Over the years, I have had the great joy of hearing many great sermons! While some of them have not stuck in my mind, there have been a few that I have never forgotten and can almost quote verbatim:

In 1976, on the island of Guam, I heard Bruce Wring, who was the church planter and pastor of Harvest Baptist Church preach a message from Luke 23 that he called, “What is Essential for Salvation?” I thought about it over the years, tweaked it a bit, and preached it under the title “Dr. Luke’s Prescription for Life.”

While I was a student at Tennessee Temple University, I heard Dr. Lee Roberson preach a sermon he called, “One Saving Gospel, Only One!” While I have to confess that I do not remember most of that message, the title has stuck in my mind and I have shared that idea in several sermons and in my personal witnessing for years.

When I was serving as the Associational Missionary for Central Baptist Association, I often had the blessing of hearing our pastors preach. On a Wednesday night, I heard Pat Pajak preach a summary of the entire Song of Solomon in a single sermon! As dignified as I always try to be, I about jumped up out of my seat! (I did, in fact, stand up at the end of the sermon and began to applaud loudly. When I got “the looks” from the crowd, I simply told them, “I hope you appreciate what you are hearing here!)

It is likely true that the most profound series of sermons I have ever listened to is, “The Holiness of God” by Dr. R.C. Sproul. Dr. Sproul is one of my favorite Bible teachers and that series in particular has blessed – and continues to bless – my soul. I have the sermon, the series, and the book. On Father’s Day 2011, we gave out 100 of the books at our church!

If it is possible to say that a single sermon has done more for me than any other sermon ever, I would say that Dr. John Gerstner’s sermon on “Regeneration” would be that one sermon. I had been struggling for some time to settle (at least in my own mind) the Doctrines of Grace and just exactly how God saves sinners.

During that message, Dr. Gerstner said three words that opened all of the windows of heaven for me! He said, “regeneration precedes faith.” The instant I heard those words, I yelled, “Of course it does!” From that time to this, my fresh understanding and the clear teaching of Scripture on this subject has blessed me every time I think of it.

I have no illusions about asking a member of my church what I preached on one month ago. Usually, I cannot remember what I preached on one month ago – except that it was likely in The Book of Acts.

*Actually, one month ago this Sunday was VBS Family Day and I preached on, “Successful Parenting.”

Whether or not our members remember my sermons from week to week or even month to month, or, if they have a memorable sermon memorized from the past; there is one sermon that every Christian knows by heart, and that is their own personal testimony!

As the Lord allows, I will continue my verse-by-verse exposition of Acts next Sunday with a sermon from Acts 22:1-21 on the subject of Paul sharing his personal testimony. God inspired him to record his testimony three times in Acts. (9:1-9; 22:1-16; and 26:1-18)

You may not think that you know much about theology or any of the rules of homiletics, but, you know the most important thing in the world if you are a Christian – you know how to become a Christian! And since there is only one way to become a Christian, you know the only way anyone can be saved.

As you read over these twenty-one verses before Sunday in preparation for hearing the Word of God, think about these questions:

What two facts about your belief are vitally important for you to defend to those who ask you about your faith?

Paul spoke to the crowd in Hebrew. What does that choice of his teach us about the kind of words we need to use when we share our testimony with others?

Where did Paul start when he told his story? Where should you and I start when we begin telling people our story?

Paul took most of the time giving them some very important facts. What facts did he share, and how does what he did relate to what you and I must do?

How did Paul end his testimony? Obviously, his presentation of his salvation story is a great model for how we ought to share our story. What can we learn from how he ended his testimony?

When Paul was saved, what did he see?

When Paul was saved, what did God command him to do?

When Paul was saved, how did he react?

What does all of that have to do with how you and I live our lives?

Verse 16 is a controversial verse. If you are good with grammar, think about what Paul was to do that would, “wash away your sins.”

OK, so as you read these verses, think about three key lessons:

When we share our personal testimony, we need to start by telling people about our life _________ we met Jesus!

When we share our personal testimony, we need to tell people ________ we were saved!

When we share our personal testimony, we need to close by telling people how our life has ___________ since we were saved!

I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!