S2 Ep 8 Practitioner's Podcast: Please Stop Sharing the Same Story: Why Your Old Testimony Isn't Enough

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Well guys on today's episode we're going to dive into an old story in a new way both literally and physically we're going to talk about why it's important for us to stop sharing the same old story and while your old testimony isn't enough. But before we jump in. Justin why don't you hit us up with our random question of the week.

All right Tony. So we just had Halloween not long ago and I want to know what is your favorite costume that you ever dressed up as when you were as a kid when you were. Oh for sure. My favorite costume I ever dressed up as was Frankensteined. And here's why because I painted my entire face. I got that camouflage paint that the army uses.

And I I did my whole thing in green. I made shoes that made me four inches taller. And I put like glued bolts onto my neck. Like I was I was really committed to it. Jacket. Like it was it was the right mixture of creativity and classic Halloween genre. What about you? Well before it gets to me I think it'd be cool to have like a picture of that.

LinkedIn the show notes. I don't know. I'll see if I can find one. I'll see if I can find one. Okay. for me it was and I was. Year after year. Cause I liked it so much. I had a mask that looked like an old man and then I would dress up and like my grandpa's clothes and like hunch over and take Cain.

And so that was mine old man. Now what's interesting is nowadays in school they do the old man thing on a hundred you know a hundred days into your you're a hundred years old. So. But we didn't we never did that that we didn't have that when we were growing up we'd say a lot more schools a lot more fun now than it was when I was there.

That's for sure. This is not that episode though but we are talking about old things. So it's the perfect segue we're talking about. Right? We're talking about this idea of sharing the same old story and our testimony. Well let me just start us off. Right? So we have this idea when you're working with a disciple one of the first things you want to do is help them to be able to tell their story of what's happened in their life as they've before they knew Jesus how they came to know Jesus and after how their life has been doing.

And if you've been around the church at all for any amount of time we call that your personal testimony. And there's a there's an example of that and acts 26 where Paul appears before the king and his sharing basically his testimony those same things of who he was before he encountered Jesus how he encountered Jesus how he's been different after.

And so Tony you've been you've been trained in that before right? Somebody helped you with that story and you've shared it many times.

Yeah. I mean mostly right? Like it was one of those things that I've shared it enough times now where I don't know that I was exactly trained in it as much as I was I learned. And this could be just because I'm a preacher too but I've learned what part of this story is resonate and what part of the story doesn't.

So you know one when I was discipled by. My first spiritual father we never really talked about testimony as a tool like I do today. Like it's it's been developed a little bit more. And part of that is maybe because growing up in the church there was kind of an assumption that you know I knew what my testimony was and I was able to sh.

but I'll say this and the Catholic church that was not that was not a popular thing that happened. Right? Most of the testimony that we shared was about Jesus at the Eucharist. Not as much about our own personal testimony. So when we would talk to people not that we ever really did that much either.

When we would talk to people about the importance of going to mass it was so that they could receive Christ at the Eucharist. And so it was a different kind of testimony. w what's been your experience with it and your training? Yeah. So when I was first discipled the guy was discipling me. He helped me air induce me that framework.

Right? The personal testimony. He helped me develop it and we developed three different ones. So the first one was a three minute version. So three minutes get it tight. You know probably spend a minute on each one of those sections right before how and how you've changed since. and then so I'd work on it.

I'd share it with him then I'd share it with somebody else during the week and you know tighten it up and around when it to be three minutes. Then once I got that then he said all right well let's trim it down to 30 seconds now. And so then we did a 32nd version and then the easy version was the 30 minute version which we also worked on just a little bit.

So it was that sort of equipping so that I could use it in different settings where where it was appropriate for the timeframe. So that's kind of what it was like for me. Do you still know them all? I could still do them all their problem. They're not as tight as they once were but I could get I mean I think we have three minutes in this episode right now.

No I'm kidding. I'm kidding. We don't have three minutes in this episode because we got to get to the important stuff which is about how do we help people establish that three 30 second and 30 minute process when you're working with somebody that you're discipling what are the first steps that you do to talk about that?

that test. Yeah so just kind of the same way I was drained. So I'll take him to acts 26. I'll talk to him about why this is important right. It's important because we need to be able to communicate to others. the difference that Jesus makes in our life and and how that began. Right. And so you know I think of the verse first Peter three 15 but in your heart in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

And and the testimony is a way to do that right? This is the reason. That I believe and follow Jesus. and so yeah so I'll just walk them through and then we'll work on. All right. Tell me the story. What were you like before? How did you come to know him? What do you like now? and so that's kind of the process of getting that three minutes.

