Preparing Your Personal Testimony

Your Story Is His Story

Every time you tell your story of how you became a follower of Jesus (your testimony), you give honor and glory to God, and He is pleased with that.

Your story — regardless of how “spectacular” or “ordinary” you think it is — is a story about God’s character. It is your eyewitness account of how God rescued you from sin and death through Christ and how He changed your life.

When you share your story with others, you help them get to know what God is like and give them a glimpse of how He might change their own life.

Be Ready

Whether you are in line at the grocery store, sitting with a family member or posting on social media, the Bible calls you to “always be ready” to explain your hope in Christ with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16, NLT).

You may think that because it’s your story, you don’t have to do anything to be ready to tell it. After all, you were there when it happened, and you’re living it now.

But it’s easy to become side-tracked or forget things when you’re sharing your testimony, which can be confusing or distracting for those listening. This is why a little preparation and practice can be so valuable.

Put It Together

Let’s take a look at how to put your story together, piece by piece. Here are four basic parts to telling your story: the opening and your life before Christ, how you place your faith in Christ, your life after coming to Christ and the closing.

The Opening. Paint a picture of what your life was like before Christ. What did your life revolve around (e.g., relationships, your reputation, money) before you began your relationship with God? Don't go into too much detail about past sins, but show your need for a Savior.
How You Placed Your Faith in Christ. Give the details about why and how you became a Christian. Communicate in such a way that the person you are talking with can understand how they can become a Christian too. Even if your listeners are not ready for that, God could use your story and explanation of the gospel to draw them to Himself in the future.
Your Life After Coming to Christ. Share one or two of the changes that Christ has made in your life as they relate to your opening idea. Emphasize the changes in your character, attitude or perspective, not just the changes in behavior. Be realistic. We still struggle as Christians. Life is far from perfect. But what’s different about your life now?
The Closing. End with a statement that summarizes your story and connects everything back to your opening idea. This doesn’t have to be profound. Think of it as a brief restatement of the theme of your story. “I used to struggle with X, but then I met Jesus and now I have Y.”

HELPFUL HINTS FOR COMMUNICATING

Pray before you write out and share your story.
Write the way you speak.
Don’t be overly negative or positive. Be honest.
Don’t criticize or name any church, denomination, organization, etc.
Think about your listeners. Avoid overly religious terms.
Keep it short. Aim to tell your story in three to five minutes.
Practice telling your story until it becomes natural.
Pray about whom you can share your story with.

Quick Tips to Sharpen Your Story

Condense your testimony. Telling a 15-30 second version of your story is a powerful way to whet someone’s spiritual appetite, and will be beneficial in a variety of settings. Start with your closing statement from your original testimony and add a sentence or two, focusing on one way your life looked before you met Jesus, and then how your life has looked different after.
For example: “Before I met Jesus, I was so dependent on what others thought about me. But now that I know Him, I have so much more confidence. I’d love to tell you more about that sometime.”
Allow for Multiple Testimonies. Now that you have put your story into practice, you may realize that using this format allows you to have multiple testimonies. In your life, Jesus has made more than just one change. What other ways did your life look different before you put your faith in Christ? These can become the theme of a second or third testimony, and will allow you to speak honestly and clearly about how Jesus has changed your life to a variety of people.