A Powerful Testimony - Acts 26:19-29

By David Woods

Discussion: Describe what you think would be the ideal witnessing opportunity?

Discussion: Why is such a witnessing opportunity ideal?

(Does our idea of the ideal witnessing opportunity possibly reveal laziness, lack of courage, or a lack of passion on our part?)

One might think Paul had reason to be extremely frustrated at this point.  He had been imprisoned on ridiculous charges for two years.  Then Festus replaced Felix as governor.  When Festus heard his case, he suggested a change in venue - Jerusalem.  Paul seems to have feared that he would not have been given a fair trial there.  So Paul appealed his case to Caesar.  Now, Paul is being examined by Festus, because Festus was at a loss of what charges Paul should be charged with when he appeared before Caesar!  One would think Paul would be very frustrated by this whole ordeal.

Discussion: Have you ever had a less-than-ideal witnessing opportunity?  Why did you think this opportunity was less than ideal?  How did God use your testimony?

Discussion: When Paul was given permission to speak, he did not start off by explaining what had happened in Jerusalem the day he was arrested.  Instead, he began giving his personal testimony.  Why?

Discussion: What can we do to develop our mindset so that we see an opportunity to witness in every situation of life?

(Possible answers might include: pray that God will give us vision to see witnessing opportunities more readily; practice thinking of every day situations and develop segues to share one’s testimony; practice in real-life trying to turn conversations to spiritual topics.)

While Paul was sharing his testimony, Festus interrupted him, saying that he was out of his mind.  His great learning was making him crazy.  Yet Paul was undaunted.

Discussion: Should we let a prospect’s strong emotions displayed while witnessing to this person discourage us from continuing with our testimony?

Discussion: Many Christians seem to feel like the slightest opposition to the Gospel signals that there is no chance the prospect will respond positively to the Gospel.  Why is this not necessarily true?

After responding to Festus’ outburst, Paul turned to King Agrippa and made a personal appeal to him to accept Christ.  King Agrippa seemed shocked that Paul would press him so hard to believe.

Discussion: What are some of the reasons why unbelievers will hesitate to accept Christ?

Discussion: Should we let any of these reasons discourage us from pressing the prospect for a decision for Christ?  Why or why not?

Discussion: Why do you think Paul was so insistent?

(Was it not because of Paul’s great passion that by any means one more might be saved?)

Discussion: On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being least and 10 being greatest, how passionate are you that lost souls might be saved?

The point of this lesson is very simple:

Big Idea: The Christian should witness of Christ whenever there is opportunity.

Discussion: Do we truly believe this?  What are some excuses that we use too often to avoid possible witnessing opportunities?

In his book Share Jesus Without Fear Bill Fay testifies:

My resume spelled p-o-w-e-r.  I was the president and CEO of a multimillion-dollar international corporation, I had ties with the mob, and I owned one of the larger houses of prostitution in the United States.  I was involved in racketeering, bookmaking, and gambling.  I had a gold Rolex, chauffeured limo, money, my fourth wife, and trophies from my many racquetball championships.  I felt I had everything the world said spelled success.  And I mocked anyone who dared share his faith in God with me…

Through the years, many people came into my life to share their faith, but I would not receive it.  I sent these people away, discouraged, because I either insulted them, antagonized them, or persecuted them.  And if they walked away from me believing they had failed, they believed a life.  For I never forgot the name, the face, the person, or the words of anyone who ever told me about Jesus.[1]

This picture of a hardened sinner seems to be what most Christians have in mind when they are encouraged to share the Gospel.  Yet, because believers continued sharing the Good News with Bill Fay and expressed an interest in his well-being, God was finally able to get his attention and he accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour.

So many Christians seem unwilling to share the Gospel unless they have the ideal prospect in the ideal witnessing opportunity.  Yet that ideal situation never seems to arrive.  Instead, we need to adopt as a value the idea that we should witness of Christ every time there is any opportunity.

Fay writes:  There is no success, no failure, in God’s kingdom when people choose obedience. In fact, this is the one area of your Christian life you ultimately cannot botch.  Even if you share stupidly, unlovingly, or with poor timing, our heavenly Father can use it.  What he can’t use is your silence.[2]

Will you be faithful to use every opportunity you are given to share the Good News?