Tony have you helped anybody with that? And if so what what do you do? Or how does yeah one of the guys that I have discipled recently we spent some time working on his story and I would say it's about the same. I tend to focus quite a bit on the arc of the story in terms of I really want to dial in on the transformation part of the testimony.

And I think it's probably important for a law. Is it's it's really easy to talk about how crazy you were before you met Christ but let's talk about the transformation in that process because what I've found is while the transformation it doesn't feel as big as it really is. let me let me say that another way.

I think when I work with guys about their story it's hard for them to see how much Christ has changed their lives. Yeah. And so I really want to draw that out in this story and the testimony I really draw out how Christ has transformed them and then they become that new creation in Christ and and how important that is to develop the transformation part.

And so and and to get that into story form like it's important to say Hey I wasn't a bad person before I met Christ but now that I've met Christ and I live with Christ the fullness of my life has kind of come into fruit. You know what I mean? Yeah no I really liked that because there've been so many people I've been around that maybe grew up in the church and you know their distinction between before and.

And after it feels really fuzzy to them. And you know I've had some just to express like not quite shame but like oh my testimony is no good or something like that. And I'm like no no no no. Your testimony is a story of God working in your life. And that is amazing regardless of you know how that unfolded for you.

And it's really part of God's grace in your life that you were. You know brought up in the church or Christian home and there's not a huge you know rebellious period if you will. and so that's something I try to encourage them to. And I like what you said because it does kind of focus more on on the arc and what God has been doing and continues to do.

And so I think that's really really good. yeah so I really like that. Yeah. The other thing that I like what you're saying when we focus on what God's doing is is when we talk about your old story in a new way one of the things that we want to talk about is this idea that your current testimony is important as your.

Testimony and some would even argue it's even more important. allow me to elaborate when God is working in our lives. When we're a believer God should be working in our lives all the time. So when we lean into the disciplines God changes us. When we lean into intentional community God changes us.

When you disciple someone for the first time God's going to change you. And our job is to tell people about that change not just the change you have been walking with Christ now for almost 30 years. Right. And so not just the change that happened 30 years ago but I want to tell people about the change that happened in my life and my testimony a month ago when I started.

You know a little bit more the word that God gave you about a month ago was joyfully obedient. Right? And so now I want to talk about what it means to be joyfully obedient because well I believe that's the way the holy spirit is working in my life today. Does that does that make sense? Yeah no I really love that.

it reminds me of a story and I heard it recently and I don't remember where so but it's almost like if someone were to ask you Hey Tony what's your what's your wife? And and you said oh let me tell you about her. Like before I met her I was like this. And you know I was in the army and kind of lost or whatever.

And then you know I met her and boy we had a great wedding day and you just go into all these details about how that wedding day unfolded and what she was wearing and where you were and what you ate at the reception and all that stuff. And then at the end you're kind of like What's that I said it was beautiful by the way February 15th 2008.

There you go. Yep. And then then you kind of say and so yeah we've been married. I'm sorry. It's 2001. If she listens to this it was on your house

right in the middle of your story. I'm sorry. Keep going. It's more important h? and at the end you're just kinda liking so yeah. We've been married ever since. It's been great. that's okay. That's a fine story but it doesn't really answer my question. About what's your wife like? Right. And so what we're trying to do is we're sharing the story about who Jesus is in our life not just who he's been but who he is.

And so that's what you were just hitting on is we have to be ready to have a current story of how he's. In our life. And you know just as I was really intentional and developing a three-minute version of my my salvation testimony is really what it was. I also have to be diligent and intentional in developing testimony current testimony about what God's doing in my life this week.

Or this month right? So that I'm talking about his current movement in my life because the gospel doesn't just save us from saves us for things. And so as we're becoming these mature disciples and disciple makers You know God's at work in us and because he's at work in us we have things to share with others.

Right. And so I think you know that's why you know our title of episode is stop sharing the same story and your old testimony isn't enough and it's too strong. We don't want you to totally stop but it can't just be all that you share. You gotta have something current about what Jesus is doing in your life now.

and I think that the way you said that is is really important there's a salvation testimony and that's the testimony that brought you to Christ important. Life-changing share it with your grandkids super board but there's also today's testimony. Right. And that's that's equally important. And it reminds me of John.

chapter four the woman at the well you remember that story? Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the well he tells her everything that she's ever done. And then that woman goes on to share her testimony with the town. And this is what it says in John four verse 39. It says many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him him being Jesus because of the woman's testimony.

He told me everything I ever did. So when the Samaritans came to him they urged him to stay with them and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. So so this is what's interesting about that text for me and not to get too preachy here. But the reality is is that woman had not been transformed yet.

