DAY 5

Sharing Your Faith

Read Romans 1:16; Acts 22:1-15; 26:9-20; Matthew 9:10-13; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
Do you remember from yesterday’s study that when you witness, you’re giving evidence? But what’s the evidence you’re able to present to your lost friends?
You have the evidence of a changed life—of the indwelling Christ, controlling all. You need to verbalize that witness, to tell people who Christ is, what He has done for you, and how much He means to you.
The apostle Paul knew how to verbalize his witness, and he did so at every opportunity to everyone who would listen. Read aloud these words that Paul once wrote:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
ROMANS 1:16
Can you honestly make the same statement Paul made? Why or why not?
Scripture records at least two occasions when Paul verbalized his witness, in Acts 22:1-15 and in Acts 26:9-20. In each case the evidence Paul gave was his own conversion experience. In both instances he mentioned four facts about that experience.
Read Acts 22:1-15; 26:9-20.
Now examine the chart on this page. The four points Paul made are listed and numbered in order on the chart. In the column for each passage, list the verses that contain each point in what Paul said about his conversion. Answers are provided at the end of today’s study.
Acts 22Acts 26

1. Paul hadn’t always followed Christ.	Verses 3-5	Verses 9-12
2. God began to deal with Paul’s rebellion.
3. Paul received Christ as his Lord.
4. Paul’s new life was centered on Christ’s purposes.

You’ll be amazed to discover how few unbelievers have ever heard a Christian share the kind of witness Paul shared in his testimony. Every conversion experience is different from all others. Therefore, your own testimony of the way you came to know Christ is personal and individual. It gives evidence that no one but you can give. No one else will ever duplicate it.
Although your conversion experience is unique, it can probably be outlined in much the same way that Paul outlined his. In fact, the outline should be familiar to you if you’re studying Survival Kit in a group. You’ve already used it to begin developing your testimony.
Did you see the similarity between Paul’s outline and the outline you used in your group to develop your testimony?
At the end of your quiet time yesterday, I asked you to commit to definite times you’ll witness to the five people who are open to listen to you. Twenty-four hours have passed since you made that commitment. Have you taken time to contact them and make appointments?
If you have, good for you! If you haven’t, do so now before finishing your quiet time. Make those contacts, simply asking them to give you thirty minutes so that you can tell them about the most wonderful, exciting thing that ever happened to you in your life. Then return to finish your quiet time.
Use the following lines to compose your testimony in brief, concise, understandable sentences. If you’re studying with a group and have already worked on your testimony, revise and refine it one more time.
1. My life and attitudes before I became a Christian:
2. How I realized God was speaking to me:
3. How I became a Christian:
4. What being a Christian means to me:
Recall the time when you became a Christian. A big part of your decision to trust Christ was the influence other people had on you, right? There’s no substitute for the personal touch in bringing lost people to Christ.
Read Matthew 9:10-11.
What criticism did people make of Jesus?
Why do you suppose Jesus risked criticism by having personal contact with people whom others considered unacceptable? Read Matthew 9:12-13 before you answer.
Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. He had mercy or compassion on those who were spiritually sick.
Read what the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:19-21.
Which of the following statements expresses what Paul meant?
☐
 “It doesn’t matter to me whom I associate with.”☐
 “I agree with whomever I happen to be with at the time.”☐
 “I deliberately cultivate the friendship of all sorts of people so that they’ll have enough confidence in me to hear my witness.”The last statement summarizes Paul’s approach to making friends. Why did Paul feel such an approach was necessary? Read 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 before you answer.
Paul knew not everyone whose friendship he cultivated would accept Christ, but he cultivated friendships with all people in the hope that he would be able to reach as many as possible.
Acts doesn’t record a single instance when a person came to know Christ without the aid of a Christian.
Look again at your right hand. Those five people are open to your sharing with them. Determine now that you’ll share your testimony with them. This is more than just spending time. You must invest genuine, caring interest in them. You’re the riverbed through whom Christ’s love can flow to them. As you share your witness with them, they’ll see Christ in your words, your life, and your thoughts. They won’t be able to escape the impact of Christ, who dwells in you.
Answers to the activity:
Acts 22: 1. Verses 3-5 2. Verses 6-9 3. Verses 10-13 4. Verses 14-15
Acts 26: 1. Verses 9-12 2. Verses 13-18 3. Verse 19 4. Verses 19-20

Review This Week’s Study

This week you saw the need for effective evangelism in the life of a believer. You studied a plan to help you be committed and intentional in reaching lost friends.
Record the names of the ten people you prayed for this week. Also record a short prayer asking God to draw them to Him.
Friends who refuse to let me share Christ with them:
1. __________
2. __________
3. __________
4. __________
5. __________
Friends who are open to my sharing Christ:
1. __________
2. __________
3. __________
4. __________
5. __________
As you continue walking with Jesus, when will you commit to intentionally pause and pray for these people?
With whom might you replace these names as some of them come to know the Lord?
Spend a few moments thanking God for the ways He has used this study to shape your new life in Christ.