Our Stories Matter: Telling Our Stories Following Paul's Example Acts 26

I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A while back I started posting these notes on the blog too. So, here is the outline and questions for our meeting on January 17, 2010. The lesson is on Acts 26:1-23. If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!

Our Stories Matter
Telling Our Story Following Paul’s Example
Acts 26:1-23

Introduction
My Story

The Power of Personal Testimony
Think of them as “transformational stories” rather than “witnessing”

Questions
What is the gospel?
How often do you tell the gospel story?
Describe the last time you shared the gospel

Paul’s Story: An Example for Us
Acts 26
A strategy for sharing our story
Your story matters, but it must be told to be effective

Prelude: Keep Your Story Fresh
If you aren’t a Christ follower, become one
If you are, show integrity in living the story

Proverbs 20:6-7 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? A righteous man who walks in his integrity—How blessed are his sons after him.

Love God
Frederick Buechner describes the Word of God as a portrait of a Lover pursuing his beloved, of God’s pursuit of all of us in love, of our failures and his successes. I’m pretty sure that he is right. Once the biblical story becomes my story, then I in some sense begin to incarnate the written word of God so as to complete the mission that Jesus started (and finished) so many centuries ago. Didn’t Jesus say to us that he will send us in the same way that the Father sent him? Didn’t he tell us that we would do greater works than he did? Why are we so unwilling to enter the story, to become willing participants in the great work and story of almighty God? We 21st century Christians are sometimes out of sync with God’s story and miss his “Once upon a time” and “happily ever after.” John Eldredge is (to a degree at least) correct to point out to us our loss of story, our loss of God’s great epic being told even today. Take the verses quoted above—in today’s post-modern culture, the idea is to win at all costs. But if we live without faithfulness or without integrity, we are actually hurting the generation after us.

Love your neighbor
Treat them kindly
Listen to their stories
Find their need so that you can meet it

Your story matters, but it must be fresh before it is told
Your story matters, but it must be told to be effective

How do we “tell” our story?

1. Tell Your Past
Acts 26:1-11

Paul’s Past
a. Religious man
b. Full of zeal
c. A leader in his religion
d. Opposed to Christians

What was your life like before Christ?
Maybe you grew up in a church
Or were Irreligious
or were Running from God

On this point avoid putting blame on others or on religious organizations for your sin. Don’t glorify your past, but be honest about it. If you don’t have a story like Paul’s, simply tell the truth. Don’t try to “make your story better.”

Your story matters, but it most be told to be effective

2. Tell Your Conversion
Acts 26:12-18

Paul’s Conversion
a. Not many stories of becoming a Christ follower are as amazing as this
b. Bright lights, audible voices, a conversation with Christ
c. No wonder Paul converted

How did you come to Christ?
a. Family member shared
b. Altar call
c. Prayer
d. Reading the Bible
e. A chance encounter with a Christ follower

It doesn’t matter how “flamboyant” the story is, tell it straight.
Be specific in “how” you put faith in Christ

Your story matters, but it most be told to be effective

3. Tell Your Current Walk
Acts 26:19-23

Paul’s Current Experience
a. On trial for his faith
b. Faithful in sharing the story of faith in Christ
c. Telling the story to any who will hear
d. Bold and Unashamed

What’s your current walk like?
a. Don’t sugar coat
If you are struggling, admit it
If you are experiencing good times, admit it
b. Keep the focus on what God is doing
c. The story is about him and what he can accomplish
Remember, even it your walk isn’t a great one now, your God is still great
Your struggles may help others to relate to Truth
Don’t let the focus be on your emotions or experiences, focus on God's work

Your story matters, but it must be told to be effective

4. Tell the Content of Scripture
Acts 26:22-23
1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Luke 24:26-27; Acts 8:26-40

Let the Truth of God’s Word talk
Your experience should reflect what God has said
If not, go back to the prelude

Your story matters, but it most be told to be effective

This point requires practice
We must find an approach that we can easily use

Some Methods

a. Romans Road
Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:8b-10; 10:13; 5:1; 8:1; 8:38-39

b. John 3:16-22: Gospel in a nutshell

c. FAITH
F is for Forgiveness: We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's forgiveness(Eph. 1:7)
A is for Available: Forgiveness is available for all, but not automatic (John 3:16; Matthew 7:21)
I is for Impossible: It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. God is loving and just and therefore judges sin. We are all sinners. (James 2:13; Romans 3:23)
T is for Turn: Turn means to repent. Turn from sin and selfishness. Turn to Christ alone (Luke 13:3b; Romans 10:9)
H is for Heaven: Heaven is eternal life both here and hereafter (John 10:10b; John 14:3)

d. Four Spiritual Laws

e. Others?

Sources
5clicks.com

Evangelismcoach.org

Namb.net (North American Mission Board of SBC)

Application
1. This week, go to 5clicks.com and write out your testimony

2. Practice your story every day
Tell it in the morning before you leave the house
Tell it again when you return

3. Pray for an opportunity

4. Listen to conversations around you

5. Share your story with someone else

Thanks for reading!