Acts: Ministry of Paul - As Simple as 2-3-4

As Simple as 2-3-4
9.25.16

Following Paul's arrival in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 21, we read where the people of the Jewish community rioted against Paul and attacked him at the Temple. He was rescued by Roman soldiers and arrested for interrogation. Paul made his appeal and told his story to the crowd that charged him, to the Roman commander, to Felix the Governor, later to Festus the Governor, and finally to Agrippa the King. His ordeal is recorded in Acts 21 through Acts 26 and spans over two years of imprisonment. Throughout this whole time Paul maintained his innocence and his right for a fair trial. He stood before the public and before kings, and every time he share his story of his time before meeting Christ and after. He even appeals to those who hear him to become like him (minus the chains) - a follower of The Way and a believer in Jesus as the Christ.

His evangelism example gives us a basic outline to follow: there are two stories (his and Christ's), three parts to his, and four to the story of Christ. Many people know the famous Jackson 5 song A-B-C, easy as 1-2-3. Go ahead, sing it in your head...you know you already are. Now rethink this song with the idea of A-B-C, easy as 2-3-4! I know, I know, it's not as catchy. But think of the A-B-C as ALL BECAUSE of CHRIST and the 2-3-4 as the 2 stories, 3 parts mine, and 4 parts Christ. This diagram might help you picture this better:

You know your story. Maybe you had a good life, good family, good education, brought up from birth in the church...maybe you had a rough life, with lots of obvious errors and wayward adventures...either way, you had to come to the point where you knew you had sinned, there was no way to make up for it, and then Jesus came into your life. What has life been since? What has he done in you to make a difference in not just your behavior, but your very core? That is your story.

Maybe you don't know all that much about Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and pending return. That's okay. There is a good book on the subject: The Bible. His life was predicted by prophets hundreds of years before his birth; his birth was announced by angels and witnessed by shepherds; he lived a spotless life, both in action and in thought; he died on a cross in a painful way because he tried to share with others that he was the way we too could have a perfect spotless life; he was buried and rose from the dead, spent 40 days with his disciples teaching and preparing them a little more before he left; and he promised that one day we will see him again!

Be prepared to share these stories. Being prepared makes us effective for Christ! If you would like to learn more about this evangelism/discipleship program click through 

to Ignite The World discipleship model. 

Our story opens the hearts of people to heart he good news of His story, and His story changes the hearts of people from dead to alive...forever! Now that is GOOD NEWS!