Sharing Christ Effectively

Acts 26

Yesterday, I had the undeserved privilege of attending a church planting forum under the organization Lausanne. I can’t tell you how encouraging it was to be around these other Christ-Followers heading in the same unified direction. I even met a guy whose title is “Director of Prayer” for his organization. We hit it off. We’re going to pray together whenever I’m up his way (about an hour north of here).

I’m so thankful. My heart is full.

The last session was about sharing our faith and the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. I wasn’t sure exactly how I felt about the presentation—not bad, mind you, just unsure. Then last night, the Spirit led me to read William Willimon’s commentary on Acts 26, and it gave me chills how specifically it spoke to my wrestlings. The Holy Spirit is so real and active and intimate if we just open ourselves to her.

I want to share what I highlighted from Willimon on this chapter:

Although Paul’s defense has objective content—something has happened to him to which he must be obedient—his technique for delivering his defense is a subjective account of personal experience.

…there can be no doubt that Luke believes that a personal experience of the risen Christ is the bedrock upon which faithful witness is built…there can be no denying that the witness of Paul, as we encounter it in Acts, is driven by the power of personal experience.

Until the fact of the risen Christ becomes part of our lives, something motivating and empowering us, we have little to say, even if we know the facts.

A contemporary communicator of the Christian faith (which should include everyone in the church) would do well to ponder Paul’s species in Acts 22 and Acts 26 as models of Christian testimonial.

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