Acts 26 DEVO: Paul Shares His Personal Testimony!

Chapter 26:
In this chapter we see Paul give yet another defense of the message he is preaching. After being given permission from Agrippa to speak, Paul affirms him and then begs for him to listen. Paul then proceeds to share his personal testimony. One of the greatest ways to share Jesus with another is to tell them what He did in your life! Paul then gives a great outline of how to do that. He shares with Festus, Agrippa & the crowd about his life before he met Christ (4-11), how he met Christ (13-18) and since he met Christ (19-23).
When Paul got to the resurrection, Festus interrupted and shouted that he was crazy (no intelligent Roman would accept this). Paul then appeals to reason and familiarity – for the death of Jesus and His resurrection were common knowledge that could not be denied. Then he shrewdly asks Agrippa to affirm these things with the question, “Do you believe in the Prophets? I know you do.” Ha – If he admits he believes in the prophets, he sides with Paul’s message, if he denies the prophets the Jews would be outraged. So…… he doesn’t answer but tells Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" And of course Paul, not missing an opportunity to share Jesus, invites him to believe! The leaders then confirm that Paul has done nothing that deserves death or imprisonment.
SO WHAT?
*How are you involved in persuading those in your circles of influence to become Christians? You and I may not have the gift of evangelism but we are ALL called by God to share Jesus! One of the best ways to do that is to share what He has done in your life. So – rather that a memory verse for the weekend, here’s your assignment. Write out your personal testimony and then share it with someone! Here are some tips to help:
When Paul shared his faith in Jesus Christ, he often shared his personal experience, his testimony (see Acts 26). Being able to verbalize your experience of knowing Christ to another will help them better understand the Good News you believe in.
Your testimony should be 3-5 minutes long and should address three areas:
- Before you met Christ
- How you came to know Christ
- Your life since you’ve met Christ
Write a paragraph answering each of these points:
1. Describe your life before you received Christ—your attitudes, your problems, the things you were
searching for, etc… (but don’t dig out all your garbage, it isn’t necessary). For those who grew up in a
Christian home, this may be a shorter section.
2. Explain how and why you became interested in knowing God personally. Explain clearly how
you received Christ. Even sharing the words you used when you prayed to receive Christ will
help others understand how they can pray to receive Christ.
3. Describe your life since you have received Christ –your attitudes, your perspective on life and
on your problems. In what areas has Christ specifically made a difference? What are some
areas of spiritual growth? How are you changing?
Helpful Hints:
- Center your testimony on Jesus, not on yourself—He is the one who is great.
- Use a theme in your testimony. Relate some of the needs Christ has met in question 3 to the needs you had before you received Christ in point 1.
- If you received Christ at a very young age and point 1 is not nearly as defined, then emphasize your Christian growth.
- Be creative! Help illustrate your experience with a story, the words of a song, or maybe a theme from a movie.
- Begin with an attention getting sentence.
- Give enough details to arouse interest – just don’t make them up!
- Use one or two scriptures (eternal life).
- Finish with a good conclusion relating back to the first sentence.
- Avoid “churchy” words and phrases: saved, born again, blessed, praise the Lord, sanctified, etc.
- Don’t be too wordy or beat around the bush.
- Don’t mention church denominations – these are not important.
- Don’t give impression the Christian life is a bed of roses.
- Share your testimony with another Christian friend, or your parents, or your youth leaders. Ask others to clarify your communication.
Once you have written out and thought through your testimony you will be able to share it with anyone at any time!!!