Testimony_of_Transformation-2.pdf

Devotional

Day 1: Name the past so grace can shine

When people try to follow Jesus, the impulse to hide the worst parts of their story is strong. Yet honest naming of what happened—what was said, believed, and done—creates a stage for God’s grace to be seen. When you stop polishing the past and instead place it before God, the scandal of grace becomes visible: what once condemned now displays God’s mercy.

Naming the past does not mean reliving it for shame’s sake but telling the truth so healing can begin. Confession and honest testimony free others to hope, because they see that transformation is not a cover-up but a real change rooted in God’s work. Your openness about who you were helps others imagine how God might rewrite their story, too.

Psalm 32:3-5 (ESV)
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Reflection: Identify one part of your past you have kept quiet out of shame. Write one short paragraph describing it, then pray and confess it to God today; consider sharing that paragraph with one trusted person by tomorrow to allow grace to work more publicly.

Day 2: From habit change to new identity in Christ

People can form new behaviors—stop a habit, set a routine, take a course—but habits alone do not rewrite the heart. True transformation changes who you are at the core. When Christ shapes identity, everyday choices begin to flow from a new standing: not trying harder to earn love, but living out what has already been given.

This means discipling the heart, not just the calendar. Anchor your small practices—prayer, Bible reading, acts of service—in the truth that you are a renewed person in Christ. When identity is received, habits become expressions of what you already are instead of attempts to manufacture worth.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV)
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Reflection: Choose one behavior you are trying to change. Ask: if I truly believed I am a child of God, how would I practice this change differently? Write one concrete habit (when, where, how) that flows from identity (e.g., morning five-minute prayer saying “I am…”), and begin that practice tomorrow morning.

Day 3: Make your story point to Jesus' work

A testimony that centers personal willpower or success misses its mark. Stories are powerful when they show the before, the turning point, and the now—always pointing to what God did, not what you accomplished. When testimony highlights God’s intervention, it becomes a signpost that directs people away from self-reliance and toward the only One who can redeem.

Telling your story with humility also guards against pride. Keep the spotlight on Christ by briefly naming the struggle, clearly stating what God did, and offering a simple invitation to others to meet that same Savior. Your testimony should open the door for others to ask questions and seek God, not admire you.

Revelation 12:11 (ESV)
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: Draft a 60-second version of your testimony that follows this structure: one sentence about life before Christ, one sentence about what Jesus did, and one sentence about life now. Practice it aloud once, then share it with one person this week or with a small group meeting.

Day 4: Every heart longs; Christ alone fulfills

Longing for change is universal—people search for meaning through jobs, relationships, substances, or reinvention. That ache is real and worthy of compassion. Yet every substitute falls short because the heart’s deepest need is for belonging, purpose, and restored relationship with God, which only Christ can satisfy.

This should shape how the church responds: with empathy and patience, not quick fixes or judgment. Meet seekers where they are, listen to their longings, and point them to the One whose presence fills the deepest ache. Your compassion becomes credible when it is rooted in the confidence that Jesus alone can satisfy that longing.

Hosea 2:14-15 (ESV)
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.
And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope, and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth.

Reflection: Make a list of three people in your circles who are searching or restless. Choose one and invite them for a coffee or a walk this week with the sole aim of listening (not fixing). Pray beforehand that God would give you words of hope and an ear to hear their longings.

Day 5: Receive your identity as a gift, not performance

The culture pressures people to prove worth through achievement, status, or approval. The gospel says something different: identity is given. You are known, loved, and adopted because of Christ’s work, not your résumé. Receiving this truth brings rest and frees you from the exhausting cycle of trying to earn belonging.

Practically, receiving identity looks like regularly resting in what Christ has done—through simple declarations, sacramental rhythms, and moments of gratitude. Practice saying and believing scriptural truths about who you are, and watch how those truths reshape decisions, ambitions, and relationships from the inside out.

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Reflection: Identify one identity claim you lean on for worth (e.g., my job title, my parenting, my reputation). Write down one specific thing you would stop doing this week if you truly received your identity from Christ. Then, every morning this week, speak one Scripture-based identity statement aloud for 30 seconds (for example: “I am God’s child, justified by grace”) and notice how it shapes your day.

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon**

This morning’s sermon explored Acts 26, where Paul stands before King Agrippa and shares his testimony—not just as a defense, but as a declaration of the transforming power of Christ. We looked at how Paul’s story, marked by a dramatic shift from persecutor to apostle, is a model for how Jesus rewrites our stories and gives us a new identity. The message challenged us to consider why our testimonies matter, especially in a culture obsessed with self-invention and identity confusion. We were reminded that while people can change behaviors or circumstances, only Jesus can truly transform our identity at its core. Our testimonies are not about glorifying the past, but about making visible the miracle of transformation that only Christ can accomplish, offering hope to a world desperate for something real and lasting.

