During my freshman year in college, I had only been a Christian for a few months when I was asked to share my testimony with a church youth group. I recall asking someone who was mentoring or discipling me, “What is a testimony?” I had no clue! I’m glad he provided some guidelines because, to my surprise, the small youth group became more than 300 once they discovered I was a Nebraska football player. While there wasn’t the crazed social media and celebrity culture in the late 1970s, there has long been a celebrity status for Nebraska football players and coaches in the state.

Acts 22 – Use Your Platform

I learned a lot from sharing my testimony that day. First, it was clear the Lord could use the platform of sports to allow me to proclaim the gospel. That eventually led me to spend the next 40 years coaching athletes and serving as a volunteer or staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes before starting Kingdom Sports with Ron Brown. Likewise, Paul used his platform and believed evangelism to be his main purpose for living. In Acts 22, he viewed his circumstances as an opportunity to testify or create more opportunities for witnessing.

It’s hard for someone to argue with your personal experience. Paul testified that he had redemption in Jesus Christ and that no one is beyond the saving grace of the Lord.

My mentor told me to outline my testimony with these three simple points. 1. My life before Christ. 2. How I came to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 3. My life after Christ. I was also encouraged to focus on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete testify to their personal knowledge or experience of their Christian conversion, which includes details about Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

Journaling helps you understand and respond to the Bible. As you journal, use the acronym HEAR to Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond to what you have read in the reading plan.

Bible Memory Verse – “…And He [Lord] said to me [Paul], ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Acts 22:21 LSB

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Minute on Winning Witness