Home Exploration Zone banner Zone Title Page
Whole Zone:
  1. Starting out
  2. More about Jesus
  3. Experiencing God
  4. The Bible
  5. Prayer
  6. Serving God
  7. Sharing Faith
  8. Going deeper into God

Sharing faith
- What is my story?

You may have heard the word 'testimony'. It simply means the personal story of what God has done in someone's life. In sharing our faith, that is what we need to tell. You may not be able to explain the bible very well, or know lots of technical answers, but you know how you became Christian. And that story is authentic and will help convince others.

This thread (Sharing faith):
  1. Why bother?
  2. What is my story?
  3. Making contact with others
  4. Sharing my story
  5. Nailing it down

Some biblical stories

Read Galatians 1:11-24 . This is Paul's own account of his conversion. (You can read Luke's version of the event in Acts chapter 9). How does this strike you? Real? Persuasive? Encouraging? Interesting? Or what?

Read Acts 2:22-36 . This is Peter's first speech to the crowd after being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is not quite as personal as Paul's, but note verse 32 about being a witness to the events. Also verse 40 where Peter urges and pleads. Do you think Peter felt this, or was he going through the motions?

 

An exercise

If you are looking at this with someone else, then interview each other, turn about, or if you are alone, think about how you would answer the items below. If married, relate answers to meeting your spouse; if not, then about the first meeting with your best friend

  • how did you first meet?
  • what did you think of her/him at first sight?
  • where did you go on your first date?
  • did your feelings about her/him change over time?
  • when did you fall in love (become really good friends)?
  • what do you think of him/her now?

 

Practice

Now repeat the exercise, with similar sorts of questions, about how you came to know Christ. if you are doing this on your own take time to think and don't rush.

 

Jotting down the essentials

Now take time to jot down the essentials of your story. You have just effectively told it in the last discussion, or have thought carefully about it. Headlines will do. By now you should have some idea of what your story of becoming a Christian is, and hopefully have something of a feel for telling it. If you have been looking at this alone, find a Christian friend with whom you feel safe, and ask if they would mind hearing your story so that you genuinely practice it.

 

Any questions?

If you have any queries, or comments, then e-mail us and we'll get back to you

Top | Home

Bible references

Galatians 1:11-24
11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter£ and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles only James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. 24And they praised God because of me.

back to study

 

 

Acts 2:22-36
22Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,£ put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:

‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

29Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.

31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.’

36Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

back to study