REFLECTION PAPER
Introduction
The two topics I have chosen to address in my reflection paper are: The importance of personal testimonies and God’s grace. These two topics have played a huge role in my life and in my walk with Jesus Christ. Personal testimonies are essential when sharing the gospel, who better to tell you what God can do, than the person who has experienced it for themselves. We are only forgiven and able to forgive through the Grace of God. Forgiveness in not something that would come naturally living in the flesh, it is only through God’s Grace that we are able to forgive and experience forgiveness.
II Part One
a. Theological Definition
Every believer has a personal testimony – a story of how they came to know Christ. A personal testimony can be a non-threating way to tell an unbeliever why Jesus Chris is important to you. Personal testimonies can also be used to give encouragement to a struggling Christian. In the presentation “Arguments that the Bible is the Word of God” Dr. Towns state that “The convicting, convincing, converting argument as being one of the ways that proves the Bible to be the Word of God.”
b. Biblical Foundation
The Bible has many personal testimonies. Luke 8:35-39 we experience the great power of Jesus when he cast out demons from a man who had been possessed. The man had asked if he could go with Jesus and Jesus says “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” The man was commanded by Jesus to share his experience so others would see and believe. In the book of Mark Jesus speaks of the greatest command, go and preach the gospel to all creation, Jesus again commands us to share our testimonies with others.
c. Practical Application
Power testimonies will change life’s not just yours but others, when I think of a particular personal testimony that impacted me I think of Raul Ries from Calvary Chapel. My mom and I visited Calvary Chapel about 20 years ago in Diamond Bar, Ca...