The Great Commission The Great Commission Tell Your StoryTell Your Story

Tell Your StoryTell Your Story

Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, he Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, he appeared and took them to task most severely appeared and took them to task most severely for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe those who had seen him raised up. Then he those who had seen him raised up. Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damneddamned

Mark 16: 14Mark 16: 14

Tell Your StoryTell Your Story

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Mewitnesses to Me[[a]] in Jerusalem, and in all in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”earth.”

Acts 1:8Acts 1:8

What does Witness mean?What does Witness mean?• 1. attestation of a fact or event 1. attestation of a fact or event :: testimony

• 2. one that gives evidence; 2. one that gives evidence; specificallyspecifically:: one who testifies in a cause one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal or before a judicial tribunal

• 3. one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to 3. one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place testify to its having taken place

• 4. one who has personal knowledge of something 4. one who has personal knowledge of something

• 5. something serving as evidence or proof 5. something serving as evidence or proof :: sign • bb:: public affirmation by word or example of usually religious faith or public affirmation by word or example of usually religious faith or

conviction <conviction <

These definitions point to something that isThese definitions point to something that is

• A FactA Fact• Real Real • Authentic Authentic • SolidSolid• Immovable Immovable • A conviction A conviction • Fixed Fixed

• 1-2 1-2 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all inFrom the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own —we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.God himself took shape before us.

• 3-4 3-4 We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

• 1 John 1:1-31 John 1:1-3

We are writing] about the Word of Life [We are writing] about the Word of Life [[[a]]in] in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands.hands.

1 John 1:11 John 1:1

But we [ourselves] cannot help telling what we But we [ourselves] cannot help telling what we have seen and heard. Amp have seen and heard. Amp

As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.” Message about what we’ve seen and heard.” Message

For we cannot but speak the things which we have For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” NKJVseen and heard.” NKJV

Acts 4:20Acts 4:20

What have YOU seen, felt or heard directly What have YOU seen, felt or heard directly about Jesus?about Jesus?

What’s your story?What’s your story?

Take a deep breath........Take a deep breath........

Now breath out......RELAX!Now breath out......RELAX!

You are not to convert anyone!!You are not to convert anyone!!

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Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.whoever refuses to believe is damned.

READ MY LIPS:READ MY LIPS:IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO CONVERT ANYONE!!IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO CONVERT ANYONE!!

And when He has come, He will convict the And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:judgment:

John 16:8John 16:8

When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin;to believe in me is their basic sin;

John 16:8John 16:8

Witnessing is not CONVERSION!Witnessing is not CONVERSION!

• Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

• 25 25 But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. reason. 26 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I

am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. not done in a corner. 27 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you

do believe.”do believe.”• 28 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

• 29 29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

• 30 30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;Bernice and those who sat with them;

• Acts 26: 24-30Acts 26: 24-30

Three simple steps:Three simple steps:

1.1. Walk with Jesus everyday...Walk with Jesus everyday...2.2. Seize every opportunity to tell your storySeize every opportunity to tell your story3.3. Leave the rest to GodLeave the rest to God