One of the most natural ways to share the gospel, especially with people you know such as your neighbor, co-worker, relative, or friend, is to use your own story. As followers of Christ, the most important decision we make in our lives is to trust Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Think about it, He changes everything in and about our lives. So it makes sense, this should be a part of our life story. Therefore, here are some tips on how to write out your testimony. First, think about what your life was like BEFORE you met Jesus. Talk about your interests(school, sports, activities, career), family situation, relationships, and goals but nothing spiritual or about church yet. Share what you were thinking or feeling about your life as this helps people identify with your story even if their situations and experiences differ from yours. Secondly, talk about HOW you came to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Include where, when, who, and what were the circumstances that led to your decision. Be sure to use your own words, not spiritual language that the listener may not understand. At this point, you want to include enough of the gospel so the listener knows enough to be saved (I Corinthians 15:3-4 states Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the grave to give us eternal life). Thirdly, share how your life has been different since you trusted Christ. What was the first immediate change that occurred? Reflect on your life before Christ and how your life has changed. It’s always good to share some challenges you have experienced since you became a follower of Christ and how God has been faithful. Once you have finished, if the listener has not shared about themselves yet, just ask them about their story. See “Using Testimony at the Gym” as an example.
TIPS: Keep it short – about 3-5 minutes, Keep it personal using “I” or “we,” and Keep Jesus as the main focus. I would encourage you to write it out first, then go back and narrow it down to 3-5 minutes so as not to lose the listener’s attention.
Paul gives us a great example in Acts 26:1-23 as he is allowed to share in front of King Agrippa. Like Paul, let’s be prepared as we never know when the Holy Spirit will open a door for you to share your testimony.