Writing Your Story/Testimony
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Jesus’ last command gives us our life’s mission - to be His witnesses. To tell others of the things we have seen, heard, and learned from the Savior. This is the essence of witnessing – simply reporting your personal experiences with the Lord. In a courtroom, a witness isn't expected to argue the case, prove the truth, or press for a verdict; that is the job of attorneys. Witnesses just tell what they experienced.
Why Can My Story Be Effective:
Be Ready
Whether you are in line at the grocery store, having coffee with a friend, or standing in front of a group of people, the Bible tells us to always be ready to explain our hope.
Why Can My Story Be Effective:
- IT’S UNIQUE - There's no other story just like yours, so only you can share it, and if you don't, it will be lost forever. You may not be a Bible scholar, but you are the authority on your life, and it's hard to argue with personal experience.
- IT’S PERSONAL AND INTERESTING! - Personal stories are also easier to relate to than principles, and people love to hear them; they capture our attention, and we remember them longer. Unbelievers would probably lose interest if you started quoting theologians, but they have a natural curiosity about experiences they've never had. Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to theirs.
- IT CAN’T BE REFUTED - Many people who won't accept the authority of the Bible will listen to a humble, personal story. Another value of your testimony is that it bypasses intellectual defenses. That's why on several different occasions Paul used his testimony to share the Gospel instead of quoting Scripture. (Acts 22 to Acts 26)
Be Ready
Whether you are in line at the grocery store, having coffee with a friend, or standing in front of a group of people, the Bible tells us to always be ready to explain our hope.
“. . . Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15-16 MEV
Sometimes we think that because it’s our story, we don’t have to do anything to be ready to tell it. However, we can get nervous, become side-tracked or forget things when sharing our testimonies. The best way to "be ready" is to write out your testimony and then memorize the main points.
Spend Time in Preparation and Prayer
Before you begin writing your testimony think about your life before you met Christ. What was going on in your life leading up to your conversion? What problems or needs were you facing at the time? How did your life change after that? Pray and ask God to help you share what He wants you to say.
Study an Example From the Bible
Read Acts 26. Here the Apostle Paul gives his personal testimony before King Agrippa. He tells about his life before his conversion on the road to Damascus when he persecuted the followers of the Way. Next, Paul describes in detail his miraculous encounter with Jesus and his calling to serve Christ as an apostle. Then he goes on to tell of his new life after turning to God.
What Should My Testimony Say?
Basically, your testimony should tell about your life before Christ, how you met and surrendered to Christ, and then how Christ has since changed your life.
Before You Met Christ (see Acts 22: 3-5)
How You Met Christ (see Acts 22: 6-13)
My Life After Coming to Christ (see Acts 22: 14-15)
- Has He taken away the fear of death
- Has He helped your marriage
- Has He given you purpose?
Your testimony should be a short, simple, and Jesus-glorifying!! Be careful not to glorify your past sin! Focus more on God’s faithfulness and your life after receiving Christ.
HELPFUL HINTS
Spend Time in Preparation and Prayer
Before you begin writing your testimony think about your life before you met Christ. What was going on in your life leading up to your conversion? What problems or needs were you facing at the time? How did your life change after that? Pray and ask God to help you share what He wants you to say.
Study an Example From the Bible
Read Acts 26. Here the Apostle Paul gives his personal testimony before King Agrippa. He tells about his life before his conversion on the road to Damascus when he persecuted the followers of the Way. Next, Paul describes in detail his miraculous encounter with Jesus and his calling to serve Christ as an apostle. Then he goes on to tell of his new life after turning to God.
What Should My Testimony Say?
Basically, your testimony should tell about your life before Christ, how you met and surrendered to Christ, and then how Christ has since changed your life.
Before You Met Christ (see Acts 22: 3-5)
- What about your life before Christ will relate most to the non-Christians you know?
- What was your life like before you met Jesus? Simply tell what your life was like before you surrendered to Christ. What were you searching for before coming to know Christ?
- What did your life revolve around? Where did you get your security, identity or happiness from?
- What was the key problem, emotion, situation or attitude you were dealing with?
- How did you try to satisfy your inner needs? (Examples of inner needs are loneliness, fear of death, insecurity. Possible ways to fill those needs include work, money, drugs, relationships, sports, sex.)
- How did those things begin to let you down?
How You Met Christ (see Acts 22: 6-13)
- Simply tell the events and circumstances that caused you to consider Christ as the solution to your searching. Take time to identify the steps that brought you to the point of trusting Christ.
- Where were you? What was happening at the time?
- What people or problems influenced your decision?
- How did you realize you needed Jesus?
- How did you surrender your life to Jesus?
My Life After Coming to Christ (see Acts 22: 14-15)
- How has Christ made a difference in your life? List some specific changes in your character, attitude, thoughts, emotions and perspective on life.
- Has He taken away the fear of death
- Has He helped your marriage
- Has He given you purpose?
- What motivates you now? What do you live for?
- Even though your life still isn’t perfect, how does knowing Christ help you deal with that fact?
- How has his forgiveness impacted you?
- Share how Christ is meeting your needs and what a relationship with him means to you now.
Your testimony should be a short, simple, and Jesus-glorifying!! Be careful not to glorify your past sin! Focus more on God’s faithfulness and your life after receiving Christ.
HELPFUL HINTS
- Pray before you write out and share your story.
- Stick to the point. Your conversion and new life in Christ should be the main points.
- Be specific. Include events, genuine feelings and personal insights that clarify your main point. This makes your testimony tangible--something others can relate to.
- Be current. Tell what is happening in your life with God now, today.
- Be honest. Don't exaggerate or dramatize your life for effect. The simple truth of what God has done in your life is all the Holy Spirit needs to convict others of their sin and convince them of his love and grace.
- Write the way you speak.
- Don’t criticize or name any church, denomination, organization, etc.
- Think about your listener(s). Avoid overly-religious terms. "Churchy" words can alienate listeners and readers and keep them from identifying with your life.
- Keep it short. Aim to tell your story in three to five minutes.
- Practice telling your story until it becomes natural.
Writing Your Story.pdf |