Seven Day Start – Day 7 – Faith Promise Church

DAY SEVEN

Imagine the stories that captivate us in books and movies, filled with characters and adventures that resonate deeply. These tales, much like the powerful narratives found in the Bible, offer profound insights into human experiences, emotions, and the truths of our existence. The Bible, a collection of such stories, guides us in understanding love, grace, forgiveness, and the essence of humanity. It tells the grand story of God’s creation, the fall of humanity, and our redemption through Jesus Christ, inviting us into a relationship with God and a role in His ongoing story.

Your life is a unique story within this grand narrative, marked by its own trials, triumphs, and chapters yet to be written. You’re invited to continue shaping your story by living out the teachings of Jesus, sharing your experiences, and guiding others with compassion and humility. By doing so, you actively participate in God’s story, contributing to a larger tapestry of redemption and hope. Engage with the Bible to uncover the depth of these stories and see how they align with your journey, encouraging you to live a life that reflects God’s love and purpose.

Today’s video will help you understand what makes great stories great, what God’s story is, and how your story fits into it. And you can learn ways to change someone else’s story too!

MY ACTION STEPS

My Story outline: Remember the three beat format from the video.

Set the stage for what your life was like before God.
- What were you going through?
- What set your priorities for you?
- What struggles did you have?
- What was most responsible for the direction of your life?
Talk about the moment you accepted God’s call.
- What circumstances brought you to that moment?
- How did you recognize your need for God?
- Where were you?
- How did God get your attention?
Share the positive changes you’ve seen since you decided to follow Jesus.
- How has God benefited your life?
- How have your priorities and decisions shifted?
- What changes have your friends and family observed?
- Has anyone around you chosen to follow Jesus because you did?

The ABC format for evangelism:

ADMIT: we have broken God’s commands.
- “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
BELIEVE: In the saving power of Jesus’ death on the cross.
- “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
CONFESS: That you believe Jesus was raised from the dead, and that you will follow him daily.
- “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

If you haven’t followed up with baptism, register HERE!

TODAY’S READING

Context note: This is Paul, now imprisoned, boldly telling his story to the Roman-appointed governor Festus and the Jewish king Herod Agrippa.

¹Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: ²”King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, ³and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴”The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. ⁵They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. ⁶And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. ⁷This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. ⁸Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

⁹”I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

¹²”On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

¹⁵”Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

” ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶’Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ¹⁷I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹⁹”So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. ²⁰First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. ²¹That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. ²²But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—²³that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

²⁵”I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. ²⁷King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

²⁸Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

²⁹Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Acts 26:1-29 (NIV)

RESOURCES

“Before You Share Your Faith” by Matt Smethurst
“The Master Plan of Evangelism” by Dr. Robert Coleman
“Foxe’s Voices of the Martyrs”

DAY 6 WHAT’S NEXT?

Locations

Ministries

Next Steps

Opportunities

Resources