Lesson 3 | The Big Context
Seeing your story in God's
Your story is not about you
Just as each verse of scripture fits into the grand revelation, so each individual's story fits into the grand plan of God. Thus, when we tell our story, we should really be telling God's story.
Two great examples of this are the Chronicles of Narnia books and the 1959 movie Ben-Hur. While most of the pages of the Narnia books do not contain encounters with Aslan, the Christ figure, anyone who reads the books will testify that they are in fact all about him. The same goes for Ben-Hur, as made abundantly clear by the movie's subtitle, “A Story of the Christ.”
As Christians, is this not true of our lives as well? While our physical encounters with Jesus are few (or non-existent), he is what our lives are all about! He is the source of life to us, and the One for whom we live. Thus our testimony is a story of him.
Below is a scene from Ben-Hur, one of the few places in the movie where Jesus makes an appearance. Here it is made plain that the story is not really about Ben-Hur after all.
Biblical testimonies
But even better are the examples of testimonies we have in the Bible. Read the excerpts below to get a sense of how God-centered testimonies ought to be. Note also that while our conversion is certainly one of the great stories of God's grace in our lives, it is by no means the only one. As Christians, God guides us, delivers us and teaches us throughout our lives—and every new experience is a new testimony.
After reading through these excerpts, choose two of them to read at length. Turn to those places in the Bible and ask God to use these texts to help you better tell your stories in a way that glorifies God.
I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea...
from Moses's song of testimony (Exodus 15:1-18)
...The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.
from David's testimony of deliverance (1 Samuel 17:34-37)
I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven... The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
from Solomon's autobiography (Ecclesiastes)
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble...
from the psalm of testimonies (Psalm 107)
I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice... Salvation belongs to the Lord!
from Jonah's testimony of deliverance (Jonah 2)
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble
from Nebuchadnezzar's testimony (Daniel 4)
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant...
from Mary's song of testimony (Luke 1:46-55)
I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision... If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?
from Peter's testimony of Gentile inclusion (Acts 11:5-17)
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city... a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me... [and afterwards it was told me:] ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone...’
from Paul's conversion testimony (Acts 22:1-21)
[After suffering great and receiving great revelations, the Lord] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
from Paul's “foolish” boasting (2 Corinthians 11:21-12:10)
If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel... But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord... Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
from Paul's testimony of gain in Christ (Philippians 3:4-14)
Example of the assignment
In the upcoming assignment, you will be asked to record a biblical testimony. Here is a sample.
God's desire and mine A biblical testimony connected to Hosea 6:4-11.