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EXTRA! Ideas for Adults – Answers to Tough Questions Session 6 Date: January 5, 2020

What Proof Does My Testimony Offer?

The Point: God can use you to show others the truth.

Get Into the Study

Use this current event to introduce Session 6.

Social media influencers are people who have gained enough followers on Instagram, YouTube,

or another social media channel, to be paid for ad content, such as product reviews and

recommendations, on their personal user accounts. Influencers aren’t just paid a small amount—

it’s estimated that the top influencers can be paid up to $1,000,000 a post! While that may seem

crazy, the truth is, consumers are looking more and more for familiar, trusted voices to steer

them in the right direction when it comes to making purchases, and influencers are happy to

oblige.

Most of us look up reviews before making a purchase. With so many reviews available on the

internet, it feels irresponsible not to do a little research! As Christians, it’s important to

remember that people are watching us as influencers as well. They want to see how Christianity

actually works out—they want to see it in our real lives. The way we speak about our faith, and

the way (and the amount) that we share our testimonies is important. We are never asked to sell

our faith—but our speaking honestly about the life-changing grace of Jesus Christ might be the

thing that someone still needs to hear to make his or her own decision to follow Christ!

Optional Question: Do you talk about your faith with nonbelievers?

Study the Bible

Use this current event while discussing the Acts 26:12-18 section of today’s session.

Makeovers on television have been a long-standing favorite for many viewers. From What Not

To Wear, which ran from 2003 to 2013 and focused on people’s clothing, hair, and makeup

choices, to Fixer Upper, which aired from 2013 to 2018, and followed Chip and Joanna Gaines

as they renovated old homes throughout Waco, Texas, we love a good makeover show. We love

the drama of the before-and-after shots—the home suddenly made beautiful, or the haggard-

looking mom-of-three walking out confidently, with shine in her hair and new clothes on her

back. But the most fascinating part of these shows, the part that takes up most of the hour of

television, is the process from before to after. That’s where the good television happens—in the

messy, beautiful, sometimes difficult process of transforming someone or something to

something “better.”

Paul’s transformation story is incredibly fascinating. Can you imagine anyone who has

undergone a greater change of heart (or lifestyle)? He went from persecuting Christians, to

becoming a persecuted Christian. He was blinded by Jesus, brought completely to His mercy,

and told he, a Jew, was going to become a messenger to bring good news of salvation to the

Gentiles! He spent the rest of his life living out the mission God gave him.

While our conversion stories may not be as dramatic as Paul’s, we all still have a “before,” a

“during,” and an “after.” No matter how young or old you were when you became a follower of

Christ, we all have a story to share with others—the story of God slowly sanctifying us to

become more like Christ. None of us are perfect “afters,” but that just makes for a more

interesting story! The important thing is that we share the goodness of God in our lives as often

as we can.

Optional Question: Would you feel confident in sharing your “before and after” story with a

nonbeliever today? Why or why not?

Ashley Emmert is a freelance writer and full-time mama from Chicago, where she lives with her

husband and baby boy. You can find her on Twitter at @ashgemmert, or failing to update her

blog at ashleygraceemmert.blogspot.com.

Additional Questions

Icebreaker

What’s the most dramatic change you have ever made to your physical appearance?

Who do you admire for influencing many people for good?

How did you meet your best friend?

Acts 26:2-5

What motivated you in life before you met Christ?

What makes Paul’s story so surprising?

When has someone's personal testimony for Christ really impacted you?

Acts 26:12-18

How would those who have known you the longest describe the changes they’ve seen in

your life?

What does a changed life for Christ look like?

How does Paul’s change reinforce the truth of the Gospel?

Acts 26:24-26

How can our group help you be a more bold witness for Christ?

What strategies have helped you speak with confidence about the truth of Christ?

How can Paul’s example help us in sharing our testimony?