Reflection Paper 1
February 10, 2013
Theo 104
Reflection Paper #1
I. Introduction
This paper will be written to discuss ideas that have been discussed in Theology 104. This class has covered such a wide range of topics in just the first 4 weeks. The 2 topics I have decided to write about are the importance of personal testimonies and God’s grace.
II. Part One a. Theological Definition
A testimony is how one person’s Christian walk came to be. They are used to show how someone was saved. It tells about their life experiences as a Christian, or how they came to Christ. Typically people share their testimony as an evangelical aid. A testimony could also be shared to give encouragement to struggling Christians. Dr. Towns states in the presentation “Arguments that the Bible is the word of God” that “the convicting, convincing, converting argument as being one of the ways that proves the Bible to be the Word of God.” b. Biblical Foundation
Testimonies are all throughout the Bible. In Mark 5, where Jesus casts out spirits from the possessed man, Jesus tells him “ "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." One can see here that not only does Jesus ask this man to go tell others about his experience He commands it. We also see the greatest command in regard to testimony, which also comes from, Mark, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
c. Practical application
Testimonies can bring even more power to the already powerful gospel story. When I think of powerful testimonies I think of Billy Sunday’s testimony. Sunday was a professional baseball player, and was also a drunk. Sunday was drunk one day with a few of his buddies, and someone invited him to the Pacific Garden Mission where he was saved.
III. Part Two a. Theological definition
God’s Grace could be described as Him giving us things we do not deserve. The dictionary definition of grace is mercy. God demonstrated mercy when he
Theo 104
Reflection Paper #1
I. Introduction
This paper will be written to discuss ideas that have been discussed in Theology 104. This class has covered such a wide range of topics in just the first 4 weeks. The 2 topics I have decided to write about are the importance of personal testimonies and God’s grace.
II. Part One a. Theological Definition
A testimony is how one person’s Christian walk came to be. They are used to show how someone was saved. It tells about their life experiences as a Christian, or how they came to Christ. Typically people share their testimony as an evangelical aid. A testimony could also be shared to give encouragement to struggling Christians. Dr. Towns states in the presentation “Arguments that the Bible is the word of God” that “the convicting, convincing, converting argument as being one of the ways that proves the Bible to be the Word of God.” b. Biblical Foundation
Testimonies are all throughout the Bible. In Mark 5, where Jesus casts out spirits from the possessed man, Jesus tells him “ "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." One can see here that not only does Jesus ask this man to go tell others about his experience He commands it. We also see the greatest command in regard to testimony, which also comes from, Mark, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
c. Practical application
Testimonies can bring even more power to the already powerful gospel story. When I think of powerful testimonies I think of Billy Sunday’s testimony. Sunday was a professional baseball player, and was also a drunk. Sunday was drunk one day with a few of his buddies, and someone invited him to the Pacific Garden Mission where he was saved.
III. Part Two a. Theological definition
God’s Grace could be described as Him giving us things we do not deserve. The dictionary definition of grace is mercy. God demonstrated mercy when he