Testimony

Read: Acts 1:8
Listen: Acts 1

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Moments before Jesus leaves earth and ascends to heaven, he gives his disciples a final charge. Jesus tells his followers they will be witnesses to what they experienced with him. They are to go into the entire world and share what Jesus has done for them. Being a witness means they testified to the truth. They gave a testimony, a story, that tells the truth of Jesus.

We are also witnesses for Jesus with a story about his work in our lives. Our testimonies have incredible potential for spiritual influence. We know this because other people’s stories affect us deeply. Our small group members’ faith can deepen as they hear how we turned to trust Jesus, not our achievements. Our friends may choose Jesus for themselves when they hear how he rescued us from a deep struggle or heartache. Our kids may make faith in Jesus their own as they hear our stories of growing to trust him in challenges and everyday life. Our faith stories are our most powerful tool for spiritual influence. God calls us to testify to Jesus’s saving work in our lives.

TODAY: You can tell your story in three simple parts: before Jesus, how Jesus rescued you, and your life with Jesus now. Not every story includes dramatic rescue. We all have been saved by Jesus, who died on the cross for us. Ask God for opportunities to share your story. One opportunity will be with the church. You can share your story with us at adabible.org/stories.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Joel 2. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Note the promise of the Spirit. Think about how Jesus fulfills this promise at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21).