1. Read the Story of Saint Paul's Conversion in Acts 7:57-8:1; 9:1-22
Acts of the Apostles: “After the death of Stephen, Saul was elected a member of the Sanhedrin council in consideration of the part he had acted on that occasion. For a time he was a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan to carry out his rebellion against the Son of God. But soon this relentless persecutor was to be employed in building up the church that he was now tearing down. A Mightier than Satan had chosen Saul to take the place of the martyred Stephen, to preach and suffer for His name, and to spread far and wide the tidings of salvation through His blood.” (102)
Acts of the Apostles: “After the death of Stephen, Saul was elected a member of the Sanhedrin council in consideration of the part he had acted on that occasion. For a time he was a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan to carry out his rebellion against the Son of God. But soon this relentless persecutor was to be employed in building up the church that he was now tearing down. A Mightier than Satan had chosen Saul to take the place of the martyred Stephen, to preach and suffer for His name, and to spread far and wide the tidings of salvation through His blood.” (102)
2. Write Your Testimony or Story
My Story #1: Keep it simple . (Acts 22:1-21)
• Let your story be a simple timeline that includes “my life before I met Jesus . . . how I met Jesus . . . my life after meeting Jesus.”
My Story #2: Keep it short. (Acts 23:6)
• In fact some suggest that you can do it in less than 100 words.
My Story #3: Keep it suitable. (Acts 26:4-23)
3. Bill Hybels’ four critiques for sharing your story (Just Walk Across the Room):
Criticism #1—Long-Windedness
Our testimony ought to be no longer than 3 minutes.
Pay attention to the other person’s body language.
Keep your story short enough to allow the other person to ask questions.
Criticism #2—Fuziness
“The only thing worse than a long story is a long story that is incoherant.” (120)
“Keep your stories simple—containing one clear plot line that appropriately conveys the heartbeat of your faith journey.” (Ibid)
Criticism #1—Long-Windedness
Our testimony ought to be no longer than 3 minutes.
Pay attention to the other person’s body language.
Keep your story short enough to allow the other person to ask questions.
Criticism #2—Fuziness
“The only thing worse than a long story is a long story that is incoherant.” (120)
“Keep your stories simple—containing one clear plot line that appropriately conveys the heartbeat of your faith journey.” (Ibid)
Criticism #3—Religionese
“It takes a lot of work to expunge insider jargon from your story, but it’s worth it.” (121)
Criticism #4— Superiority
“There may be no quicker way to send an unbeliever to the hills than to play the piety card.” (Ibid)
“There may be no quicker way to send an unbeliever to the hills than to play the piety card.” (Ibid)
• Because when you share the same “before” and you seek the same “after”—nothing is more persuasive than the testimony, “It worked for me!”
• Bill Hybels: “It’s worth searching your heart and soul to firm up the three-pronged foundation of your story: the key word or concept that describes who you were before you met Christ; the fact that you then came into a relationshiop with Christ; and the key word or concept that describes who you are after walking with Christ for a time.” (126, 127)
• The whole point of my story is to tell His-story in the history of my story.
Borrowed and adapted from Dwight Nelsons, "“Primetime (5): Turning Your Story into His‐story”
www.pmchurch.tv
www.pmchurch.tv
No comments:
Post a Comment