Testimony – Sharing Your Story
Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart.
1 John 5:10 (NIV)
My testimony is: telling someone what has happened in my life
I know this: I was blind, and now I can see! John 9:25 (NLT)
John faithfully reported the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ – everything he saw. Revelation 1:2 (NLT)
What are the ways I share my story?
1. The way I live.
Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16 (NLT)
What are some ways that we could let our lights shine?
Is it hard to tell when the light is on or off? Not usually? Why? Because the light makes so much difference? When we live our lives like Jesus lived, we bring light to our streets, neighborhood, state, nation, and our world.
Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…. Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)
Wow! What a statement. Make the most of every opportunity. I think one of the most difficult times to figure out how you’re supposed to live this life as a Christian, happens near the beginning of your walk with Christ, right after you become a believer. It’s a common struggle. Let’s watch this video.
Show video tape of drama sketch “First Day Jitters.”
I want you to know that if you just live right, that’s not enough. It takes more than that to share your story. Here’s the second thing…
2. What I say.
Tell everyone you meet what He has done! Psalm 105:1b (MSG)
How we live and what we say are like two prongs on a pair of tongs or two sides to scissors…one without the other is ineffective. Living our faith without talking about it, or talking about it without living it always comes up empty. We need both.
Let’s say you see someone along the road with a flat tire. Their hood is up and they’re in distress. You stop and offer assistance. They have no spare. You drive them to the next exit and get their tire fixed. You drive them back and help them put it back on. You wait until they make it back to the road. They compliment you, they appreciate you. They drive away not giving credit to God for your good deeds but to you. They say, “That was the nicest person I’ve ever met.”
Jesus said let your light shine so they see your good deeds and who gets the credit? That’s right…God does.
So, how can you do that? When they thank you, respond…”Glad to do it, considering how much God has done for me.” or “As a Christian, I was thrilled to do that for you.” Or if they ask what they can do for you, say, “How about going to church with me this weekend?” Here are some…
Tips for telling others about Jesus:
• Use tact
Tact is the ability to make people feel at home when you wish they were!
It’s simply being kind and courteous with the words you choose to use. An obnoxious Christian is worse than a silent one.
• Consider pace
Not everyone is ready for the whole message all at once. Pace it. Evangelism works best over time. Even Jesus told His followers on one occasion: “There is much more I want to tell you, but you are not ready for it yet.”
• Demonstrate love
Relationships allow us to gain a hearing for the gospel. People do not care how much we know until they know how much we care.
• Be authentic
We do not have to be perfect to be a witness, but we do have to be real. The people we talk to about Jesus must sense a longing in us to be like Jesus and an honest love for him. That’s earning the right to be heard.
Why is my testimony important?
- It is unique!
No one else has exactly the same testimony as yours.
- It is personal.
It really happened to you. You’re not talking about what happened to someone else or what you’ve heard. It’s personal.
- I am the authority on it.
People cannot question with any legitimacy what you’re telling them. It was your experience, you are the authority on what has happened in your life.
- People love stories.
That’s why novels still sell, video rental stores boom, and we’ll pay $8.50 to go see a movie at the cinema.
- Others can relate to it.
When you tell others your story, there are going to be points of connection. And they might think, “Yeah, I understand that. Yeah, I’m facing something like that too.”
Why should I share my story?
- God is counting on me.
You are the ones chosen by God,…God’s instruments to do His work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you…. 1 Peter 2:9 (MSG)
It’s part of God’s plan that you help bring others to Him. He knows your circles of influence better than you do. He’s counting on you to speak out for Him.
- Jesus has commissioned me.
God authorized and commanded Me to commission you: Go out….
Matthew 28:19 (MSG)
What do I say?
When I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who He is; then Jesus and what He did—Jesus crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (MSG)
How to keep my testimony plain and simple:
- What my life was like before becoming a Christian.
- What caused me to realize I needed to become a Christian.
- How I became a Christian.
- How my life is different since becoming a Christian.
These four parts and how much time to spend on them are pictured in “The Testimony Pyramid.”
The Testimony Pyramid
From “C.L.A.S.S. 401” by Rick Warren. Used by permission.
I want to give you time now to make your first attempt at writing your testimony. This is not a
Final draft, you’ll refine it again and again. But, let’s just get started thinking in a logical
progression about what Jesus has done for us.
My first attempt at putting together my testimony:
Part 1: What my life was like before becoming a Christian.
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Part 2: What caused me to realize I needed to become a Christian.
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Part 3: How I became a Christian.
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Part 4: How my life is different since becoming a Christian.
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