What Is Your Story? To Tell The old, old story of Jesus’ Love.

Since we were children, we’ve gravitated to stories we love to hear them and tell them. The best stories aroused connection, conviction, and compassion in us as we listened. They taught us and inspired us. They served as cautionary tales or models of faith to emulate.

Our parents told us stories from their childhood, our teachers read stories from books, and our Sunday school teachers shared stories from the Bible. These stories made us think, laugh, learn, and wonder, with the Bible stories forming the foundation from which our faith might sprout and grow.

In fact, we’re banking our eternity on story. The plan of salvation is explained in New Testament letters, but the work of salvation is conveyed via stories told throughout Scripture. Old Testament stories set the stage for man’s sin problem and God’s solution to that problem, leading to the Gospels, which contain the climax of the story, as Jesus died once for all.

Look around! Non-Christian people surround you. How can you reach them? One way is by being real. In today’s world we have reality TV, which looks into the real lives of other people, is a huge trend right now. It’s popular because our generation doesn’t want second-hand or made-up stories. We want reality! That’s why one of the most powerful ways to influence other people towards God is simply to tell them how you came to know the Lord, and what he has done in your life since then. Even the most unbelieving friends may listen when you just tell it all hang out!

Paul tells his God-story to some unbelievers. What can we learn from him? Firstly, to tell people a little about the way our lives were before we became Christians. Verses 1-5 of Acts 22, the bible says, ¹ “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” ² When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: ³ “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up 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.

I love to tell the story, It will be my theme in Glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Secondly, to explain the events that led up to our becoming followers of Jesus which is found in Acts 22:6-11 and finally, to tell them how our lives have changed since then. Acts 22:12-16. Never feel like your experience of God is not radical enough. Some people, like Paul met God powerfully, but most of us meet him less dramatically.

Just tell your story, people will connect with it if it’s real. Keep it simple, and let the focus shift from your life to God’s grace. Remember, though, that if your life hasn’t begun to show the change, people will probably ignore what you have to say! Practice telling your God-story by writing down or by telling a Christian friend. Ask yourself: What happened to change it? What’s my life like now? Then step out and ask God for an opportunity to tell someone.

Whether we’re telling stories of personal loss or of triumph in Christ, we can point people to God, taking every opportunity to share the good news of God’s work in our lives. From core testimonies of repentance and salvation to everyday stories of struggle and hope, our lives reflect the grand story of God’s work in this world.

We stake our eternity on that grand story, the true story that starts in the garden of Eden and has yet to conclude with complete restoration ushered in by Christ Jesus Himself at the cross of Calvary.

So, what’s your story?