SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY
- Details
- Published on Friday, 21 October 2011 15:52
- Written by Nick Costello
Your testimony is your personal, unique story about experiences and relationship with Jesus Christ. Everyone has one. It’s your relationship with Jesus. Your personal Jesus story is perhaps your most powerful witnessing tool. Write your story out. Edit it down to 3-5 minutes. Rehearse telling it. Memorize it. Unless you know someone and time allows, few people will listen to a long drawn out story when sharing with them one on one. The following guidelines will help you develop and tell your personal story:
1. Your ‘before’ Christ story: This is your story about what your life was like before you had a relationship with
Jesus. What was your biggest need, struggle or problem? How did it affect you? Where did you turn to find peace,
happiness, security or even to escape your problems? Try to identify with the other person. Maybe you grew up in church.
How did Jesus help you as a Christian through your struggles? How did Jesus help you overcome temptations, get a
victory over some sin?
2. The 'turning point' in your life: What happened in your life and heart to show you Jesus was the answer for
what you needed and only hope of heaven. You recognized you broke God’s laws, a sinner separated from God. You’re
experiencing the fruit of the Christian life after you first recognized you were a sinner, boss of your own life, in need of
God’s forgiveness and needed to trust Him with your life. How did you first hear about Jesus? What were your thoughts
and feelings?
3. Your ‘after’ Christ story: This is your personal praise report of your life today. Tell how your relationship with
Christ has changed your life, thinking, attitude, behavior, etc. etc. You could say things like, “If it weren’t for
Jesus” or “because of my relationship with Jesus”. Tell the difference He’s made in your life and what Jesus means to
you now.. Maybe because of Jesus and being a Christian your whole life, you’ve lived a good, trouble free life because
God’s grace has kept you from doing bad, wicked things. That’s an awesome testimony in today’s world.
4. After you tell your story you could say: “If Jesus can do this for me, I know He can do the same for you. But, it
didn’t happen until I first put my total faith and trust in Jesus, until I gave Him control of my heart and life.”
5. Ask them if they want what you have. Ask: “Have you ever experienced a personal relationship with Jesus Christ like
the one I’ve described? Would you be interested in knowing how to do that?” If they say ‘no’, don’t force them or get
discouraged. Keep loving them, caring about them and praying for them. Trust that God used you to sow Gospel seed into
someone’s heart through your story.
