GroshLink

Continued from Middle School Minister. Baptism. Systematic Theology. . . .

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. -- Colossians 2:12

Jason's handout on Preparing Your Testimony, which I walked through with my daughter who is seeking to make a public profession of faith accompanied by baptism, highlights four elements of Paul's testimony before King Agrippa Acts 26:

• Sinning: Paul was against God and hated Christians.
• Summoned (or Called): Paul heard Jesus calling him to follow Him and leave sin.
• Surrendered: He gave his life to Christ - it says in verse 19 that he was obedient to what Jesus told him.
• Servant: Paul then shares about how he began serving Christ.

Based upon these four elements, the handout asks one to think through one's life and how one has seen each aspect. Take a moment to consider your responses.

• You probably weren't killing Christians, but sin did separate you from from God. What general and specific ways did sin have a hold over you?
• You probably did not receive a vision, but somehow you heard the gospel message. How did you hear the message? Where were you? Was it over a period of time or did it happen all at once?
• You probably were not obedient to a vision, but you did surrender your life in obedience to Christ. Do you remember a specific day when you gave your life to Christ or a period in time when you gradually gave your life to Him? How did that happen? Who were the key people involved with that?
• You probably are not planting churches, but God is at work in your life now. What has Christ done through you since committing your life to Him and what ways do you hope to continue serving Him?

Stemming from one's reflections, one is instructed to . . .

• Write out the whole thing and make it as long as you like.
• Keep the long version, but then edit it down to two paragraphs, about one typed page double spaced or two pages written out.
• Share it with at least two people to see if it makes sense and then make any changes that are suggested.

Some thoughts from my conversation with my daughter coming in future posts. Note: My spiritual autobiography, entitled One more day when you can live your life, can be read here. When I joined Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church, I wrote a short testimony. I will take a look for it and post it (or link to it).