Discussing Our God Stories
Sharing our God Story is something we highly value at Newbreak. The Gospels and the Book of Acts are filled with examples of people sharing their God Stories with others. On one occasion, Paul shared his God story with a large group of Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1-21). When we look at the passage, we see 3 key components to his God Story:
Paul’s life before he came to faith (Acts 22:3-5)
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but broughtup in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
Paul’s conversion and the days following (Acts 22:6-11; 12-16)
6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ 8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
Paul’s life after he came to faith (Acts 22:17-21)
17 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me. 19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyrStephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
We can learn to share these same components in our story: our life before Jesus + how we found a relationship with Jesus + how He has changed our lives after. So be prepared to share your God-story, and to listen to others, and to celebrate together the powerful ways God works in people’s lives!