What is your story? Join us in this 3rd part of 4 sermons on God’s love and grace.

There is a great website that walks you through the process of creating your story to share: www.5clicks.com

THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE

Taking everyday risks to extend the grace of God

THE HOPE THAT IS WITHIN US

15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect-1Peter 3:15

WE ALL HAVE A STORY TO SHARE

-Our friends are interested

-Our friends can relate

-It is hard to argue with

PAUL’S GRACE STORY-ACTS 26

9“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth…On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints 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. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. 12“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, O king, 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 of me and what I will show you. 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 to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. 21That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But I have had God’s help to this very day, and 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 Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

_________–vv. 9-11

_________-vv. 12-18

_________-vv. 19-23

STORY TIPS

Theme

-The central issue in our lives that shows the_______ in our spiritual outlook before and after knowing Christ.

Middle Handle

-we need to keep it simple, clear, and __________

Conclusion

-End with a question that requires a ____________

Scripture

-Think of one key verse that relates to your story.

Language

-avoid religious clichés and insider language

Length

-Be_________ and to the point

Put others first

-keep focus on your friend

-Emphasize those aspects of your story that will relate

PRAY FOR AN OPEN DOOR

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.-col. 4:3