended twelve years ago. Aisles they walked. Angels who appeared in their bedroom. Dead relatives they have talked to in the middle of the night.

Great tool: https://thestoryfilm.com/learn

CRITICISM #3: RELIGIONESE

Words like “salvation,” “born again,” “accepting Jesus,” and “personal Lord and Savior” mean very little to people who aren’t Christ-followers. I listen to countless stories that sound like they are being told in code/God-talk/religionese. It takes a lot of work to expunge insider jargon from your story, but it’s worth it. High praise from an unbelieving listener sounds like this: “I understood every word you just said.”

CRITICISM #4: SUPERIORITY

They don’t care about me. The only thing they care about is getting the roles nailed down: they are the ones with their act together, and I’m the pitiable lost person, substandard in countless ways. There may be no quicker way to send an unbeliever to the hills than to play the piety card. If you want to permanently repulse a person from the things of God, try a little superiority on for size.

Favorite Technique

THE MORALITY LADDER The “Morality Ladder” illustration expresses the universal need for God. If you have friends who don’t think they have any real use for God, this one’s for you.

Envision morality as escalating rungs on a ladder. God sits at the top of the ladder because he is holy — he’s perfectly moral. And of course, really evil people are at the bottom — mass murderers and the like. The rest of humanity is somewhere in between. When I draw this for people, I ask them to put a mark somewhere on the ladder that represents where they believe they are, based on what kind of morals they keep. Before I go any further, though, I toss in a few assumptions. “Mother Teresa,” I say, “would probably qualify for a rung about three-fourths of the way up. And just as a guess, Billy Graham probably falls right below her. As far as I’m concerned, I guarantee I land lower than those two.” I place the

“Okay,” I say. “Here’s my only question: What is your plan to make up your gap?

“Mother Teresa had a plan for her morality gap,” I continue. “It was the cross of Jesus Christ. Billy Graham has a plan for closing the gap between his level of morality and God’s standard of perfection. It’s the cross of Jesus Christ. So what is your plan? If you believe that you can rise to the standard of God’s holiness on a self-improvement program, you will waste the rest of your life in spin cycle. Real freedom is found when you ditch your man-made plans and choose instead to accept the work that Jesus did on the cross. You can be forgiven. You can live an abundant life. Your morality gap can be closed once and for all by choosing faith in Christ.”

Evangelism is Relational

We can learn how to naturally help people see how their personal story relates to God’s greater story seen in Scripture.

When we focus our conversations on the worldview of those around us, we can become less preoccupied with our presentation and more focused on them. We can learn how to naturally help people see how their personal story relates to God’s greater story seen in Scripture.

listen to the things people you meet talk about. We chitchat— about our pain or our passion. In such conversations we can easily talk about Christ.

If Jesus is the greatest thing that ever happened to us, he should come up in conversations.

FACT: God has sovereignly placed you in this world at this time with the abilities and gifts you have to bring glory to him and show the joy of the gospel to others.

If you don’t come to understand the depth of God’s love for you, the amazing grace in the redemption you have in Christ, and the wonder that God has wired you for his purposes— the big why— no technique in witnessing will change you.

Principle 5: Effective evangelistic conversations connect the unchanging gospel with the specific issues people face.

my story of meeting Christ, my testimony of salvation. Your story is amazing. You don’t have to be a former drug addict or a gangster to have a powerful testimony:

Great Opening Questions

What is your faith background?

When you attend church, where do you go?

In your opinion, what is a real Christian?

When we treat people with respect and show genuine interest in them, we can speak the gospel clearly and plainly to them.

Movie Technique

1. What freaks you out in general?

3. What is the absolutely worst thing that could realistically happen if you spoke to someone about Jesus this week? (Hint: it’s probably not going to!) Now, what’s the most wonderful, amazing thing that could happen if you did?

4. If you were raised in a Christian home, was evangelism part of your family culture? How so?

5. Do you know the names of your neighbors? Do you know them well enough to know the pains or passions of their lives?

6. How different would your life look if you started living each day, just that day, passionately pursuing a life that glorifies God?

