Corona Devo 803

Want to give someone butterflies in their stomach?  Ask them to speak in public.

Want to cause possible stomach churning?  Ask them to share about Jesus in public!

There's something about getting-in-front-of people that makes most of us nervous.  But add the responsibility of telling people about Jesus, and forget-about-it!  Most of us have checked the "uninterested" box.

What to say?

Where to start?  

Is there a "how-to" manual?

Well, God is glad we asked- because He actually put one together.  It's called The Bible.  And if we were to read through the Book of Acts in the New Testament, we will see that the very first followers-of-Jesus developed a bit of a pattern as they (for the first time!) shared about the Good News of Jesus with others.

They didn't psychoanalyze their listeners' lives.  They didn't try and counsel or "fix" the troubles that others were going through.  They didn't promise blue skies and no rain.  

They simply told the story of Jesus and what happened to Him.  Over and over they shared, reminded and educated people (and themselves!) about why Jesus came (to save us), what people did to Him (crucified Him), and what Jesus did to after death---(He was resurrected and reappeared to confirm His purpose and His divinity...and His promise to anyone willing to accept Him).

Just by sharing the story of Jesus--Believers were born.  The church was created and flourished.  Christianity was birthed.

Not because the Believers did or were anything special, but because they were willing to (simply/factually/plainly) tell the greatest story ever told.  See if you can notice (and emulate!) their patterns:

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. (23) But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. (24) But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.... (37) Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”  (38) Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”  ~Acts 2:22-24, 36-39

They simply told the story of Jesus and merely (being brave enough) to do so changed lives.

The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. (31) Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. (32) We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”  ~Acts 5:30-32    

Simple, yet deep, they retold the facts of what they had experienced as they followed Jesus.  Their testimonies brought validity to the story, and their eyewitness accounts proved what it was like and what happened when Jesus lived...and died...and lived again!

They didn't have to write/read/script anything.  The early Believers just kept telling the story (and miracles) of Jesus over and over.  That's all we have to do too.

“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, (40) but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, (41) not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. (42) And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. (43) He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”  (44) Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message  ~Acts 10:39-44

It makes most of us nervous to speak in front of a group, and the freak-out is not-fabricated when we think about sharing with people about Jesus Christ.  But we have some great role-models in the early church that have put words right in our mouth.

We have ancient recipes for reciting the order of events and the miraculous ending to them.

We have the Bible (the word of God) which is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12).

We already know these truths, but we need to get comfortable sharing them with a searching world.  

The story never changes--it is tried and true and ever-amazing.

Keep reading the Bible, keep becoming familiar with the stories-of-our-start as Believers, and keep telling others.  Today, let's add the responsibility of telling people about Jesus to our docket and next to it check the "interested" box.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com