Go Tell It | How Sharing Your Story Can Slay Dragons

Devotional

Day 1: Your Story Has Power to Change Lives

Every follower of Jesus has a story worth sharing, no matter how ordinary or broken it may seem, because God uses our testimonies to bring hope and transformation to others.
Someone needs to hear your story. You may feel like your past disqualifies you, or that your journey isn’t dramatic enough to matter, but that is a lie from the enemy. God delights in using ordinary people and their real experiences to reach others. Whether your story is about finding peace in a hard season, being set free from addiction, or simply discovering grace, your testimony is a living receipt of God’s work in your life. When you share it, you become part of God’s plan to bring freedom and hope to those around you. [05:14]

Romans 10:14 (ESV)
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear your story of meeting Jesus, and what is one step you can take this week to share it with them?

Day 2: The Good News Is for Everyone

The gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, offering grace and new life to all who believe, regardless of their past.
The heart of the gospel is not self-improvement or religious striving, but the life-changing reality that Jesus, the God-man, came for us. He died for our sins, rose again, and now offers us grace—undeserved favor and a new identity. No one is too far gone, too broken, or too ordinary to receive this gift. The story of the woman at the well shows that Jesus meets us in our shame and offers us belonging and worth. When we receive this good news, our lives are transformed, and we are invited to share that hope with others. [08:48]

John 4:17-18, 28-29, 39 (ESV)
The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” ... So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” ... Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

Reflection: What part of your story reveals God’s grace to you, and how can you let that truth shape the way you see yourself and others today?

Day 3: Sharing Your Story Silences Lies and Sets People Free

When you share your testimony, you participate in God’s victory over the enemy’s lies, bringing freedom and hope to yourself and others.
The enemy, called the accuser, works tirelessly to convince us and those we love that we are unworthy, unforgivable, or beyond hope. But Revelation tells us that the accuser is defeated “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Your story is a weapon against the lies that keep people trapped in shame and despair. Every time you speak of what Jesus has done for you, you hold up the receipt of your freedom and transformation, reminding yourself and others that God’s grace is real and available. [27:41]

Revelation 12:10-11 (ESV)
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

Reflection: What is one lie the enemy has tried to make you believe about yourself, and how does your story with Jesus refute that lie?

Day 4: You Are Saved and Sent

If you have met Jesus, you are not only saved by grace but also sent to share that grace with others in your everyday life.
Salvation is not the end of your story—it’s the beginning of your mission. Ephesians reminds us that we were dead in our sins, but by grace we have been saved. Now, like those who first brought the good news to us, we are sent to our families, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. You may be the only sermon someone ever hears. God has uniquely positioned you to reach people who may never step into a church, and your willingness to share your story could be the invitation that changes their eternity. [30:27]

Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-10 (ESV)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—... For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflection: Where has God sent you this week—at home, work, or school—and how can you intentionally live as someone sent to share His grace?

Day 5: Take the Next Step—Write and Share Your Story

God calls you to take practical steps: reflect on your journey, write out your story, and boldly invite someone to experience Jesus with you.
It’s easy to hear about sharing your story and feel inspired, but God invites you to act. Take time to write out your story using the simple framework: before Jesus, meeting Jesus, and life now. This isn’t about crafting a perfect speech, but about internalizing what God has done for you so you’re ready to share it. Then, ask God to show you who needs an invitation—whether to church, a revival, or simply a conversation about faith. Trust that God will use your obedience, and remember that most people are more open than you think. Your step of faith could be the beginning of someone else’s transformation. [32:27]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV)
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Reflection: Will you set aside time today to write out your story and pray for the courage to invite someone into what God is doing? Who is God putting on your heart right now?

Sermon Summary

God is on the move, stirring hearts and transforming lives in ways that are both personal and powerful. Stories of revival are already unfolding among us—like the students at Batavia High School, who, through their own initiative and courage, saw dozens of their peers respond to Jesus. This is a reminder that God works through ordinary people who are willing to share what He’s done in their lives. Each of us has a story, and that story is a tool God uses to bring hope and freedom to others.

Too often, we believe the lie that our story isn’t worth sharing, or that our past disqualifies us from being used by God. But the truth is, Jesus meets us in our brokenness, shame, and even our ordinariness, and He brings resurrection and grace. The story of the woman at the well shows us that Jesus doesn’t define us by our failures, but by His love and purpose for us. When we encounter Jesus, our lives are changed, and that change is meant to be shared.

