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Learn from Paul's boldness in sharing his faith, assuming that others are interested in hearing about Jesus, and understanding the transformative power of Christ in our lives.
Welcome, brothers and sisters! Today, we're going to journey through Acts 25:23-26:29, diving deep into the power of sharing our faith, the assumption that people are interested in hearing about Jesus, and the transformative difference that Christ makes in our lives. This is a passage that tells the story of Paul, a man not unlike many of us, who wasn't shy about sharing his faith, even when he stood before King Agrippa.
As Max Lucado once said, "Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." Today, we're going to explore how our faith, like our prayers, has power beyond measure when we step out in boldness to share it.
Let's read together from the book of Acts, starting in chapter 25, verse 23:
The power of sharing our faith is a divine mandate given to us by Jesus Himself in the Great Commission, where He commands us to go and make disciples of all nations. This power is not just about converting people to Christianity, but it is about influencing the world around us with the love, grace, and truth of Jesus Christ.
We are not just sharing a set of beliefs or doctrines: We are sharing our personal experiences with God. We are sharing how God has transformed our lives, how He has given us hope in the midst of despair, peace in the midst of turmoil, and joy in the midst of sorrow. This personal testimony has a power that goes beyond mere words. It is a living testimony of God's love and grace in action.
A way of fulfilling our purpose as Christians: We are called to be salt and light in the world, to influence the world with the flavor of God's love and the light of His truth. When we share our faith, we are fulfilling this divine purpose. We are being the salt that adds flavor to the world and the light that dispels the darkness of ignorance and unbelief.
A way of strengthening our own faith: As we share our faith, we are reminded of what God has done in our lives. We are reminded of His faithfulness, His love, and His grace. This reminder strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with God. It also encourages us to continue to trust in God and to rely on Him in all circumstances.
A transformative effect on the people we share with: When people hear about our personal experiences with God, they are often moved to seek God for themselves. They are often inspired to explore the Christian faith and to experience the love and grace of God for themselves. This transformative effect is one of the most powerful aspects of sharing our faith.
Sharing our faith is not always easy: It requires courage, boldness, and a willingness to face rejection and ridicule. But the power of sharing our faith is worth the risk. It is worth the potential discomfort and the potential rejection. Because when we share our faith, we are participating in God's work of transforming the world. We are participating in God's mission of bringing people into a relationship with Him.
It is about God working through us: It is about God using our words, our experiences, and our lives to touch the hearts of people and to draw them closer to Him. This is a great privilege and a great responsibility. But it is also a great joy and a great blessing.
It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that people aren't interested in hearing about our faith, that they might find it boring, irrelevant, or even offensive ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO