How To Share Your Story (Acts - Part 4) Series

How to share

your story

Acts Series: ¡§Completely Irreligious, Yet Radically Christian¡¨ Part 4

Pastor Jeff Christopherson

February 2, 2003

Acts 2:14-41

1. Be a part of a spiritual team.

¡§Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd¡K¡¨ 2:14a

2. Start with questions people are asking.

¡§Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It¡¦s only nine in the morning!¡¨ 2:14b-15

3. Answer ¡¥heart questions¡¦ with God¡¦s Word.

¡§No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ¡¥In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy¡KAnd everyone who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.¡¦¡¨ 2:16-21

4. Go straight to Jesus.

WHAT SHOULD I EMPHASIZE?

A) The attractiveness of His Life.

¡§Men 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.¡¨ 2:22

B) His Death was completely in His control.

¡§This 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.¡¨ 2:23

C) His Resurrection is an objective fact.

¡§But 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¡K God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.¡¨ 2:24-32

5. Make it Personal.

HOW DO I CONNECT THE DOTS?

A) Call a spade a spade.

¡§¡¥Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.¡¨ 2:36

B) Expect God¡¦s message to do God¡¦s work.

¡§When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ¡¥Brothers, what shall we do?¡¦¡¨ 2:37

C) Look at the benefits of following Christ.

¡§Peter replied, ¡§Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off¡Xfor all whom the Lord our God will call.¡¨ 2:38-39

D) Give people an opportunity to respond.

¡§With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ¡¥Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.¡¦ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.¡¨ 2:40-41

Scripture passages from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.

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Home Church Discussion Guide: sharing my faith

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1. Why do you think many people find it difficult to share their faith? What about you? 2. Look at the example of Acts 2:14. Why is a team significant as an evangelistic strategy? What examples have you seen in this? 3. In 2:15, Peter stated the obvious objection. What can we learn from his example? 4. In 2:16-21, Peter answers the objections by quoting God¡¦s Word. How does this passage in Joel speak to the issue? What can we learn from this? 5. In sharing his faith, where does Peter head to as soon as he could (2:22-32)? Why are the three themes Peter preached (the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus) so important when we share our story? 6. In 2:36-41, Peter got personal. What can we learn from his example? 7. When it comes to consistently sharing your faith, what insecurities keep you from telling others about Christ? What one truth did you get from this passage that you want God to integrate into your life? 8. Pray for one another for boldness and sensitivity in sharing your most important story.

㦠2003, Jeff Christopherson, The Sanctuary