7. What is the one thing that keeps you from that? What is one thing you can do today to move toward that goal?

Think about a favorite movie. Why do you love it so much? Think through how you can naturally make a connection between your favorite movie and God’s redemption of the world.

Principle 2: In order to share Jesus confidently and consistently with others, first share him confidently and consistently with yourself.

Scriptures to Meditate on:

“For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, . . .” ()

“My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all his benefits. He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.” ()

Questions for Reflection and Application:

1. Have you ever thought about yourself as an evangelist for good news? Think back over something you’ve shared on social media or with good friends or family in person. Was it stressful or was it natural and fun?

2. Look again at the story of the gospel. What are the four major points of the gospel story plot line? Can you see how they relate to movie plot lines?

3. Think about a favorite movie. Why do you love it so much? How does it move you? How does your favorite movie reflect God’s epic in Scripture?

4. Think through how you can naturally make a connection between your favorite movie and God’s redemption of the world. Practice sharing that story with yourself this week in preparation for sharing it with others.

Observation Practice

As you observe if others genuinely care about you, also observe if your actions reveal if you care about others.

Questions for Reflection and Application:

· God to continually grow your understanding of the wonder of the gospel.

· God to grow your desire to share the gospel with others.

1. Where is a place you love to meet people for conversations? Starbucks, Cracker Barrel, an activity like hunting?

· God to give you his love for those around you.

2. Have you ever introduced two people you love to one another? Maybe at a wedding or on a blind date or informally over coffee. Was it scary or did you enjoy it?

3. What are the three things people can tell about us in a conversation? Spend some time this week observing this in people you meet. Did the checkout guy at the grocery store (or your waiter or a casual acquaintance) care about you as a person?

4. As you observe if others genuinely care about you, also observe if your actions reveal if you care about others.

Over the next seven days, pay attention to how often and in what ways people talk about their pain or their passion. This includes anything from trivial matters to serious, life-altering events. Reflect on these instances and how the good news of Jesus can speak to these points of passion or pain. Practice connecting that person’s situation to Jesus.

6. Reflect on these instances and how the good news of Jesus can speak to these points of passion or pain. Practice connecting that person’s situation to Jesus.

Connecting with Others

1. God did not make a mistake when he uniquely created you and positioned you in this world. List at least three specific ways you can see God has wired you for his glory and the good of others. Are you a good listener? Do you love meeting new people? Do you enjoy talking about sports, music, or the arts? We tend to look only at our weaknesses. Take a few minutes to thank God for the good gifts he has given you.

Name at least one limitation in your life you would change if you could.

How can God use that limitation for his glory? Perhaps you came from a troubled home as a child and, although you still have struggles at times, you can joyfully share how Jesus has helped you through your past. Or maybe you have battled cancer or some other crisis and the struggle in one area has actually made you stronger in another.

“Elevator Speech” Testimony

At 52, I was at a crossroads in my life. I was immersed in self-destructive behaviors that were threatening my marriage and my career. I was completely broken and finally realized I was powerless to overcome this on my own. I tried addiction meetings with no success – we simply discussed our struggles. Finally, I reached out to God to help me. I prayed for deliverance and allowed the light of Christ to replace the darkness that surrounded my life and I am so thankful each and every day for the fire that has been kindled within me.

Believers are commanded to witness

(ESV) — 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(ESV) — 4 And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

(ESV) — 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

(ESV) — 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

(ESV) — 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

(ESV) — 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

(ESV) — 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,

(ESV) — 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

(ESV) — 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

(ESV) — 16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

(ESV) — 10 The Lord has brought about our vindication; come, let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.

(ESV) — 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

5. What are the things in your life that stir your affections for Jesus? What are the things that diminish your affections for him? What is one thing you can pursue or remove that will bring you closer to God?

Closing Prayer

“God, give me today (1) an opportunity to speak with someone about Jesus; (2) the wisdom to see it; and (3) the courage to take it.” Talking with God regularly about our witness helps overcome our fears of witnessing to others.