5. Setbacks

 Unfortunately, growth in the Christian life is rarely a steady upward climb.  Sure, we are being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), but that doesn't mean there aren't setbacks.  To be truly authentic about your story, you want to share some of these setbacks.

For me, the summer after I came to Christ was just such a setback.  I met Christ in April of my freshman year in college and was seeing significant growth.  But when the summer semester hit, I lost touch with the Christian students I had been hanging out with.  The group on campus changed locations and most went home for the summer.  I stayed for the summer semester.  I continued to read my bible and pray, and that was very meaningful for me. But the new friends I met were not believers, nice people, but they didn't know Christ in a personal way.  I started to pick up on their habits, and ended up falling to a dark place, spiritually.  I joined them in their partying and drug use.  I felt terrible, which was strange.  Before Christ I usually had a clear conscience no matter what I did.  Now I was plagued by guilt and shame.  I knew what was right, but I wasn't doing it.  I felt al lot like Paul describes in Romans 7.

 

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. (Ro 7:15) So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. (Ro 7:16-19)


This was honestly the most miserable period in my life.  I was more frustrated as a Christian who was not walking with the Lord than I had ever been as non-believer.  Not until I learned the secret of the Spirit-filled life was I able to leave this sin and frustration behind. 

 

For your consideration:

  1. Have there been periods of significant decline in your walk with Christ.  
  2. What do you suppose caused this decline?  
  3. What did you learn from it?  
  4. How did it work out?

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9. Conversion

Image
Ideally you will want to share your testimony in a way that conveys how you came to Christ.  Hopefully after hearing it, your listener may know enough to trust Christ.  I think this can be done easily by first setting the stage, then sharing the basics of the gospel message.  For instance, I was in the snack bar in West Halls and an older student shared with me that God loved me, that I was a sinner, that Christ had died for me, and that I must receive Christ as Savior and Lord.  I was familiar with the first three points, but the last one was new to me.  I had never understood what it meant to personally receive Christ.  I did it that evening.   For many who have received Christ as a young child, you will want to focus on the time in your life where the biggest change occurred.  For instance, "I understood that God loved me, and Christ died for me at a very early age, but it was in my teens that I got really s...
Read more

10. Introduction and Conclusion

Image
  Introduction   A good introduction will answer the question, "why should I listen to this person?"  It should be a strong attention getter.  It can be funny, mysterious, or whatever, but it should reflect your personality, and the nature of your story.  I knew a teenager who was the MC at a weekly meeting.  He was clever and quite a comic.  When preparing his testimony, he was concerned that the audience would think he was joking.  We came up with a great intro: "Most of you know me as a real joker.  Tonight, I want to be serious for a change and tell you about something significant that has happened in my life." Needless to say, it worked beautifully.  He had their full attention.  You could have heard a pin drop. When thinking up an intro, don't try to be too clever.  That can backfire.  And don't make it too long.  Get to your story as quickly as you...
Read more

7. Theme

Image
  Many people, possibly most, share their testimony as a chronology, a timeline.  "I was born at a very  early age"…  This can be a bit boring for the listener, and hard to understand.  Where is this heading, they might ask?  It's much stronger to build your story around a main theme.  Thus far we have talked about many common themes: the search for meaning and purpose, damaged relationships, setbacks, and the fear of death.  Possibly you can think of many others.  Reflect on these questions, "What was the biggest change Christ has done in my life?"  "What was it that drew me to Christ?"  "What was my greatest need before coming to Christ?"  Take as much time as you need.  Pray for wisdom.  Take a pen and paper and jot down your thoughts. Write out your conclusion.  I once was _______, now I am _________.  Fill in the blanks. One problem...
Read more