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Key Takeaways

1. Transformation Requires Honesty About the Past Paul’s example in Acts 26 shows us that true transformation doesn’t come from erasing or hiding our past, but from naming it and allowing Christ’s work to be seen against that backdrop. When we are honest about who we were, we make space for others to see the depth of God’s grace. Avoiding our past out of shame only robs the gospel of its power to redeem. Authenticity about our journey invites others to hope for their own transformation.
2. Only Christ Can Transform Identity, Not Just Behavior Human effort can bring about change—new habits, new routines, even new labels—but only Jesus can fundamentally transform who we are. The difference between change and transformation is the difference between surface adjustments and a new creation. Our culture offers endless ways to reinvent ourselves, but only Christ offers a new, true identity that is secure and lasting.
3. Testimonies Are Markers of God’s Power, Not Self-Improvement Sharing our testimony isn’t about self-promotion or highlighting our willpower; it’s about pointing to the One who intervened and made us new. Our stories become signposts that declare, “Here’s what once was, and here is what now is because of Jesus.” In a world drowning in self-help and self-invention, our testimonies offer a different kind of hope—one rooted in God’s ability to do what we cannot.
4. The Desire for Transformation Is Universal, but Its Fulfillment Is Found in Christ The ache for transformation is woven into every human heart, whether it’s seen in addiction recovery, career reinvention, or even the deep pain of identity struggles. While the world chases relief through self-made changes, the gospel offers true transformation—a new standing, a new belonging, and a new purpose. Our compassion for those who are searching should be deep, because we know the only source of lasting transformation is Jesus.
5. Our New Identity Is Received, Not Achieved In a culture that tells us to define ourselves by achievement, status, or the approval of others, the gospel declares that identity is a gift to be received. We are called children of God, heirs with Christ, a royal priesthood—not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Christ has done for us. This frees us from the exhausting cycle of self-invention and invites us to rest in the security of being known, loved, and transformed by God. Our testimony, then, is an invitation to others to receive what we have received: a new identity in Christ.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Acts 26 & the Power of Testimony**

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### Bible Reading

- **Acts 26** (Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa)
- **2 Corinthians 5:17** – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
- **1 Peter 2:9-10** – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…”

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### Observation Questions

In Acts 26, how does Paul begin his defense before King Agrippa? What parts of his past does he mention, and why do you think he starts there?
According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, what happens to someone who is “in Christ”? How does this connect to Paul’s story?
In 1 Peter 2:9-10, what new identity is given to believers? What words or phrases stand out to you from this passage?
The sermon mentioned that Paul didn’t try to erase or hide his past. What are some specific ways Paul is honest about who he was?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul’s honesty about his past make his testimony more powerful? How might hiding or avoiding the past weaken the message of transformation?
The sermon made a distinction between “change” and “transformation.” What is the difference, and why does it matter for followers of Jesus?
The message said that our culture is obsessed with self-invention and identity confusion. How does the gospel’s offer of a “received” identity challenge or comfort people living in this kind of culture?
According to the sermon, why is it important that our testimonies point to what Christ has done, rather than our own willpower or self-improvement?

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### Application Questions

Are there parts of your own story or past that you tend to hide out of shame or embarrassment? What would it look like to be more honest about those areas, not to glorify them, but to highlight God’s grace?
The sermon said that only Jesus can truly transform our identity, not just our behavior. Are there areas in your life where you’ve tried to “change” yourself without inviting Jesus to transform you? What’s the difference in your experience?
Think about the ways you define yourself—career, achievements, relationships, reputation. How do these compare to the identity God gives you in Christ? Are there any “old labels” you need to let go of?
The message talked about compassion for people who are searching for transformation in all kinds of ways. Is there someone in your life who is struggling with identity or longing for change? How can you offer them hope or encouragement rooted in Christ this week?
When you share your testimony, do you tend to focus more on your own efforts or on what Jesus has done? How could you reframe your story to make Christ the center?
The sermon described our new identity as something “received, not achieved.” What are some practical ways you can remind yourself this week that you are already loved, known, and accepted by God—not because of what you do, but because of what Christ has done?
If you’ve never shared your testimony before, what holds you back? What’s one step you could take this month to share your story of transformation with someone who needs hope?

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Sermon Quotes

The power of Christ turns testimony into transformation. Our stories become markers—signposts—that declare who we are in God’s eyes and who we are now before the world around us.

Hiding the past removes the very foundation that makes transformation visible. If we never acknowledge where we’ve been, how can anyone see the miracle that Jesus performed in our lives?

Transformation is something beyond what we, as created beings, can accomplish on our own. We can modify behavior or shift direction, but only Christ can recreate identity, rewrite story, and make the old truly new.

The desire for transformation is not the problem. That desire is wired into the human soul. The problem is the lie that we can accomplish transformation by ourselves. Only Jesus can transform, rescue, and heal.

In a culture desperate to self-invent, our stories declare the truth: identity is not achieved but received—found fully and finally in Christ.

Maybe you don’t need an identity change. Maybe what you need is an identity transformation. The good news? We have a God who doesn’t just change us—He transforms us.

We love transformation stories because deep inside, we ache for things to become what they should be. Transformation stirs hope in the human heart.

You’re given a new identity, not based on what you’ve done or what you can do, but based entirely on what Christ has done. What Christ accomplished on the cross, what He buried in His death, and what He restored through His resurrection.

Our testimonies matter because they declare: Here’s what once was—and here is what now is. They offer hope in a world drowning in identity confusion.

Every day, God invites us to be transformed more and more into the image of Christ. As the Spirit transforms us, we are called to share the power of that story—how God called us out of darkness and made us a new creation.

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