Tell Your Story

If I asked you where to get your favorite pizza, you could probably name two or three places without thinking very hard. You would not need to do research. The answer would come naturally because it is part of your experience.

But if someone asked, “Why are you a Christian?” many of us would freeze. Even pastors can make that question more complicated than it needs to be. Where do I start? How much theology do I need to explain?

What if sharing your faith begins with something you already know—your own story?

That is exactly what we see in Acts 26.

Our story isn’t ultimately about us. It’s about what Jesus has done for us.

Our Story Begins With Our Past

For much of the second half of Acts, Paul travels throughout the Roman world telling people about Jesus. Eventually he returns to Jerusalem, where he is falsely accused and arrested. What follows is a series of hearings before political leaders.

One of those rulers is Festus. Paul eventually exercises his right as a Roman citizen and appeals his case directly to Caesar. Before he is sent to Rome, another ruler arrives: King Agrippa.

Agrippa gives Paul permission to speak, and Paul begins with his past.

“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9).

Paul does not hide the ugly parts of his story. He talks openly about imprisoning Christians, supporting their punishment, and trying to force believers to deny their faith.

Paul is not trying to show Agrippa how impressive he was. He is showing him how much he needed grace.

That is an important part of telling our story. We do not need to pretend our past was better than it was. Grace shines brightest when we are honest about how much we needed it.

But Paul’s past is not the center of his story.

The Center of Our Story Is Jesus

Paul tells Agrippa about traveling to Damascus with authority to arrest Christians. In the middle of the day, a light brighter than the sun surrounds him. Paul falls to the ground and hears a voice: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Paul asks, “Who are you, Lord?”

The answer changes everything: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

This is the turning point in Paul’s story. His testimony is not, “I finally figured life out.”

It is much simpler: “I met Jesus.”

Paul was not looking for Jesus. Jesus came looking for him.

And Jesus did not simply save Paul from something. He called Paul to something.

Jesus tells him, “I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness” (Acts 26:16). Paul receives a new identity, a new direction, and a new purpose.

That is what Jesus still does. He does not merely forgive our past. He begins reshaping our future.

Grace Changes the Way We Live

Paul continues:

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven” (Acts 26:19).

He explains that he preached that people should repent, turn to God, and demonstrate their repentance by the way they lived.

Let’s be clear: changing his behavior did not save Paul.

But encountering Jesus changed Paul’s behavior.

That is why following Jesus is more than saying, “I prayed a prayer years ago.” The Christian life includes the ongoing story of what Jesus is still doing in us.

He keeps shaping our priorities. He keeps confronting our pride. He keeps teaching us to forgive. He keeps forming us into people who look more like Him.

Our story includes not only how we came to faith, but how Jesus continues changing us.

Tell the Story, Not Just the Argument

As Paul speaks, Festus interrupts him: “You are out of your mind, Paul!”

Agrippa is not convinced either.

Paul could have become defensive. He could have tried to win the argument. Instead, he keeps the focus on Jesus.

He tells Agrippa that his hope is that everyone listening would experience what he has experienced through Christ.

Paul did not choose his circumstances, but he recognized the opportunity.

That is a good reminder for us. When we share our faith, not everyone will respond positively. Some people may disagree. Some may dismiss us. Some may not be ready.

Our responsibility is not to force a response. Our responsibility is to faithfully tell what Jesus has done.

How Do I Tell My Story?

If you are following Jesus, you have a story. And you do not need to make it complicated. Start by answering three questions:

What was my life like before I trusted Jesus?

What led me to put my faith in Jesus?

What is Jesus doing in my life now?

Your story may include chapters you are ashamed of. Paul certainly had some. God’s grace can redeem even the worst chapters.

Maybe you grew up around Jesus and cannot remember a time when you did not believe. That is part of your story too. You can still explain why you continue to follow Him and how He continues to shape your life.

Maybe you are still exploring Christianity. Paul’s conversation with Agrippa raises a question worth considering: What do you believe about Jesus?

But for those of us who already follow Christ, the challenge is simple:

Ask God to show you who may need to hear your story.

Then look for a natural opportunity to say:

“Can I tell you what Jesus has done in my life?”

You do not need a perfect presentation. You do not need to know the answer to every question. You simply need to be honest about what Jesus has done.

Because ultimately, our story is not about us.

It is about what Jesus has done for us.