She's not through her since. She's not through her struggle she's in the midst of it. And yet she allowed her current testimony to point people back to Jesus and Jesus is who saved them. Right. And and I think that that's a really important reminder for us is that whatever your testimony is today whatever it was back then your testimony does not do the work of saving people for Christ.

Right? Through the power of the holy spirit does the work of saving people for Christ which is why we don't have to get into these comparison trap stories of I don't know if it's good enough. I don't know if this I don't know if it's that the reality is you have a story and you may still be in the middle of it but you still have to be able to do.

Yeah. Yeah absolutely. Well that's a great example too with the woman at the well Tony we we shared last year an individual episode each about disciple-making as an introvert something as an extrovert. What what do you think is the hardest thing for an extrovert when it comes to sharing their salvation testimony or just sharing testimony in jail?

It's the same thing that plagues me around all disciple-making Justin it's intentionality. Right. Because I I you know for me I just want to get up there and talk. And so I'll talk and talk and talk and then I'll lose track of the arc. I'll lose track of the story and then I'll forget why we even started to be.

Right. And so for me I would say that the intentionality of like physically writing it down or jotting down notes or doing those kinds of things ahead of time is probably the hardest part. Okay. w what would you say is the hardest part for an introvert. Thinking of what you're going to say in the moment.

Right. So you know I know in my life there's lots of relational environment or encounters where I'll walk away and be like oh I should've shared this. Or I should've said that. and it's almost it goes right back to that verse. I shared of first Peter three 15 always be ready. And so you know not so much having to write it down but that that idea of thinking on my way to a meeting with somebody.

All right. What do I have to share today about what Jesus is doing in my life this week? And really being intentional about asking that question to myself on the way to that meeting. but then being ready and having a plan to share it. And I don't always follow through that plan but you know in a relational way I want to find a way okay.

When they say how are you doing what's going on? What's new. you know having something to say is probably the biggest challenge for me as an introvert. Sort of setting right? Because it's like well you know if I may in discipling relationships one thing it's not that hard but especially if I'm with a non-Christian friend or just a friend where we're not that deep in spiritual things yet of finding those moments and opportunities to communicate purposefully about what Jesus is doing in my life.

that that's the challenge for me. Yeah. I think it reminds me we had this episode a couple of. Weeks ago at this point. the athlete episode when we talk about the three postures of a disciple-making disciple maker one of the postures that we talked about was the idea of an athlete. And we talked a lot about practice.

The story and the testimony. This is one of those things that you can practice frequently right? You have to practice your story whether you're an introvert or extrovert practice practice practice reps reps reps and and it's you know it's one of those important things that we can get better at as time goes on.

And. And it reminds us it challenges me at least to surround myself with some non-Christians. I have some people that to share this story with you know what I mean? Right. Yeah. No that's a good word practice right. Because if we're not practicing and working on it we're probably not going to improve in it.

the other thing that that I'm thinking about now is all right what's the impact of if we practice. Sharing our our stories right? Not just our testimony but the stories of what God's doing in our life. The impact of that on those that we're working with on those that were in relationship with on ourselves even that we bring those things back up to our level of consciousness and remember and be thankful for what God is is doing and has done I think was really powerful.

And it really helps us as disciple makers not just to. Help infant disciples grow to maturity but it also helps people that aren't yet disciples come to know Jesus and then hopefully by God's grace they will become disciples who make disciples. And that's really that's what we're about. That's the heart of disciple making is not just helping those who already know Jesus.

It's helping those who already know Jesus so that all of us can get to those that don't know him. And we have to be modeling that ourselves and you know sharing our testimony. And our stories of what God's doing in our life is super important and a big part of that. So yeah I think I'm really excited about what we've talked about today and that idea that you know we have to be willing to be intentional on this.

If we're going to improve in it and practice sharing your story. Tony how about our takeaway actions to sure your story today right? Sharing your story as a discipline be ready to share your story today. The action step this week. Justin. And I want to challenge you is to tell someone how Jesus has changing you today.

Right? Tell someone how Jesus has changing you today even if you don't know the answer. Yeah. Right. Even if it's not clean and clear cut the action. Step tell someone how Jesus has changed you or how you're living in the tension of it all. it's so important that we continue to to practice these disciplines that we get better at them so that we can help someone else follow Jesus.

Thank you guys so much for being with us today on this this episode of the practitioners podcast do us a favor hit that subscribe button wherever you listen to podcasts leave us a rating or review on iTunes. And if you could please share this episode with a friend it goes a long way to help spread the word about what God is doing on and through this platform as always Justin and I are so incredibly grateful to be on this journey with you.

Thank you guys so much. We'll see you.