Intro:

• God’s been good to us as a church
  • Since last year at this time we’ve added 3 new campuses
• We announced “Build Your Church”
  • Coming together April 21 to share what we believe God will do through us towards this project. 

Hook:

• What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever seen?
  • Grandfather seeing Facetime
  • Me seeing car accident
  • I want to talk about some eyewitness stuff

Message Intro

1 John 1:1–3 (NLT) — 1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard (Sermon Title) so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Testimonies are a powerful thing 

• Court case testimonies
• Corroborated claims
  • When one witness says something it’s isolated, when two, it grows, when crowds say something, it’s almost undeniable. 

Passage

2 Peter 1:16–19 (NLT) — 16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes 17 when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” 18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

The rapid spread of Christianity was because of the volume of FIRST HAND, eye witness accounts.

• These weren’t the claims of one man.
• They were the claims of many:
• 1 Corinthians 15:3–9 (NLT) — 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

1. The Testimony of the Prophets
   1. Most theologians say 300
      1. His birth in Bethlehem
      2. His ministry in Galilee
      3. His death on a cross
      4. His burial in a rich man’s grave
      5. His resurrection
2. The Testimony of the Apostles
   1. Peter got up and preached to multitudes and 3000 were converted
   2. The apostles gave witness to:
      1. His way of life
      2. His power
      3. His death
      4. His resurrection
3. The Testimony of the Saints
   1. What we have experienced
      1. My personal testimony
      2. My grandfather, my testimony
   2. What all people that have truly met Jesus can say
      1. I’m transformed
      2. I have peace
      3. I have hope

Question:

Will you believe our testimony?

• Not all will believe
• Some will not believe until they see Him
• The Wright brothers and first flight - December 17, 1903
  • Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first controlled, sustained flight 
• The discovery of DNA - 1953
  • James Watson
• Will you testify that Christ has transformed you, given you peace, given you hope? 
• Will you believe our message?
  • Romans 10:16 (NLT) — 16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “LORD, who has believed our message?”
  • Luke 16:27–31 (NLT) — 27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ 29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ 30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ 31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
• Will you put your faith in Jesus Christ?
• Will you allow him to change you? 
• Will you openly declare that He is Lord?

Really, the crux of the whole conversation is this: DO YOU BELIEVE OUR TESTIMONY?