Sharing our story isn’t about having all the answers or being perfect. It’s about being honest about who we were before Jesus, how we met Him, and what our life is like now. This simple framework—before Jesus, meeting Jesus, life now—applies to every follower of Christ, whether your story is dramatic or seemingly ordinary. The power isn’t in the details, but in the reality that Jesus saves, transforms, and sends us out to reach others.

There is a spiritual battle at play. The enemy wants to silence us, to keep us from sharing the hope we’ve found. But Scripture tells us that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Our stories have the power to silence lies, break chains, and even “slay dragons” in the lives of those around us. We are not just saved; we are sent. God has placed us in our families, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods to be the only “sermon” some people will ever hear.

This week, the challenge is clear: write out your story using the simple framework, and then invite someone to experience what God is doing. Don’t underestimate the impact of your invitation or your testimony. God is already at work, and He wants to use you to bring others into His transforming presence.

Key Takeaways

1. Your story matters, no matter how ordinary or broken it may seem. The enemy’s greatest tactic is to convince you that your story is insignificant or disqualifying, but God delights in using the humble and the overlooked to display His grace and power. When you share your story, you participate in God’s redemptive work in the world. [05:00]
2. The gospel is not about self-improvement or religious striving; it is about Jesus—His death, resurrection, and the grace He freely gives. Our stories are not centered on our achievements, but on the transformation that comes from encountering Christ. This grace is what sets us free and gives us a new identity, regardless of our past. [07:24]
3. Sharing your story is both a privilege and a responsibility. God has uniquely positioned you to reach people in your sphere of influence who may never step into a church. You are someone’s only sermon, and your willingness to speak can be the catalyst for someone else’s encounter with Jesus. [30:39]
4. There is spiritual power in your testimony. Revelation teaches that we overcome the enemy not just by what Jesus has done, but by declaring it through our own lives. Every time you share your story, you hold up the “receipt” of God’s grace, silencing the lies of the accuser and opening the door for others to experience freedom. [27:41]
5. Practical obedience is key: take time to write out your story—before Jesus, meeting Jesus, life now—and pray about who God is prompting you to invite into His presence. Simple acts of faith, like sharing your story or extending an invitation, can have eternal impact when surrendered to God’s purposes. [32:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Man Camp Recap & Revival Updates
[01:00] - Batavia High School Story
[02:44] - The Power of Sharing Your Story
[04:03] - You Have a Spiritual Enemy
[05:40] - The Challenge and Opportunity of Evangelism
[06:39] - What is the Good News?
[09:24] - How to Share Your Jesus Story
[11:55] - Common Threads in Every Jesus Story
[13:31] - The Woman at the Well: A Biblical Example
[17:46] - Modern Stories of Transformation
[24:21] - You Have a Story to Tell
[24:54] - The Power of Testimony in Spiritual Warfare
[29:21] - Saved and Sent: Our Calling
[32:15] - The Challenge: Write and Share Your Story
[35:27] - Praying for Invitations
[37:09] - Invitation to Receive Jesus
[39:09] - Closing Prayer and Sending

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

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### Bible Reading

**John 4:17-18, 29, 39 (ESV)**
> 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
> 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”
> 39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

**Revelation 12:10-11 (ESV)**
> 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
> 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

**Romans 10:14-15 (ESV)**
> 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
> 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

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### Observation Questions

In the story of the woman at the well (John 4), what details do we learn about her life before meeting Jesus, and how does Jesus respond to her situation?
According to Revelation 12:11, what two things are said to help believers overcome the enemy?
In Romans 10:14-15, what is the connection between being “sent” and people coming to faith?
The sermon described a real-life example of students at Batavia High School sharing their stories. What happened as a result of their willingness to speak up? [[01:55]]

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### Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to reveal himself to someone like the woman at the well, who was considered an outcast? What does this say about who God uses? [[15:19]]
The sermon says, “You are someone’s only sermon.” What does this mean, and how does it relate to the idea of being “sent” in Romans 10? [[30:39]]
Revelation 12:11 talks about overcoming “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Why do you think sharing your story is so spiritually powerful? [[27:41]]
The enemy is called “the accuser” in both the sermon and Revelation. How does sharing your story help silence the lies of the accuser? [[25:18]]

