Telling Your Story
I often hear people say, “I’d love to share my faith with others, but I just don’t know what to say.”
We must be open to the Spirit’s leading, but evangelism “tools” such as sharing your personal testimony give the Spirit something to ‘work with.’ In this article, I’ll share some ideas to help you prepare your personal testimony, which is simply your own story of what Jesus has done in your life.
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard…” (1 John 1:3).
It is perhaps the easiest way to share your faith.
Why prepare a personal testimony?
The Bible commands it.
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
Everybody loves a story! You have a message about what God has done and is doing in your life. And since it is your story, no one can argue with it.
Often, after hearing your story, people are willing to hear more. If so, you may further discuss the gospel with them or invite them to church or a Bible study. If not, seeds have been planted.
Biblical examples
Read John 9 for the account of Jesus healing a man born blind. Although this man did not have all the facts about Jesus, he simply shared what he knew — “…one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).
Read John 4:1–42 to discover not only how Jesus shared spiritual truths with the woman at the well, but how she then effectively shared her story with others:
“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him [Jesus] because of the woman's testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did’” (John 4:39).
Read Paul’s testimony to King Agrippa in Acts 26. Note the clear format Paul followed:
Introduction, permission to share (vv. 1-3)
Before Paul became a Christian (vv. 4-11)
How Paul became a Christian (vv. 12-18)
After Paul became a Christian (vv. 19-23)
Additional conversation (vv. 24-29)
How to prepare a personal testimony
Pray! Ask God to help you as you write out your testimony. Read through the above Scriptures for insight. Prepare to put time and effort into this project.
Write out your testimony. You may come up with a different format, but the following has worked well for many. It’s exciting to think through all God has done for you, and share that Good News with others!
First, what your life was like before you became a Christian. Include both positive and negative aspects of your life. If you grew up in a Christian home, share the blessings of this. If you’re from a non-Christian background, don’t sensationalize your sin.
Second, how you actually became a Christian. Share how you actually put your trust in Christ. If appropriate, share the gospel briefly (“I knew I was a sinner and that Christ paid the penalty for my sin, and so I prayed and put my trust in what He did for me on the cross.”) But everyone’s salvation experience is unique, so share your story.
Third, what your life has been like after becoming a Christian. Include a couple benefits you’ve experienced since coming to Christ, as well as difficulties or struggles and how God has brought you through. We do not want to communicate that we come to Christ to eliminate all our problems, but rather because we need forgiveness and we need God.
As you write your testimony, keep in mind the following guidelines:
Use Scripture if appropriate, but don’t overdo it. You’re sharing your story, not giving a sermon. (But if people are open or ask questions, by all means take them to the Bible!)
Share, don’t preach. Use me and I, not you. Avoid religious jargon and unnecessary details.
Avoid dogmatic statements that skeptics can question.
Poor: “Jesus gave me a new car.”
Better: “I’ve experienced many answers to specific prayers, for example…”
After you’ve written down your rough draft, read through it out loud to get a feel for how it sounds. Make it more conversational, if necessary. Cut it down to 3-5 minutes as you read it. (Yes, that means cutting out some “good parts.”)
Practice sharing it out loud using a brief outline. Keep practicing until you can share it in 3–5 minutes without any notes.
Finally, pray and expect opportunities to share! It is the Holy Spirit’s work to bring others to Jesus; our part is simply to share the message. As you feel more comfortable and/or as the Spirit leads, tailor your testimony to the hearer, but you’re far more likely to begin a conversation if you have a prepared format.