Writer: Charles Hegwood
You are what you do. That may sound weird but think about it for a second. For example; let us say that you like a certain sports team. However, you wear the rival’s shirt, never watch the games, and openly cheer for the other team. It would be safe to say that you do not really like the team you say you like. Your stated team is not your real team. You like the team you support with your actions. The same is true with following Jesus.
Christianity is not a religion that is based on works, but if you claim to follow Jesus, there should be noticeable patterns of behavior in your life. This will be evident through your growth in godly patterns such as reading the Bible and sharing the gospel. It’s always wise to build patterns in your life; Paul did. He is a good model to follow here. Throughout the book of Acts, we see that Paul had patterns and rhythms, which helped him share the gospel, even in jail. This was possible because he had established a pattern in his life. However, Paul was not a pattern fanatic; he was just a follower of Jesus who had patterns.
Sharing the Gospel Regularly
In Acts 14:1 and 17:1 Luke wrote that Paul went to the synagogue, “as usual” or sometimes translated “as was his custom.” You could say pattern. Paul would arrive in a new town and find the local synagogue and there he would meet with and share the gospel with the local Jewish population. Paul was not roaming aimlessly hoping to find somebody. Instead, he went to where people were interested in God. He would engage them. Then as we see throughout the rest of Acts, he would continue to pour into the ones who were interested and believed.
Paul also shared routinely with Gentiles. Whether it was those who were already interested or those he met in the marketplaces, Paul made a habit of sharing the gospel. On one such occasion, he went to Athens as he awaited his team. As he was waiting, he looked around and saw the spiritual need. He then began spreading the gospel. He ended up talking to a large group of people. At the end of this account, some believed, and others were interested. Paul’s ministry was gospel proclamation and his patterns in life matched his ministry and passion.
So, if you are sitting there wondering why you are having trouble sharing the gospel. Make it a habit. Make a life pattern of sharing the gospel. How do you do that? Again, let us learn from Paul. Share the gospel joy with other believers. Paul rejoiced when he met with other believers. Throughout Paul’s letters, you can find him joyful reciting the gospel to churches. After all, if you do not share the gospel with believers, you will not share it with unbelievers. Secondly, like Paul, do cultural exegesis. What do your surroundings say about the spiritual state of those around you? Thirdly, have a place to go and share the gospel. Be it a coffee shop, park, or wherever, have a place where you go regularly to share the gospel. If you do, it will become your pattern.
Sharing Your Testimony Regularly
Another pattern you see in Paul throughout the last few chapters in Acts, is Paul sharing his testimony. Even though we are not explicitly told, I imagine that Paul made a practice out of sharing the story of how he met Jesus. How can I say that? Look at his testimonies in Acts 22 and 26. He had been arrested, beaten, and now faced government officials. What was his defense? His testimony. His testimony is consistent, and you can break it down into parts. He knew how to adapt the story for each situation and that takes practice.
You may notice that Paul’s testimonies in Acts 22 and 26 are slightly different in how he told them. Some critics of the Bible want to call this a contradiction. However, I think what is happening is that Paul is giving more details to certain points in his testimony to emphasize the details that match his audience. None of the details Paul gave contradict each other. Paul’s ability to add details curtailed for the particular audience is a result of a practiced story. He made a routine of reciting his story. We would be wise to do so as well.
Do you know how to share your story of meeting Jesus? If that seems scary or hard to put together in a coherent story, I would recommend you write it out, just for yourself. Recite it. Remind yourself of who you were and how Jesus changed you. Then start talking to other Christians about your testimony. Share your story. Then you will find how different parts of your story speak into others’ stories. Then when you have the opportunity to share your testimony with someone who is not a Christian, you will find it to be the most natural thing you can say. So make a pattern out of sharing your testimony.
Conclusion
The book of Acts gives us a great look at the life and ministry of Paul. His passion for Jesus and the gospel is proved by his actions and words. We get to see how he used patterns of sharing the gospel and testimony to grow the local church. For Paul, sharing his testimony and the gospel were not accidents, but patterns built with intentionality. People are naturally pattern finders. If you do not have a pattern for something, you likely are building patterns away from something. So, build healthy gospel patterns in your daily life. In doing so, align your passions with your actions to create a greater gospel impact on those you engage with daily.