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### Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to write out our story using the framework: before Jesus, meeting Jesus, and life now. What would each of those sections look like for you? Is there a part that feels hard to share? Why? [[32:15]]
Have you ever believed the lie that your story is too ordinary or too broken to be used by God? What would it look like to trust that God wants to use your story, just as it is? [[05:00]]
Think of someone in your life who might never come to church but could hear about Jesus through you. What is one step you could take this week to share your story or invite them into what God is doing? [[30:39]]
The woman at the well immediately went and told her community about Jesus. What holds you back from sharing your story with others? How can you take a step of courage this week? [[16:51]]
The sermon says there is a spiritual battle, and the enemy wants to keep us silent. What are some practical ways you can push past fear or shame and speak up about what God has done in your life? [[27:41]]
The students at Batavia High School saw dozens respond to Jesus because they were willing to share. What could happen in your family, school, or workplace if you took a similar risk? [[01:55]]
Who is one person God might be prompting you to invite to church or to a spiritual conversation this week? Will you commit to praying for them and reaching out? [[34:19]]

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**Challenge for the Week:**
Take time in the next 24 hours to write out your story using the “before Jesus, meeting Jesus, life now” framework. Pray and ask God to show you who needs to hear it, and then take a step to share or invite. Don’t underestimate the impact of your story—God is already at work! [[32:15]]

Sermon Clips

I love what she said that this good news is about Jesus. It's not about me, not about, hey, let me give you some helpful principles to make your life better. No, there is a God, man, Jesus, who came for you. It's about Jesus. It's also about our sin. The understanding is Jesus had to come because apart from his rescue through his death on the cross, you and I would be forever separated from God, forever separated from life. We all sin. We all have sin. And because of that, we're separated from God. We needed Jesus to come. But here's the good news. He came, he died and he rose again. [00:07:34] (38 seconds) #JesusRescuesAll

Number one, when we met Jesus, we met change, didn't we? We met change. Like, if you think you're going to say yes to Jesus and then just continue on with the life you had before, I'm sorry, that is not going to happen. One of the things I can promise you is that Jesus is going to change your life. He's going to change your life. Somebody put it this way. He loves you right where you are and loves you too much to keep you there. And so he's going to change your life. [00:11:51] (26 seconds) #JesusTransformsLives

Let me tell you why she was so excited to share about Jesus with her friends and family. Because she said Jesus knew everything about me, but he didn't define me by my past. He knew everything I had ever done, but he didn't make me feel ashamed. This is what Jesus does for people. Her meeting Jesus was a shift from shame to realizing she can belong in the family of God. It was from unworthiness. To worthiness. Some of us had that story of how we felt unworthy. But we met Jesus and now we know we're worthy. It doesn't make sense on paper when you look at my past. But Jesus told me I'm worthy. Come see a man who has told me everything I've ever done. Could this be the Christ? [00:16:07] (43 seconds) #FromShameToWorthiness

``Why should you share your story? Why is it important that you open your mouth? It's because your story has the power to silence lies and slay a dragon. The dragon that lies to your friends, the dragon that lies to your family members, the dragon that's telling them things about God that aren't true, the dragon that's telling them things about you that aren't true, somehow in God's cosmic equation, you opening your mouth is part of how Satan gets defeated in the lives of other people. [00:27:41] (29 seconds) #SilenceLiesSlayDragons

Because if you've met Jesus, you've been saved. You've been saved. Ephesians 2 puts it very clear. Before Jesus, we are dead in our sins. Helpless in our sins. But I love how that verse concludes. It says, but by grace, you have been saved. Who needs grace? The drug dealer and your favorite grandma both need grace. The stay-at-home mom and the guy who's working on Wall Street both need the same kind of grace. Let me tell you, we all need grace. And because of Jesus, we can receive it. If you have met Jesus, you are saved. [00:29:21] (37 seconds) #SavedByGrace

You are someone's only sermon. I just want that to sink in. You're someone's only sermon. You know there's somebody in your life. They ain't about to come here on a Sunday with you. Not yet. they darn sure are not coming when the Bengals are playing. They're not coming. But this week, you're sent. And you can be the sermon that they need. You sharing your story can be the story they need to hear to know that God still loves them. They're not too far gone. You are someone's only sermon. [00:30:42] (37 seconds) #YouAreSent

I believe God wants to transform the lives of thousands of people. And you're connected to those thousands of people. And I believe if it's going to happen, you're going to be a part of it. I believe that you are not called to be on the sidelines. You're not called to silence your story. You're called to go and tell it. Because when you do, it silences lies and slays dragons for people. [00:31:52] (20 seconds) #BeTheSermon

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